Distributions and habitat associations of four BAT species in kansas.project period: 09 01 2024 - 05 31 2027THE U.S. Geological survey kansas cooperative fish and wildlife research unit and division…

This Cooperative Agreement award from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Cooperative Research Units (CFDA 15.812) program, totaling $114,004.00, funds a project to assess the presence, relative abundance, activity patterns, and habitat use of four bat species of conservation concern in Kansas. The project involves a collaboration between the USGS Kansas Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Kansas State University Division of Biology, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Kansas Ecological Services Field Office. Key activities include conducting acoustic and mist net surveys to determine the occurrence of Northern Long-eared Bat, Tri-colored Bat, Little Brown Bat, and Hoary Bat across multiple ecoregions in Kansas. The results will inform management and conservation decisions for these bat species, which are either listed as threatened or endangered or being considered for listing across their range.

Distributions and habitat associations of four BAT species in kansas.project period: 09 01 2024 - 05 31 2027THE U.S. Geological survey kansas cooperative fish and wildlife research unit and division of biology, kansas state university will collaborate with kansas ecological service field office, U.S. Fish and wildlife service to assess the presence, relative abundance, activity patterns, and habitat use by four BAT species of conservation concern: northern long-eared BAT (myotis septentrionalis myse), TRI-colored BAT (perimyotis subflavus pesu), little brown BAT (myotis lucifugus mylu), and hoary BAT (lasiurus cinereus, laci). The kansas ecological services field office lacks basic information on federally listed BAT species and species that could potentially be listed in the future as endangered or threatened. The lack of information on bats in kansas impedes the ability of kansas ecological services office to evaluate species status and perform thorough, in-depth consultations on threatened and endangered species under sections 7 and 10 of the endangered species act (ESA). Furthermore, the lack of data and information restricts the office ability and efficacy to work with our partners to implement conservation actions by partner organizations in kansas. Activities to be performed - the objectives of this work are to determine occurrence, habitat associations, and activity patterns of myse, mylu, pesu, and laci in ecoregions of kansas. A synthesis of known occurrence records will be conducted. All standard practices and protocols for BAT surveys as designed by USFWS (2024) will be followed and instituted. Acoustic surveys will be conducted first to determine presence of myse, mylu, pesu, and laci at selected sites stratified by percent woody cover. Mist net surveys will be conducted to confirm presence at locations where acoustic data indicates possible presence of the target species and if site conditions are adequate to place mist nets. Deliverables and expected outcomes - annual reports december 2025, 2026 final report 31 may 2027. At least 1 manuscript will be submitted to scientific journals annual professional presentations at professional, agency, and other meetings and available inputs when request for conservation planning and policy development. The results will contribute to a larger collaborative effort investing BAT ecology throughout north america (nabat). Intended beneficiary(IES) the BAT species of interest are either listed as threatened or endangered or being considered for listing across their range. These species are dependent upon unique habitats for persistence of many populations. Data collected through the current project will feed into investigations that will inform management and conservation decisions by U.S. Fish and wildlife service, U.S. Department of agriculture, state natural resource agencies, and private landowners. Subrecipient activities, if known or specified at the time of award n a