Regional Patterns of Vascularity within the Limb Bones of Small and Large-bodied Bats

Bats have humeri and femora that are poorly vascularized or avascular compared to birds, with only larger bats typically displaying vascular canals. Vascular canals provide passageways for blood vessels and nerves, which help maintain bone homeostasis, and support bones by resisting torsional stresses placed on them. The presence of a greater number of canals in large bats suggests that they may have a larger need for the support of nutrient and waste exchange than their dense lacunar-canalicular system can provide on its own. The focus of the current project will be to analyze SR micro-CT data from various bat humeri and femora obtained by Pratt in order to examine differences between the patterns of vascularity within bones of small and large bodied bats.The potential benefit of this project is an increased understanding of the vascular networks of bats and how it may support bone homeostasis. The primary research objective is to determine whether small bodied bats and large bodied bats have similar regional patterns of vascularity in their humeri and/or femora. It is hypothesized that: 1) large bodied bats will possess greater vascularity than small bodied bats, and 2) humeri will be more highly vascularized than femora

Technique for: Determination of Insect Prey Selection by Insectivorous Bats

Utilizing Fecal Pellet Analysis to Determine Prey Selection by Insectivorous Bats: For my Graduate Project I examined culled exoskeleton parts from bat fecal pellets (guano) to determine identifications of the insects preyed upon by a group of bats to their order and often family levels. Culled insect parts were permanently fixed on microscope slides and viewed under a dissection microscope to determine identifications and to quantify the percentage composition that they represented in the bat’s diet. Comparisons were made of prey selected by the different bat species that were foraging at the same location and at the same time. Comparisons were also made of the insect species being predated upon bat species foraging at different times and locations. This project evaluated the fecal pellet technique for it effectiveness as a tool in determining prey selection by insectivorous bats as well as an indicator of the flighted nocturnal insects within a habitat. In part the project evaluates if it can be used effectively to compare different species of bats foraging in similar habitats at similar times to see if they are selecting for different insect prey types or rather if they are choosing what is most available. The results can then show if there are differential prey selection pressures being placed on flighted nocturnal insects by different species of bats

THE ECOLOGY AND BEHAVIOR OF SPRING MIGRATING INDIANA BATS (\u3cem\u3eMYOTIS SODALIS\u3c/em\u3e)

Migration of animals has been studied for decades and has included everything from large terrestrial and pelagic mammals traveling thousands of kilometers to many types of birds flying through several countries to insects going through multiple life cycles in a single migration. The migration of bats has been studied in broad terms to gather coarse information such as distance traveled, connecting summer and winter habitat, and a general understanding of timing. However, only recently have researchers begun to understand the specifics of bat migration including physiology and fine resolution behavior. Using nine years of spring migration data collected on VHF radio-tagged federally endangered female Indiana bats (Myotis sodalis), I predicted behavior based on previous migration studies for bats that used various methods such as band recovery data, stable hydrogen isotopes, and automated telemetry. My project used aerial telemetry to collect location points while tracking individual bats throughout the migration. I describe distances traveled, how much time bats spent in migration, traveling and foraging behavior during migration, and how weather affects bat behavior. In addition, this project resulted in the location of 17 previously unknown maternity colonies for the species including the southernmost colony known to date. Next, I used temperature data collected from individual bats along with ambient temperature to determine how air temperature affects specific bat behavior. I calculated air temperature thresholds for use of torpor in Indiana bats and described how air temperature affects transition states between torpor and normothermy. Finally, I determined landscape preferences for migrating bats during travel and foraging. Indiana bats tend to migrate in a direct path from hibernaculum to summer grounds and use the habitat in the proportion that it is available. Although bats used forested cover when possible, they did travel in open areas (e.g., across agricultural fields) when necessary to continue along the intended trajectory. This data set is the first to track individual nocturnally migrating bats via aerial telemetry for the entirety of the spring migration journey. It provides specific information about how far Indiana bats travel and how long they are migrating across the landscape, illustrates a web of connections between summer and winter habitat, describes the effect of weather on bat behavior, and provides landscape use information that can be useful for land managers and developers

The Plight of Bats in North America: Modifying Habitat to Improve Bat Diversity

Worldwide bats play an essential role in the ecosystems they inhabit. The use of pesticides, large scale wind power plants, and habitat degradation has all led to a decline in native bat populations (Jones et al. 93). As natural roosting locations continue to be destroyed or otherwise disturbed by humans, local bats are left with even fewer quality roosting locations. North American bats are also dealing with the novel disease known as White Known Syndrome, which has caused massive fatalities as well as local extinctions in native bats. This is a fungal pathogen that attacks bats while they are in a torpor state, and ultimately results in the death of the bat host. As bat populations continue to decrease there is potential for major economic impacts to the agricultural industry, many of the insects bats prey on we consider agricultural pests. It is believed that habitat modifications are one solution to bolster locals bat populations. This project aims to identify, as well as implement ways habitat modifications can be used to increase bat diversity at a local level

BAT SURVEY ALONG THE MISSOURI RIVER IN CENTRAL SOUTH DAKOTA

ats are efficient predators of night-flying insects (Whitaker 1993), particularly in urban, agricultural, and forested areas in South Dakota (Kiesow 2004). In South Dakota, 6 bat species are considered rare and presently monitored by the South Dakota Natural Heritage Program (SDNHP; South Dakota Natural Heritage Program 2002). Because bats serve a vital ecosystem function there is an increased need to conserve bats and their habitats. Hence, the objectives of this project were to determine bat species richness along the Missouri River in central South Dakota. We conducted surveys of bats using mist-nets and acoustic detection from early May to early October 2003- 2005. During this study, we documented the likely importance of riparian corridors to bats in the plains region and believe the Missouri River may serve as a migration corridor for many bat species

Hibernacula Microclimate and White-nose Syndrome Susceptibility in the Little Brown Myotis (Myotis lucifugus)

The objective of this project was to determine the relationship between hibernacula microclimate and White-nose Syndrome (WNS), an emerging infectious disease in bats. Microclimate was examined on a species scale and at the level of the individual bat to determine if there was a difference in microclimate preference between healthy and WNS-affected little brown myotis (Myotis lucifugus) and to determine the role of microclimate in disease progression. There is anecdotal evidence that colder, drier hibernacula are less affected by WNS. This was tested by placing rugged temperature and humidity dataloggers in field sites throughout the eastern USA, experimentally determining the response to microclimate differences in captive bats, and testing microclimate roosting preference. This study found that microclimate significantly differed from the entrance of a hibernaculum versus where bats traditionally roost. It also found hibernaculum temperature and sex had significant impacts on survival in WNS-affected bats. Male bats with WNS had increased survivability over WNS-affected female bats and WNS bats housed below the ideal growth range of the fungus that causes WNS, Geomyces destructans, had increased survival over those housed at warmer temperatures. The results from this study are immediately applicable to (1) predict which hibernacula are more likely to be infected next winter, (2) further our understanding of WNS, and (3) determine if direct mitigation strategies, such as altering the microclimate of mines, will be effective ways to combat the spread of the fungus

Flattening an object algebra to provide performance

Algebraic transformation and optimization techniques have been the method of choice in relational query execution, but applying them in object-oriented (OO) DBMSs is difficult due to the complexity of OO query languages. This paper demonstrates that the problem can be simplified by mapping an OO data model to the binary relational model implemented by Monet, a state-of-the-art database kernel. We present a generic mapping scheme to flatten data models and study the case of straightforward OO model. We show how flattening enabled us to implement a query algebra, using only a very limited set of simple operations. The required primitives and query execution strategies are discussed, and their performance is evaluated on the 1-GByte TPC-D (Transaction-processing Performance Council's Benchmark D), showing that our divide-and-conquer approach yields excellent result

Understanding movement and habitat selection of the lesser short-tailed bat to infer potential encounters with anticoagulant bait : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Zoology at Massey University, Manawatū, New Zealand

The lesser short-tailed bat (Mystacina tuberculata) and the long-tailed bat (Chalinolobus tuberculatus) are New Zealand’s only extant endemic land-dwelling mammals. Both species are listed as nationally endangered by the IUCN, with numbers declining due to widespread habitat destruction and other human interferences. Short-tailed bats have been an unintentional victim of toxins used for pest control in New Zealand, being particularly susceptible to poisoning due to their diverse diet and ground-feeding habits. To manage toxin use to minimize bat exposure it is necessary to understand their movements and area usage behaviours. Movements and habitat use of the short-tailed bat were studied on the area of farmland between Pikiariki and Waipapa Ecological Area, Pureora Forest Park, New Zealand. Bats using the area between the two large forests were studied using acoustic monitoring and radio telemetry techniques to determine which routes they use, how they utilise the farmland and forest fragments along the way, and how they interact with obstacles such as open farmland and roads. Evidence of foraging was more often observed near forest fragments than open areas. While levels of habitat preference varied among individuals, forest was consistently selected over open areas throughout their commutes over farmland. 50% of the radio tracked bats were commuting directly between Pikiariki and Waipapa, while a further 25% were deemed to forage or rest throughout the trip. These results confirm that short-tailed bats utilise marginal habitats on private land, suggesting a need for the implementation of safe pest control in areas near known colonies on both public and conservation land. Stronger toxins are often used on private land so the risks to short-tailed bats could be higher. The results also provide information on how short-tailed bats make use of a fragmented environment, and whether we need to create forest bridges across open farmland to assist the nightly commute of bats