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  1. Article ; Online: Redundancy analysis reveals complex den use patterns by eastern spotted skunks, a conditional specialist

    Emily D. Thorne / W. Mark Ford

    Ecosphere, Vol 13, Iss 1, Pp n/a-n/a (2022)

    2022  

    Abstract: Abstract Wildlife managers tasked with understanding habitat and resource selection at the population level attempt to characterize patterns in nature that aid and inform conservation. Resource selection functions (RSFs), such as discrete choice analyses, ...

    Abstract Abstract Wildlife managers tasked with understanding habitat and resource selection at the population level attempt to characterize patterns in nature that aid and inform conservation. Resource selection functions (RSFs), such as discrete choice analyses, are the standard convention to characterize the effects of habitat attributes on resource selection patterns. These tools are invaluable for wildlife management and conservation and have proven successful in numerous studies. However, the analysis of small datasets using RSF becomes problematic when attempting to account for complex sources of variation, and the inclusion of factors such as weather or intrinsic variation on target species' response may produce models with poor predictive ability. We compared the application of generalized linear mixed‐effects modeling (GLMM) and redundancy analysis (RDA) on Appalachian spotted skunk (Spilogale putorius putorius) den selection data at four study sites within the George Washington, Jefferson, and Monongahela National Forests, and surrounding private lands in the Appalachian Mountains of western Virginia and northeastern West Virginia. We assessed the need for the inclusion of alternative sources of variation (i.e., weather conditions and individual intrinsic variation) in addition to standard habitat attributes to better identify sources of variation in den selection. The RDA elucidated complex and opposing relationships, whereby den type use was based on reproductive status or weather condition, which were not evident in the GLMM model that relied solely on habitat measures. Our results demonstrated the importance of examining resource selection data using multivariate techniques in addition to conventional discrete choice analyses to better understand intricate habitat–species relationships, especially for small datasets. Furthermore, from our analyses, we proposed that spotted skunks are neither a true generalist nor specialist species. We introduced and define the term “conditional specialist” to represent a ...
    Keywords Appalachian Mountains ; conditional specialist ; den use ; discrete choice ; eastern spotted skunk ; habitat selection ; Ecology ; QH540-549.5
    Subject code 333
    Language English
    Publishing date 2022-01-01T00:00:00Z
    Publisher Wiley
    Document type Article ; Online
    Database BASE - Bielefeld Academic Search Engine (life sciences selection)

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  2. Article ; Online: Monitoring and Modeling Tree Bat (Genera

    Michael C. True / Richard J. Reynolds / W. Mark Ford

    Animals, Vol 11, Iss 3146, p

    Lasiurus , Lasionycteris ) Occurrence Using Acoustics on Structures off the Mid-Atlantic Coast—Implications for Offshore Wind Development

    2021  Volume 3146

    Abstract: In eastern North America, “tree bats” (Genera: Lasiurus and Lasionycteris ) are highly susceptible to collisions with wind energy turbines and are known to fly offshore during migration. This raises concern about ongoing expansion of offshore wind-energy ...

    Abstract In eastern North America, “tree bats” (Genera: Lasiurus and Lasionycteris ) are highly susceptible to collisions with wind energy turbines and are known to fly offshore during migration. This raises concern about ongoing expansion of offshore wind-energy development off the Atlantic Coast. Season, atmospheric conditions, and site-level characteristics such as local habitat (e.g., forest coverage) have been shown to influence wind turbine collision rates by bats onshore, and therefore may be related to risk offshore. Therefore, to assess the factors affecting coastal presence of bats, we continuously gathered tree bat occurrence data using stationary acoustic recorders on five structures (four lighthouses on barrier islands and one light tower offshore) off the coast of Virginia, USA, across all seasons, 2012–2019. We used generalized additive models to describe tree bat occurrence on a nightly basis. We found that sites either indicated maternity or migratory seasonal occurrence patterns associated with local roosting resources, i.e., presence of trees. Across all sites, nightly occurrence was negatively related to wind speed and positively related to temperature and visibility. Using predictive performance metrics, we concluded that our model was highly predictive for the Virginia coast. Our findings were consistent with other studies—tree bat occurrence probability and presumed mortality risk to offshore wind-energy collisions is highest on low wind speed nights, high temperature and visibility nights, and during spring and fall. The high predictive model performance we observed provides a basis for which managers, using a similar monitoring and modeling regime, could develop an effective curtailment-based mitigation strategy.
    Keywords tree bats ; Lasiurus ; Lasionycteris ; wind turbine collisions ; offshore ; statistical modeling ; Veterinary medicine ; SF600-1100 ; Zoology ; QL1-991
    Subject code 551
    Language English
    Publishing date 2021-11-01T00:00:00Z
    Publisher MDPI AG
    Document type Article ; Online
    Database BASE - Bielefeld Academic Search Engine (life sciences selection)

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  3. Article ; Online: White-nose syndrome-related changes to Mid-Atlantic bat communities across an urban-to-rural gradient

    Sabrina Deeley / Joshua B. Johnson / W. Mark Ford / J. Edward Gates

    BMC Zoology, Vol 6, Iss 1, Pp 1-

    2021  Volume 11

    Abstract: Abstract Background White-nose Syndrome (WNS) has reduced the abundance of many bat species within the United States’ Mid-Atlantic region. To determine changes within the National Park Service National Capital Region (NCR) bat communities, we surveyed ... ...

    Abstract Abstract Background White-nose Syndrome (WNS) has reduced the abundance of many bat species within the United States’ Mid-Atlantic region. To determine changes within the National Park Service National Capital Region (NCR) bat communities, we surveyed the area with mist netting and active acoustic sampling (2016–2018) and compared findings to pre-WNS (2003–2004) data. Results The results indicated the continued presence of the threatened Myotis septentrionalis (Northern Long-eared bat) and species of conservation concern, including Perimyotis subflavus (Tri-colored bat), Myotis leibii (Eastern Small-footed bat) and Myotis lucifugus (Little Brown bat). However, we documented a significant reduction in the abundance and distribution of M. lucifugus and P. subflavus, a decrease in the distribution of M. septentrionalis, and an increase in the abundance of Eptesicus fuscus (Big Brown bat). Conclusions Documented post-WNS M. septentrionalis recruitment suggests that portions of the NCR may be important bat conservation areas. Decreases in distribution and abundance of P. subflavus and M. lucifugus indicate probable extirpation from many previously occupied portions of the region.
    Keywords Bat ; Eptesicus fuscus ; Lasiurus borealis ; Myotis septentrionalis ; Urban environments ; White-nose syndrome ; Zoology ; QL1-991
    Subject code 333
    Language English
    Publishing date 2021-05-01T00:00:00Z
    Publisher BMC
    Document type Article ; Online
    Database BASE - Bielefeld Academic Search Engine (life sciences selection)

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  4. Article ; Online: Bat activity patterns relative to temporal and weather effects in a temperate coastal environment

    Katherine M. Gorman / Elaine L. Barr / Lindsay Ries / Tomás Nocera / W. Mark Ford

    Global Ecology and Conservation, Vol 30, Iss , Pp e01769- (2021)

    2021  

    Abstract: The northeastern and mid-Atlantic coasts of the United States are important summer maternity habitat and seasonal migratory corridors for many species of bats. Additionally, the effects of weather on bat activity are relatively unknown beyond coarse ... ...

    Abstract The northeastern and mid-Atlantic coasts of the United States are important summer maternity habitat and seasonal migratory corridors for many species of bats. Additionally, the effects of weather on bat activity are relatively unknown beyond coarse nightly scales. Using acoustic detectors, we assessed nightly and hourly activity patterns for eight species of bats over 21 consecutive months at Fire Island National Seashore, New York. The site is an important bat conservation area because it hosts one of the few confirmed northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis) maternity colonies in the region despite their widespread extirpation due to white-nose syndrome (WNS). There have been no reported captures of little brown bats (M. lucifugus), Indiana bats (M. sodalis), or tri-colored bats (Perimyotis subflavus) at the site post-WNS. Overall, we found mean hourly temperature, time since sunset, day of year, and year to be the most important predictors of bat activity levels for all examined species. Most non-hibernating, migratory species in our study demonstrated a positive relationship to mean temperature at the hourly timescale, whereas cave-hibernating bats tended to show a negative relationship to mean temperature during the time of year when they are expected to be active. Although most bat activity occurred in the late spring through early autumn, peaking in summer, some activity occurred periodically in the winter months, mostly attributable to the big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus) and silver-haired bat (Lasionycteris noctivigans) phonic group. Unexpectedly, relationships of bat activity to wind and precipitation were largely equivocal. Initial presence (as early as March 30) and departure (between November 1–4) for northern long-eared bats at our study area occurred earlier in the spring and later in the fall than occurs for inland populations, suggesting that the species overwinters on Long Island rather than at inland karst caves or mines. A peak in spring activity characteristic of migratory behavior ...
    Keywords Acoustic surveys ; Bat activity ; Coastal environment ; Myotis septentrionalis ; Weather ; Ecology ; QH540-549.5
    Subject code 333 ; 590
    Language English
    Publishing date 2021-10-01T00:00:00Z
    Publisher Elsevier
    Document type Article ; Online
    Database BASE - Bielefeld Academic Search Engine (life sciences selection)

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  5. Article ; Online: Unique Land Cover Classification to Assess Day-Roost Habitat Selection of Northern Long-Eared Bats on the Coastal Plain of North Carolina, USA

    Jesse L. De La Cruz / Michael C. True / Hila Taylor / Dorothy C. Brown / W. Mark Ford

    Forests, Vol 13, Iss 792, p

    2022  Volume 792

    Abstract: Reproductively successful and over-wintering populations of the endangered northern long-eared bat ( Myotis septentrionalis ) have recently been discovered on the Coastal Plain of North Carolina. Empirical data on resource selection within the region is ... ...

    Abstract Reproductively successful and over-wintering populations of the endangered northern long-eared bat ( Myotis septentrionalis ) have recently been discovered on the Coastal Plain of North Carolina. Empirical data on resource selection within the region is limited, likely hindering management of these coastal forests. Our objectives were to determine roosting home range size, selection of day-roost tree species, second- and third-order roosting habitat selection, and to quantify the overall availability of resources in the surrounding landscape. We found core and peripheral roosting home range estimates were large, yet similar to observations from other areas of contiguous forests. Prior to juvenile volancy, female northern long-eared bats appear to select red maple ( Acer rubrum ), water ash ( Fraxinus caroliniana ), and loblolly pine ( Pinus taeda ) as day-roosts, but then use sweetgum ( Liquidambar styraciflua ), swamp bay ( Persea palustris ), and water tupelo ( Nyssa aquatica ) after juvenile volancy. At the second-order spatial scale, roosting home ranges were associated with woody wetlands farther from anthropogenic development and open water. However, within the third-order scale, northern long-eared bats were associated with undeveloped woody wetlands and upland forests, areas containing shorter trees and occurring proximal to open water. Peripheral and core areas were predicted to comprise approximately 20% of the local landscape. Our results show that complex and large tracts of woody wetlands juxtaposed with upland forests in this part of the Coastal Plain may be important for northern long-eared bats locally, results largely consistent with species management efforts in eastern North America.
    Keywords roosting home range ; kernel density ; land cover classification ; multinomial regression ; Myotis septentrionalis ; northern long-eared bat ; Plant ecology ; QK900-989
    Subject code 333
    Language English
    Publishing date 2022-05-01T00:00:00Z
    Publisher MDPI AG
    Document type Article ; Online
    Database BASE - Bielefeld Academic Search Engine (life sciences selection)

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  6. Article ; Online: Patterns of acoustical activity of bats prior to and 10 years after WNS on Fort Drum Army Installation, New York

    Tomás Nocera / W. Mark Ford / Alexander Silvis / Christopher A. Dobony

    Global Ecology and Conservation, Vol 18, Iss , Pp - (2019)

    2019  

    Abstract: Previous acoustic surveys, netting, and count data have shown that overall bat activity patterns have shifted among most species between pre- and post-white-nose syndrome (WNS) years in much of North America where WNS has occurred. However, the ... ...

    Abstract Previous acoustic surveys, netting, and count data have shown that overall bat activity patterns have shifted among most species between pre- and post-white-nose syndrome (WNS) years in much of North America where WNS has occurred. However, the significance of these changes is based on the species-specific susceptibility to WNS. We used acoustically recorded echolocation passes obtained at Fort Drum, New York to describe changes in bat activity pre-WNS (2004–2007) to post-WNS (2008–2018). We examined seasonal and yearly changes in bat activity as they relate to the presence of WNS at hibernacula near (<25 km) Fort Drum. A priori, we expected that overall activity for communal hibernating species would be less in years following WNS, and migratory bats or those hibernating bats that are less affected by WNS would show no response or a positive response, due to niche relaxation/competitive release. Our results indicated both an overall and seasonal decrease in activity for Myotis spp. post-WNS. For WNS-susceptible species, our results reflect the high level of mortality in regional winter hibernacula post-WNS and possibly variable reproductive effort and recruitment thereafter. Although migratory bats did show increases in post-WNS activity throughout the summer, we found little evidence that community displacement was occurring on a nightly level by any species. The continuous spread of WNS across North America has had strong negative effects on bat populations of affected species, and our research identifies how individual species (both impacted and non-impacted) respond to WNS. Keywords: Acoustic monitoring, Myotis lucifugus, Myotis septentrionalis, Myotis sodalis, Relative activity, White-nose syndrome
    Keywords Ecology ; QH540-549.5
    Subject code 590
    Language English
    Publishing date 2019-04-01T00:00:00Z
    Publisher Elsevier
    Document type Article ; Online
    Database BASE - Bielefeld Academic Search Engine (life sciences selection)

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  7. Article: Spatial factors of white-tailed deer herbivory assessment in the central Appalachian Mountains

    Kniowski, AndrewB / W. Mark Ford

    Environmental monitoring and assessment. 2018 Apr., v. 190, no. 4

    2018  

    Abstract: Because moderate to over-abundant white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) herbivory impacts biodiversity and can alter community function, ecological benchmarks of herbivory impact are needed to assess deer impacts. We evaluated spatial patterns of ... ...

    Abstract Because moderate to over-abundant white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) herbivory impacts biodiversity and can alter community function, ecological benchmarks of herbivory impact are needed to assess deer impacts. We evaluated spatial patterns of deer herbivory and their relation to herbivory assessment by evaluating woody vegetation along 20 transects at each of 30 sites spread across a wide range of deer herd densities and vegetative condition throughout the biodiverse Appalachian Mountains of Virginia, USA. Surprisingly, herbivory patterns and the availability of woody forage generally were unchanged among physiographic regions and land use diversity classes. However, some relationships between browsing pattern and vegetation varied with scale. The total quantity of vegetation browsed on a given site and at the transect scale were related positively to the availability of forage, as the proportion of stems browsed decreased as stem density increased. However, this was only true when all stems were considered equally. When stem densities by species were weighted for deer preference, the proportion of stems browsed had no relationship or increased with stem density. Compared to the value from all transects sampled, on average, the mean of ≥ 3 transects within a site was within 0.1 of the browsing ratio and stem densities were within 0.5 stems m⁻². Our results suggest that one transect per square kilometer with a minimum of three transects may be sufficient for most browsing intensity survey requirements to assess herbivory impacts in the Appalachian region of Virginia. Still, inclusion of spatial factors to help partition variation of deer herbivory potentially may allow for improved precision and accuracy in the design of field herbivory impact assessment methods and improve their application across various landscape contexts.
    Keywords Odocoileus virginianus ; biodiversity ; browsing ; deer ; ecological zones ; herbivores ; herds ; land use ; landscapes ; stems ; surveys ; vegetation ; Appalachian region ; Virginia
    Language English
    Dates of publication 2018-04
    Size p. 248.
    Publishing place Springer International Publishing
    Document type Article
    ZDB-ID 782621-7
    ISSN 1573-2959 ; 0167-6369
    ISSN (online) 1573-2959
    ISSN 0167-6369
    DOI 10.1007/s10661-018-6627-1
    Database NAL-Catalogue (AGRICOLA)

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  8. Article: Predicting intensity of white-tailed deer herbivory in the Central Appalachian Mountains

    Kniowski, AndrewB / W. Mark Ford

    Journal of forestry research. 2018 May, v. 29, no. 3

    2018  

    Abstract: In eastern North America, white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) can have profound influences on forest biodiversity and forest successional processes. Moderate to high deer populations in the central Appalachians have resulted in lower forest ... ...

    Abstract In eastern North America, white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) can have profound influences on forest biodiversity and forest successional processes. Moderate to high deer populations in the central Appalachians have resulted in lower forest biodiversity. Legacy effects in some areas persist even following deer population reductions or declines. This has prompted managers to consider deer population management goals in light of policies designed to support conservation of biodiversity and forest regeneration while continuing to support ample recreational hunting opportunities. However, despite known relationships between herbivory intensity and biodiversity impact, little information exists on the predictability of herbivory intensity across the varied and spatially diverse habitat conditions of the central Appalachians. We examined the predictability of browsing rates across central Appalachian landscapes at four environmental scales: vegetative community characteristics, physical environment, habitat configuration, and local human and deer population demographics. In an information-theoretic approach, we found that a model fitting the number of stems browsed relative to local vegetation characteristics received most (62%) of the overall support of all tested models assessing herbivory impact. Our data suggest that deer herbivory responded most predictably to differences in vegetation quantity and type. No other spatial factors or demographic factors consistently affected browsing intensity. Because herbivory, vegetation communities, and productivity vary spatially, we suggest that effective broad-scale herbivory impact assessment should include spatially-balanced vegetation monitoring that accounts for regional differences in deer forage preference. Effective monitoring is necessary to avoid biodiversity impacts and deleterious changes in vegetation community composition that are difficult to reverse and/or may not be detected using traditional deer-density based management goals.
    Keywords Odocoileus virginianus ; biodiversity ; browsing ; community structure ; deer ; demographic statistics ; forage ; forest regeneration ; forest succession ; forests ; habitats ; herbivores ; humans ; issues and policy ; landscapes ; models ; monitoring ; plant communities ; population characteristics ; prediction ; stems ; Appalachian region ; North America
    Language English
    Dates of publication 2018-05
    Size p. 841-850.
    Publishing place Springer Berlin Heidelberg
    Document type Article
    ZDB-ID 2299615-1
    ISSN 1993-0607 ; 1007-662X
    ISSN (online) 1993-0607
    ISSN 1007-662X
    DOI 10.1007/s11676-017-0476-6
    Database NAL-Catalogue (AGRICOLA)

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  9. Article ; Online: Post-white-nose syndrome passive acoustic sampling effort for determining bat species occupancy within the mid-Atlantic region

    Sabrina M. Deeley / Nicholas J. Kalen / Samuel R. Freeze / Elaine L. Barr / W. Mark Ford

    Ecological Indicators, Vol 125, Iss , Pp 107489- (2021)

    2021  

    Abstract: We assessed the sampling effort requirements for detecting the presence of extant bat species following the impact of white-nose syndrome in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States. We acoustically sampled 27,796 nights across 846 sites between 15 ... ...

    Abstract We assessed the sampling effort requirements for detecting the presence of extant bat species following the impact of white-nose syndrome in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States. We acoustically sampled 27,796 nights across 846 sites between 15 May and 15 August 2016–2018 within the District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia. We developed simulations to determine the number of sites required to document bat species when each site was sampled different numbers of nights. We examined these simulations with respect to land cover, physiographic region, and time period. We generally found that sampling a greater number of sample sites within a survey area increased detection more than increasing the number of nights at individual sampling sites. The sampling effort required to detect a given bat species varied by species, as well as land-cover type and physiographic region. Our results suggest that land managers and researchers should use caution in using protocols developed with other objectives, e.g., the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service endangered and threatened bat species and the North American Bat monitoring programs’ methods are designed relative to their specific needs. Unfortunately, neither protocol may be adequate for accurately detecting bat communities within all mid-Atlantic areas.
    Keywords Bats ; Sampling methods ; Passive acoustics ; mid-Atlantic ; Northern long-eared bat ; Myotis septentrionalis ; Ecology ; QH540-549.5
    Subject code 590
    Language English
    Publishing date 2021-06-01T00:00:00Z
    Publisher Elsevier
    Document type Article ; Online
    Database BASE - Bielefeld Academic Search Engine (life sciences selection)

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  10. Article ; Online: Activity Patterns of Cave-Dwelling Bat Species during Pre-Hibernation Swarming and Post-Hibernation Emergence in the Central Appalachians

    Michael S. Muthersbaugh / W. Mark Ford / Alexander Silvis / Karen E. Powers

    Diversity, Vol 11, Iss 9, p

    2019  Volume 159

    Abstract: In North America, bat research efforts largely have focused on summer maternity colonies and winter hibernacula, leaving the immediate pre- and post-hibernation ecology for many species unstudied. Understanding these patterns and processes is critical ... ...

    Abstract In North America, bat research efforts largely have focused on summer maternity colonies and winter hibernacula, leaving the immediate pre- and post-hibernation ecology for many species unstudied. Understanding these patterns and processes is critical for addressing potential additive impacts to White-nose Syndrome (WNS)-affected bats, as autumn is a time of vital weight gain and fat resources are largely depleted in early spring in surviving individuals. Our study sought to examine autumn and spring bat activity patterns in the central Appalachian Mountains around three hibernacula to better understand spatio-temporal patterns during staging for hibernation and post-hibernation migration in the post-WNS environment. From early September through November 2015 and 2016, and from early March through April 2016 and 2017, we assessed the effects of distance to hibernacula and ambient conditions on nightly bat activity for Myotis spp. and big brown bats ( Eptesicus fuscus ) using zero-crossing frequency division bat detectors near cave entrances and 1 km, 2 km, and 3 km distant from caves. Following identification of echolocation calls, we used generalized linear mixed effects models to examine patterns of activity across the landscape over time and relative to weather. Overall bat activity was low at all sample sites during autumn and spring periods except at sites closest to hibernacula. Best-supported models describing bat activity varied, but date and ambient temperatures generally appeared to be major drivers of activity in both seasons. Total activity for all species had largely ceased by mid-November. Spring bat activity was variable across the sampling season, however, some activity was observed as early as mid-March, almost a month earlier than the historically accepted emergence time regionally. Current timing of restrictions on forest management activities that potentially remove day-roosts near hibernacula when bats are active on the landscape may be mismatched with actual spring post-hibernation ...
    Keywords bat activity ; caves ; central Appalachians ; emergence ; swarming ; Biology (General) ; QH301-705.5
    Subject code 590
    Language English
    Publishing date 2019-09-01T00:00:00Z
    Publisher MDPI AG
    Document type Article ; Online
    Database BASE - Bielefeld Academic Search Engine (life sciences selection)

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