Project period: 9 15 23-9 14 28PROJECT title: northeast mobile acoustic BAT transect data assessmentaward purpose despite the fact that some of the very first mobile acoustic surveys for BAT…

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) awarded a $405,991.06 Cooperative Agreement under the Cooperative Research Units (CFDA 15.812) program to Cornell University on September 15, 2023 for a 5-year project period. The objective is to conduct an analysis of mobile acoustic bat data collected in the Northeast region and communicate the findings to regional monitoring partners. Key activities include developing partnerships with state, federal, and non-governmental organizations to promote engagement in the North American Bat Monitoring Program, supporting partners in submitting mobile acoustic data to the program's database, and analyzing the data to evaluate trends in bat abundance and factors driving those trends. Deliverables include annual reports, technical assistance to partners, and power analyses to help partners design effective monitoring programs.

Project period: 9 15 23-9 14 28PROJECT title: northeast mobile acoustic BAT transect data assessmentaward purpose despite the fact that some of the very first mobile acoustic surveys for BAT population monitoring were conducted in new york, adoption of this survey technique has been slow within the region. Select monitoring partners in the region have conducted consistent mobile acoustic surveys, but the information gained from such surveys have not been broadly available because either the data have not been analyzed or the reports produced are not widely accessible. This leaves regional partners with the unanswered question of how can mobile acoustic surveys help fill my information needs. To address this GAP, we will conduct an analysis of mobile acoustic data collected in the northeast region and communicate what is learned to regional monitoring partners.activities to be performed - 1)develop partnerships with state, federal, and non-governmental organizations in the northeast (NY, VT, NH, me, MA, CT, RI, PA and NJ, DE, d, VA, WV) that promote engagement in the north american BAT monitoring program and cultivate collaboration on a regional analysis of mobile acoustic data. 2)support regional partners in obtaining mobile acoustic records, along with other data streams as practical, which are then entered into the nabat database via the nabat partner portal, where they will be accessed for analysis. Assist states with data entry and help to manage data partnerships. 3)analyze mobile acoustic data from the northeast region (or simulate data if mobile acoustic data are not yet available to model) to demonstrate the information that can be delivered to partners in the region using these data.deliverables and expected outcomes -1)collect acoustic files and metadata from partners, evaluate methods used to classify acoustic data.2)annual reports of accomplishments including partner contributions of data to nabat as well as basic summaries of species detections of data submitted.3)provide technical assistance to partners in uploading data to nabat database.4)annually, provide information through the nabat mobile transect working group and the nabat coordinating office on obstacles to partner participation and discuss with project sponsors to evaluate if protocols should be modified to enhance participation.5)power analyses based on partner objectives - simulating mobile acoustic data to evaluate statistical power to detect trends in relative abundance through time.6)analysis of trends in abundance for each state as well as biotic or abiotic factors driving abundance. Intended beneficiary(IES) -U.S. Geological surveyu.s. Fish and wildlife service