Abstract. The federally endangered Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis) is a concern for development projects in nearly half of the United States. The species roosts and rears young under exfoliating bark of trees, which has put it at risk for incurring adverse impacts from most projects that require tree clearing throughout its summer range. Project proponents generally incorporate avoidance and minimization strategies into the planning process. These strategies, however, are not always compatible with project goals and objectives, and mitigation is often required to offset adverse impacts to the Indiana bat. BrandenBark™ is an artificial roost structure that mimics the natural roosting habitat of Indiana bats. To date, 69 BrandenBark™ structures have been installed in 7 states (IL, KY, LA, OH, PA, TN and WV). Of these, 59 (86%) structures have been used by 6 species of bats, including northern long-eared bats (proposed for federal listing) and little brown bats (under status review); however, the majority of use (85%) has been by maternity colonies of Indiana bats confirmed by radio telemetry, capture, or genetic analysis of guano. Of the structures used by Indiana bats at Fort Knox Military Installation (n=21) in north-central Kentucky, 120 emergence counts have been conducted with an average of 81.3±7.1 bats per roost. Although the roost area under BrandenBark™ is slightly warmer ( X = 24.6±7.2°C [SD]) than that of natural bark ( X = 23.1±6.5°C), the temperature difference between BrandenBark™ and ambient ( X = 2.1±2.7°C) is less variable than the temperature difference between natural bark and ambient ( X = 3.9±4.0°C), possibly indicating a more stable thermal environment. However, both roost types are warmer than corresponding ambient temperatures. BrandenBark™ provides instant long-lasting habitat commensurate with natural roosts, is easy to install and monitor, and does not require the purchase of additional land for placement when used as a mitigation option.
The recent pandemic and other environmental concerns have resulted in restrictions on research and surveys involving capture and handling bats. While acoustic surveys have been widely used as an alternative survey method, in this study, we show how photographic surveys can offer an important contribution to study and survey bats. We outline approaches, using high speed flash and automated trip beams to obtain photos of flying bats of sufficient quality for reliable identification of species. We show, through a series of examples of setups and photographs, that photography is effective for surveying bats at a variety of sites, where bats roost, drink, and forage. We note, however, that photographic surveys cannot replace capture in all situations. In addition, although photographing bats is less invasive than capturing them, it can involve disturbance, so we stress the importance of minimizing the impact of such operations on bats.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.