Document Type
Paper
Publication Date
4-23-2025
Faculty Mentor
Matthew Leslie
Abstract
Bats occupy critical ecological niches and perform important ecosystem services like controlling insect populations. However, humans have altered bat habitat substantially, resulting in the reduction of bat populations. The goals of this research are to assess bat diversity and habitat use across different levels of suburban habitat modification. To accomplish this, we deployed passive acoustic recorders at twelve locations with varying human impact in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. In accordance with The North American Bat Monitoring Program’s standards, acoustic analysis software was used to identify bat species. Manual identification methods from The Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative were used to verify these results. Insectivorous bats were present at every recording site. Seven species were identified, and diversity was largely similar across sites. Four common species were active at most sites including two rare species in our region. These findings underscore the ability for some bats to persist across a suburban habitat mosaic, highlights the need to support habitat for rare species, and call for continued monitoring to inform adaptive management strategies and ensure long-term sustainability.
Recommended Citation
Morgera, Brittany, "Diversity and Habitat Use of Bats in Modified Suburban Landscapes" (2025). Biology Presentations. 45.
https://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/biology_pres/45
Open Access
Available to all.
Included in
Biodiversity Commons, Biology Commons, Environmental Education Commons, Environmental Indicators and Impact Assessment Commons, Environmental Monitoring Commons, Natural Resources Management and Policy Commons, Other Animal Sciences Commons, Other Environmental Sciences Commons, Zoology Commons
Comments
Presented as part of the Ursinus College Celebration of Student Achievement (CoSA) held April 23, 2025.
The downloadable file is a poster.