Acoustic Bat Monitoring System: Acoustic Bat Monitoring System: Land & WaterLand & Water

David Redell & J. Paul WhiteDavid Redell & J. Paul White

Wisconsin DNR Wisconsin DNR Bureau of Endangered ResourcesBureau of Endangered ResourcesEcological Inventory & MonitoringEcological Inventory & Monitoring

Bats in WisconsinBats in Wisconsin Family: VespertilionidaeFamily: Vespertilionidae

Myotis lucifugusMyotis lucifugus Little brown batLittle brown bat Myotis septentrionalisMyotis septentrionalis Northern long-Northern long-

eared eared Perimyotis subflavusPerimyotis subflavus Eastern Eastern

pipistrellepipistrelle Eptesicus fuscusEptesicus fuscus Big brown batBig brown bat Myotis sodalisMyotis sodalis Indiana batIndiana bat

Lasiurus borealisLasiurus borealis Eastern Red batEastern Red bat Lasiurus cinereusLasiurus cinereus Hoary batHoary bat Lasionycteris noctivagansLasionycteris noctivagans Silver-haired batSilver-haired bat

Cave dwelling bats-hibernatorsCave dwelling bats-hibernatorsOver-winter in WisconsinOver-winter in Wisconsin

Foliage-roosting and tree cavity Foliage-roosting and tree cavity dwelling bats-migrate south rather dwelling bats-migrate south rather

than stay to enjoy Wisconsin’s than stay to enjoy Wisconsin’s winterwinter

Life-historyLife-history

Bats vulnerable to Bats vulnerable to extinction, in part extinction, in part because they are the because they are the slowest reproducing slowest reproducing mammals on earth for mammals on earth for their size their size

More than 50% of More than 50% of American bat species American bat species are in decline or are in decline or already listed as already listed as endangered. Losses are endangered. Losses are occurring worldwide.occurring worldwide.

Why Bats?Why Bats? Loss of bats increases demand for chemical pesticides and Loss of bats increases demand for chemical pesticides and

can harm human economiescan harm human economies Primary predators of night flying insectsPrimary predators of night flying insects Ecosystem servicesEcosystem services Diet includes agricultural and forest pestsDiet includes agricultural and forest pests Reduce reliance on chemical pesticidesReduce reliance on chemical pesticides

Long-lived species with low reproductive capacityLong-lived species with low reproductive capacity Cautionary principle—as declining species are often slow and Cautionary principle—as declining species are often slow and

difficult to recoverdifficult to recover Issues arise and we have little available information making Issues arise and we have little available information making

it difficult to respond to concernsit difficult to respond to concerns Need to get in front with a comprehensive approach to Need to get in front with a comprehensive approach to

describing bat activity, seasonal patterns, trends and describing bat activity, seasonal patterns, trends and distributions for the State of Wisconsin.distributions for the State of Wisconsin.

Past Methods & Past Methods & ImprovementsImprovements

Shotgun collectionShotgun collection Detector in back of station wagon w/ generatorDetector in back of station wagon w/ generator 1960’s Mist-nets1960’s Mist-nets 1970’s & 1980’s: acoustic studies limited to 1970’s & 1980’s: acoustic studies limited to

researchers with large budgets and grant researchers with large budgets and grant support -- used oscilloscopes & high-speed tapesupport -- used oscilloscopes & high-speed tape

Late 80’s and 90’s: handheld detectors Late 80’s and 90’s: handheld detectors becoming more available to the field biologistbecoming more available to the field biologist

2000’s: improvements & cost reduction2000’s: improvements & cost reduction

Bat Monitoring in the UKBat Monitoring in the UK

StrengthsStrengths Species distribution & trends for land Species distribution & trends for land

area 2x the size of Wisconsinarea 2x the size of Wisconsin High Volunteer retentionHigh Volunteer retention

WeaknessesWeaknesses Rely on heterodyne detectorsRely on heterodyne detectors Biases to deal withBiases to deal with Extensive training requiredExtensive training required

UK Citizen-based monitoringUK Citizen-based monitoring

Transect surveys Hibernacula

surveys Waterway routes Summer roost

site monitoring

Depending on a volunteer’s location, training, experience and time availability

UK Species Distribution UK Species Distribution MapsMaps

UK Species TrendsUK Species Trends

Citizen-based Bat Monitoring in Citizen-based Bat Monitoring in WisconsinWisconsin

Developed specifically for volunteer Developed specifically for volunteer participation of citizensparticipation of citizens

Draw from and improve on the example Draw from and improve on the example of UK’s Bat Monitoring Programof UK’s Bat Monitoring Program

Different detection systemDifferent detection system Long-term Bat Monitoring StationsLong-term Bat Monitoring Stations Mobile detection systemMobile detection system

Overview and ExamplesOverview and ExamplesFrom this past summerFrom this past summer

Install 5 Long-term bat monitoring Install 5 Long-term bat monitoring stationsstations Stationary units collecting bat pass data Stationary units collecting bat pass data

every nightevery night Mobile unitsMobile units

Land-based surveysLand-based surveys Water-based surveys (Lakes & Rivers)Water-based surveys (Lakes & Rivers)

Location of Long-term Bat Monitoring Location of Long-term Bat Monitoring Stations in WisconsinStations in Wisconsin

Long Term Bat Monitoring Station Long Term Bat Monitoring Station (LTBMS) Description(LTBMS) Description

3 meter tower 3 meter tower top mounted weather-top mounted weather-

resistant microphone resistant microphone enclosure and reflector plate enclosure and reflector plate (30(30º above horizon º above horizon acceptance angle) with a pre-acceptance angle) with a pre-amp signal driver for the amp signal driver for the audio cable extensionaudio cable extension

10W solar panel orientated 10W solar panel orientated southsouth

NEMA weather-proof locked NEMA weather-proof locked enclosure which houses:enclosure which houses: 12V battery 12V battery charge controller (EMS charge controller (EMS

Systems, Berkeley CA)Systems, Berkeley CA) AnaBat detector and CF AnaBat detector and CF

Storage ZCAIM (frequency Storage ZCAIM (frequency division bat detection system)division bat detection system)

LTBMS Sites LTBMS Sites Habitat contextHabitat context

near a water sourcenear a water source proximity to edge proximity to edge Connectivity of featuresConnectivity of features

Site accessSite access accessible for on-site accessible for on-site

personnel to regularly personnel to regularly maintain stationmaintain station

Sun ExposureSun Exposure Unobstructed south Unobstructed south

facing view (present facing view (present and future)and future)

Identifying the bat in the Identifying the bat in the recordingrecording

Build a Reference Library of Build a Reference Library of echolocation calls for each speciesecholocation calls for each species Capture the batCapture the bat Identify the batIdentify the bat Release and RecordRelease and Record

Little brown myotisMyotis lucifugus

Northern long-eared myotisMyotis septentrionalis

TragusTragus

Eastern Red BatLasiurus borealis

Eastern pipistrellePerimyotis [=Pipistrellus] subflavus

Big brown batEptesicus fuscus

Bat Monitoring StationsBat Monitoring Stations

Tie to weather dataTie to weather data Index activityIndex activity Phenology and species patternsPhenology and species patterns

Nightly, Seasonal, Multi-yearNightly, Seasonal, Multi-year Investigate spatial context thru Investigate spatial context thru

comparisons with mobile surveyscomparisons with mobile surveys Use as reference for an area’s Use as reference for an area’s

relative activity levelrelative activity level

Exploratory Mobile SurveysExploratory Mobile Surveys

Goals during development To gather insight of bat

activity and species diversity at LTBMS’

Identify data collection process

Provide map examples of mobile acoustic bat surveys

Same broadband freq-div detector as in Stationary sites (LTBMS)

Time & Date stamp for each pass

ADDITIONSADDITIONS: GPS unit

Latitude & longitude position fix of each bat encountered

Map the route traveled PDA unit

View sonograms of passing bats in real time

Goals for Citizen-based Monitoring 1st a Bat Atlas for the

state – WI BATLAS Distribution during

seasons 2nd a monitoring strategy Identify Trends

Lake Survey w/ trolling motor

Training, Equipment, DataTraining, Equipment, Data Developing a training seminar & operator handbooksDeveloping a training seminar & operator handbooks Earn your wings >:< Different levels of participation—similar to Earn your wings >:< Different levels of participation—similar to

water monitoringwater monitoring A range of options sure to fit nearly any group or individual level of A range of options sure to fit nearly any group or individual level of

interestinterest

Equipment cost of approximately Equipment cost of approximately $2,500 - $3,000 for a complete for a complete systemsystem

groups/individuals from an area may be able to work toward raising groups/individuals from an area may be able to work toward raising equipment funds, share or own equipment, and or take on individual equipment funds, share or own equipment, and or take on individual responsibilities of organization and dissemination of dataresponsibilities of organization and dissemination of data

Website: Central point of information transfer, Scheduled meetings, Website: Central point of information transfer, Scheduled meetings, options, Network opportunities, Summaries, reports and newsoptions, Network opportunities, Summaries, reports and news

Keep your eyes on the CBM website for link informationKeep your eyes on the CBM website for link information Indicate your level of interest and sign up to receive notices for locations, Indicate your level of interest and sign up to receive notices for locations,

dates, and times of next training seminar (small groups)dates, and times of next training seminar (small groups)

Descriptions to look for on the websiteDescriptions to look for on the website Bridge roost locators and monitoringBridge roost locators and monitoring Bat house roost monitoringBat house roost monitoring Field TripsField Trips

AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements Kemp NRS-Kemp NRS- Karla Ortman, Scott Craven. Karla Ortman, Scott Craven. UW-Green Bay Cofrin Arboretum-UW-Green Bay Cofrin Arboretum- Robert Howe Robert Howe UW-Stevens Point Schmeekle Reserve-UW-Stevens Point Schmeekle Reserve- Jim Bucholz, Ron Jim Bucholz, Ron

Zimmerman, Eric AndersonZimmerman, Eric Anderson Urban Ecology Center-Urban Ecology Center- Tim Vargo Tim Vargo UW-Madison ArboretumUW-Madison Arboretum Wisconsin DNR, Bureau of Endangered Resources- Wisconsin DNR, Bureau of Endangered Resources- Ecological Ecological

Inventory & Monitoring SectionInventory & Monitoring Section Web & GIS assistance-Web & GIS assistance- Jill Rosenberg Jill Rosenberg Bat Capture assistance & volunteers-Bat Capture assistance & volunteers- UW Platteville- Jeff UW Platteville- Jeff

Heubschman and Matt Willey, Milwaukee County Zoo- Mike Heubschman and Matt Willey, Milwaukee County Zoo- Mike FrayerFrayer

Bat Conservation Trust- UK National Bat Monitoring ProgrammeBat Conservation Trust- UK National Bat Monitoring Programme EME Systems, Berkeley CAEME Systems, Berkeley CA Titley Electronics, Balina NSW AustraliaTitley Electronics, Balina NSW Australia AnaBat System Development-AnaBat System Development- Chris Corben Chris Corben