Transcript a.ananda_pptsev

Presentation and Photographs by
Ariana Ananda
UC San Diego
Myths debunked
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Bats are NOT flying rodents
They are NOT blind
Tangled in hair? NO!
Say what?!
They don’t all suck blood
Rabies? More people die
annually from household pets
than have died from contact with
bats in all recorded history!!
http://batworld.org/myths_facts_page
Bats: What are they?
The facts
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Order: Chiroptera – “hand wing”
Only mammals capable of true flight
2nd largest order of mammals
Extremely diverse
Found on all continents except Antarctica
There’s more!
• Bats are incredibly ecologically important
funnyasduck.net
Bats: Why are they important?
• Pollinators
• Seed dispersers
Bats: Why are they important?
• Insect regulators
– Most bats insectivorous
– Ecosystem services
– Disease control
Diversity at the Sevilleta NWR?
• What species are present at the Sevilleta?
• Does this vary between habitat types?
• Is there a difference between species present
15 years ago and today?
• What could this mean?
• Does it matter? (YES)
Bats of New Mexico
Bat Conservation
International
Photos by Merlin Tuttle
Diversity sampling
• Traditional methods
– Mist netting
– Opportunity for physical evidence of potential
species present
– Allows opportunity to gather data on individuals
– Not without its limitations (time, space, presence)
Diversity sampling
• Mist netting
http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hts/risc/pubs/tebiodiv/bats/batsml20-04.htm
Diversity sampling
• Acoustics
– Sonar detection
– Records calls of various bat species which can
later be identified
– Still has its limitations
http://www.emeraldinsight.com/journals.htm?articleid=17076547
http://www.anabattraining.co.uk/
Why Acoustics?
– Allows us to fill in many of the gaps that
traditional netting leaves us with
– Broader range of detection
– Mobility
– Passive data collection
www.quiddlebee.com
The game plan
• In order to assess diversity at the Sevilleta, we
want to sample a few sites of varying habitat
to see what is out there
– Artificial wells?
– Natural springs?
– Riparian edge?
The game plan
• Leave devices at sites for 1-2 week increments
• Sample diversity based on habitat sites
• Various sites depending on water sources
– Nunn well
– Cibola springs
– The Mesa trail
The key players: Anabat™ technology
• What is Anabat?
• Analook?
www.nhbs.com
Deploying a mobile system
Secondary Unit
The age of the Dinosaur…computer
• DOS and laptop monitoring
– Real time data, visualizations
– Tripod set up
What does it look like?
• DOS monitor
What does it look like?
• Viewing in Analook
Is that what I
sound like?
It’s Complicated…
• Anabat technology has a pretty steep learning
curve
• Technological malfunctions, difficult setup
• Hence, not a lot of data…yet
• Extending my stay
• Good things on the horizon?
Comparing data
• Comparing data collected at the Sevilleta 15
years ago with current data
• Species present: if significantly different,
explore potential factors
– El Nino events
– Habitat changes
earthobservatory.nasa.gov
Long Term goals
• Establish a permanent system that passively
records calls and can be accessed remotely on
Sevilleta WIFI!!!
http://home.earthlink.net/~nevadabat/LongTermFab/LTFab.html
Acknowledgements
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Amaris Swann
Bill Gannon
National Science Foundation
Sevilleta LTER
US Fish and Wildlife
Mike O’Farrell
Chris Corbin of Titley Scientific
Questions?