Bat activity is related to habitat type and structure in managed barrens in New England

Kay, Natalie; Sadlon, Amelia

Student Work

Bat activity is related to habitat type and structure in managed barrens in New England

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Several insectivorous bat species are found in New England, yet research on them is still scarce. Pine barrens are an uncommon ecosystem that supports other rare taxa, and could be important for these bat species. With hand-held audio recorders, we surveyed for bats in the Montague Plains Wildlife Management Area in Massachusetts and Concord Pine Barrens in New Hampshire. We analyzed our data through linear mixed effects modeling and Fisher’s exact tests, finding significance in bat activity versus habitat types and structure. Overall, we were able to measure the presence of five out of the nine total species found in the area, including the endangered little brown bat. Implications of these findings include the general importance of pine barrens as an ecosystem that supports bats, and prioritizations that may be made in conservation efforts based on the correlation of bats in our study to closed canopy habitat types. Further research is recommended to better understand the relationship between prescribed fires that are common in managed pine barrens and bat activity.

This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

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