The quote above from the infamous author who defined the modern genre of vampire fiction is very relevant, believe it or not, to our lab's ongoing research on Maine's bats. Bats use ultrasonic calls to navigate in their nighttime environments; "music" of sorts that humans can't hear but that we can record using specialized equipment. Current work in the lab takes advantage of acoustic sampling to better-understand the status and distribution of bats in Maine. Maine is home to 8 species of bats, 3 of which that were recently listed as state-threatened (eastern small-footed bat) or state-endangered (little brown bat, northern long-eared bat), and 1 of which, the northern long-eared bat, that is listed as threatened under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. All of this conservation concern is driven by unprecedented declines in bats due to the fungal disease White Nose Syndrome, which affects bats during hibernation.
This video features two undergraduate researchers as they describe the field component of a past bat project. Emily Anderson, featured in the video, used this data to complete her Honors Thesis here at the University of Maine.
The lab has been involved in a variety of bat research, most involving use of acoustic sampling and application of bat acoustic data to occupancy analysis. Previously we've done work evaluating new citizen science methods, investigating the presence and relative abundance of bats on the Penobscot Experimental Forest, worked with the Maine Cooperative Forestry Research Unit to summarize current knowledge of bats in forest systems and deliver that information to foresters, and collaborated with the lab of Dr. Jeff Foster developing geospatial tools to help Departments of Transportation in the Northeast better conserve bats along roadways.
At present we have two ongoing bat projects. We are working with National Park Service biologists to analyze historic monitoring data and develop new bat monitoring protocols at Acadia National Park. And since 2018 we have been collaborating with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife investigating the role of talus slopes throughout Maine as potential hibernacula for bats within the state.
This video features two undergraduate researchers as they describe the field component of a past bat project. Emily Anderson, featured in the video, used this data to complete her Honors Thesis here at the University of Maine.
The lab has been involved in a variety of bat research, most involving use of acoustic sampling and application of bat acoustic data to occupancy analysis. Previously we've done work evaluating new citizen science methods, investigating the presence and relative abundance of bats on the Penobscot Experimental Forest, worked with the Maine Cooperative Forestry Research Unit to summarize current knowledge of bats in forest systems and deliver that information to foresters, and collaborated with the lab of Dr. Jeff Foster developing geospatial tools to help Departments of Transportation in the Northeast better conserve bats along roadways.
At present we have two ongoing bat projects. We are working with National Park Service biologists to analyze historic monitoring data and develop new bat monitoring protocols at Acadia National Park. And since 2018 we have been collaborating with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife investigating the role of talus slopes throughout Maine as potential hibernacula for bats within the state.