Determining Relationships Between Bat Activity and Woody Vegetation in Natural and Constructed Wetlands on the Daniel Boone National Forest

Determining Relationships Between Bat Activity and Woody Vegetation in Natural and Constructed Wetlands on the Daniel Boone National Forest

Presenter(s)

Katie Holmes

Comments

Presentation: 10:45 a.m.-12:00 p.m., Kennedy Union Ballroom

Description

Wetlands provide habitat and critical ecosystem services for a wide range of organisms, including bats. However, much about bats and wetlands is still unknown. This study examined bat activity in Myotis and non-Myotis bat species and woody vegetation in both natural and constructed upland-embedded wetlands on the Daniel Boone National Forest. To test this relationship, we surveyed bat activity and woody vegetative structure at three wetland pairs (three natural and three constructed wetlands) during two data collection periods. We used SM3 bat acoustic detectors and identified bat calls using Kaleidoscope Pro software. The data relationships between basal area, woody vegetation density and dominance, and Myotis and Non-Myotis species activity were analyzed using R studio. The results show Non-Myotis species were more active at constructed wetland sites, and their activity decreased in wetlands with higher tree density and greater basal area. Myotis species were more active at natural wetland sites, and while their activity increased as basal area increased, activity was relatively consistent across tree densities. These findings suggest natural wetlands may provide important habitat for Myotis species, which is useful information for improving management practices as bat populations continue to decline due to white-nose syndrome.

Publication Date

4-19-2023

Project Designation

Independent Research

Primary Advisor

Ryan McEwan; Dr. Kelly Watson at Eastern Kentucky University

Primary Advisor's Department

Biology

Keywords

Stander Symposium, College of Arts and Sciences

Institutional Learning Goals

Critical Evaluation of Our Times

Determining Relationships Between Bat Activity and Woody Vegetation in Natural and Constructed Wetlands on the Daniel Boone National Forest

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