1 / 24

BATS

BATS. Flying Mammalian Resources. Jim Goodbar Senior Cave and Karst Resources Specialist Bureau of Land Management May 12-16, 2014 Cody, Wyoming. This presentation was modified from a 2007 D. Kampwerth’s original. Order Chiroptera. Suborder Megachiroptera Family Pteropodidae

ocean-young
Download Presentation

BATS

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. BATS Flying Mammalian Resources Jim Goodbar Senior Cave and Karst Resources Specialist Bureau of Land Management May 12-16, 2014 Cody, Wyoming This presentation was modified from a 2007 D. Kampwerth’s original

  2. Order Chiroptera • Suborder Megachiroptera • Family Pteropodidae • 42 genera • 166 species Old World fruit and nectar feeding bats.

  3. Order Chiroptera • Suborder Microchiroptera • 16 families • 135 genera • 759 species • Diet includes insects, small vertebrates, blood, fruit, nectar, and pollen. • Includes the bats we encounter

  4. Bat Facts • Nearly 1000 species of bats, almost ¼ of all mammal species • Approximately 47 species in N. America • Smallest weighs < a penny (Bumblebee bat) • Largest weighs 3 pounds (Flying Fox) • Little Brown Bats lives 34 years • Brazilian freetails forage 2 miles high

  5. Bat Facts Continued • One bat eats 3000+ insects a night • Bats tolerate temps from 23F-122F • 20 million freetails eat 200 tons nightly • Thanks for the tequila; pollinators • Bats see well • <1/2 of 1% population has rabies

  6. Bats in Decline • Of the 47 species, more than ½ are in decline or already endangered. • Seven are listed as endangered; with others being considered • Status of many unknown

  7. Causes for Decline • Disturbance at Hibernacula and Maternity roosts (MAJOR) • Pesticides • Disruptions of foraging and migration routes (Wind Turbines) • Cave alterations (Guano mining, entrance mod., poor bat gates) • Predation; at gates/ during flight • Over harvest for food (tropical) • White Nose Syndrome

  8. Bat Biology • High frequency sound emits at 0-200 per second (echolocation) • Used for obstacle avoidance and prey detection • Forage on the fly • One pup per year • Maternity, Bachelor, Hibernacula, and Transient Colonies • Affinity for roost sites

  9. Considerations • Know your local bats; through research or local experts • Seasonal or year round residents • Sexual status at summer roosts • Objective of study; Spec., Pop. est., movement, genetics, other • Cave, mine, tree, building dependent • WNS

  10. Capture methods • Follow state and federal guidelines and permitting for capture and handling • Hand pick • Mist nets • Harp traps • Trip lines • Other

  11. Survey Methods • Echolocation detectors- combine detectors and netting to improve efficiency • Arm bands -- Plastic vs. metal • Telemetry; <5% body mass • Torbot bonding cement • Light sticks

  12. Monitoring • Light Loggers • Temp/Humidity Loggers • Laser Temp. recorder • Binoculars- tall ceilings • Red light vs. not • AnaBat • Sonabat • Song Meter

  13. Population Estimates • Visual estimates (sq. ft.) • Outflight; night vision goggles • IR Photography • Guano pile measurement- shortly after bats leave • Other

  14. Frequency of Survey • Not too often unless monitoring for impacts • Every two years, by recovery plan, local expert advice, or WNS Plan • Annually, if exit counts • Never during maternity season! If necessary: after adults have left for the evening

  15. Protection Methods • Cave closure with signage • Education/Outreach • If all else fails: BAT GATES/FENCES • Use standard bat gate design (BCI, ACCA) • 5.75 inch spacing, horizontal bars far apart, expanded metal foundation • Use site specific designs

  16. Big Brown Bats (Eptesicus fuscus)

  17. Lesser Long-nosed Bat (Leptonycteris curasoae)

  18. Spotted Bat (Euderma maculatum)

  19. Pallid Bat (Antrozous pallidus)

  20. Brazilian Free-tailed bat pups

  21. Brazilian Free-tailed Bats (Tadarida braziliensis)

More Related