Performing Department
Forest & Natural Resources Management
Non Technical Summary
Executive SummaryGoals, Objectives and Approach:Bat populations across the eastern U.S. have declined >90% in some cases, due to the effect of white-nose syndrome. Forest management practices can potentially have significant effects on these species; however there is extremely limited research on ecology and habitat use for most bat species -particularly the federally-threatened, forest-dwelling, tree-roosting northern longeared bat (Myotis septentrionalis; hereforward MYSE). Research on MYSE ecology is limited across its range and virtually absent in northeastern states. Our goal is to provide essential knowledge on MYSE to provide a strong scientific foundation for decision-making, conflict management, and forest management guidelines that provide for timber and forest products as well as bat conservation. Our study will consider three unique forest ownership types in the study region: 1) Industrial TIMOs, 2) non-industrial managed forests, and 3) forest preserves where notimber removal occurs. In year 1 we will identify locations ofMYSE foraging habitat use and movement corridors at multiple scales. In year 2 we will identify and characterize MYSE roost locations, including maternity roosts, at sites where MYSE use is established in Year 1.Who will directly benefit?This work will provide both the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, state conservation agencies, forest landowners and resource managers with better scientific information about the species' habitat use and needs, to inform the basis for sound, reasonable, forest management that can benefit the species without putting undue restrictions on forest management activities. Additionally, this knowledge will provide a basis for future efforts to better understand bat ecology and provide tools for improved conservation and management efforts in the face of white-nose syndrome.Why do stakeholders need research?The research on the ecology and habitat use of most bat species in the Northern Forest is extremely limited. Currently, management guidelines and regulations designed for bat conservation are often not empirically based, potentially having undo adverse effects on theregion's working forested landscape, and likely failing to deliver desired conservation outcomes as well. Our results will provide resource managers with guidelines.How will results be disseminated?The results will be published in peer-reviewed journals used by wildlife and forest resource managers such as Forest Ecology and Management, Biological Conservation, Journal of Forestry and the Journal of Wildlife Management. Results will be presented at regional and national conferences of the Wildlife Society, Society of American Foresters, etc., and will be shared directly with colleagues at U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and Northern Forest state conservation agencies. We will publish user-friendly articles in forest landowner magazines such as the NY Forest Owner and forest industry trade journals such as the Northern Logger.Awarded Start Date: 8/1/16Sponsor: USDA NSRC
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
100%
Applied
(N/A)
Developmental
(N/A)
Goals / Objectives
Project GoalOur goal is to provide essential knowledge on MYSE summer habitat use across a range of forest conditions and management to provide a strong scientific foundation for decision-making, conflict management, and forest management guidelines that provide for timber and forestproducts as well as bat conservation. Our study will consider three unique forest ownership types across the Adirondacks: 1) Huntington Wildlife Forest, 2) Industrial TIMO managed by F&W (formerly owned and managed by Finch Pruyn Paper Co.), and 3) Adirondack Forest Preserve (where no timber removal occurs).Supporting Objectives1. Identify forest conditions used for foraging. Year 1. We will identify locations of MYSE foraging habitat use and movement corridors at multiple scales.2. Identify forest conditions that provide roost locations. Year 2. We will identify and characterize MYSE roost sites at sites where MYSE use was established in Year 1.
Project Methods
Clear Research Approach and Methodology.Objective 1. Identify forest conditions used for foraging. Year 1. We will identify locations of MYSE foraging habitat use and movement corridors at multiple scales using passive acoustic detectors. Detectors act as automated observers (e.g., akin to an avian point count), and will be deployed at sampling points established in each parcel in a stratified random design across a range of forest conditions within each parcel type. Each point will be sampled on more than or equal to 2 occasions (nights) separated by more than or equal to 2 weeks to account for variation in bat habitat preferences over time.Acoustic data will be analyzed to determine MYSE occupancy, based on detection-nondetection at sample points, using multiple software tools to optimize accuracy (Ford et al. 2005). Acoustic recording technology and analysis software now enable previously impossible species-specific identification using unique call signatures of each bat species, and in some cases can distinguish among type of use (i.e. transit or foraging). We expect to detect multiple bat species. Because few have been studied in the region, we will analyze acoustic data and report detections for all bat species, to assist with forest management planning more broadly. We will use forest inventory plot data, GIS landscape analysis, and information on forest management history at sampled and random points to determine what forest conditions, landscape features, and management history distinguish MYSE used or unused sites. Data will be analyzed in a detection-corrected occupancy framework using logistic regression and/or other GLM approaches used to generate a statistical model and prediction map for probability of MYSE use based on aforementioned variables (Erickson and West 2003, Ford et al. 2005).