Bat_telemetry SOW.pdf

Draft Scope of Work

Arnold Air Force Base

Foraging and Roosting Ecology of Big Brown Bat (Eptesicus fuscus), Eastern Red Bat (Lasiurus borealis), Hoary Bat (Lasiurus cinereus), and

Evening Bat (Nycticeius humeralis)

I. Purpose

Bat telemetry

Roosting sites of several bat species in the central US are little studied and not well known. Prior studies have focused on southern pine forests or northern populations.

Bats typically utilize multiple roosts within an area making the protection of single roosts unfeasible. Management of forest tracks to ensure roost site availability and use are essential to bat conservation. Effective management of forests requires knowledge of the landscape characteristics of bat requirements in order to conserve roosting sites.

White nose syndrome (WNS) has resulted in the decline of once common species to the point that previous studies attempted at Arnold Air Force base (AFB) have resulted in low sample size. Three of the species identified for this project (big brown bat, Eastern red bat, and evening bat) can still be reliably captured on Base. The fourth (hoary bat) is rarely captured due to its habit of foraging high over the canopy and might not be realistically expected to be captured for this project, but is included here due to possible declines from interaction with wind turbines during migration. In the event Indiana, tricolor, or Northern long-eared bats are captured, transmitters will be attached and individuals will be included in the study. These individuals may be substituted for the project target species.

Of the four species, only big brown bat hibernates in caves and is subject to WNS.

However, spores of the fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd) that causes WNS have been identified on red bats so all species need to be tested.

II. Work elements

The contractor shall perform the following work elements for the project:

A. Study Plan Preparation: Prepare a draft study plan that presents the detailed study approach, GIS mapping procedures, sampling methods, and proposed data analysis techniques. After approval of draft by Arnold AFB, produce a final study plan.

B. Field Surveys and Data Analysis:

Bat telemetry

Capture bats between May 15 and July 31st in mist nets from foraging locations on base, following the most current Indiana Bat Summer Survey Guidelines and the most current Covid-19 Guidelines. Mist net sites will be selected with the aid of Arnold AFB. Swabs will be taken from each bat and submitted for testing for Pd. Biological and morphometric data will be recorded for each individual captured (e.g., time of capture, capture net, species, sex, age class, reproductive condition, mass, and forearm length). Captured bats of all species other than tricolored bats will be banded with a uniquely numbered aluminum lipped band provided by Arnold AFB. Tricolored bats will be banded with TWRA 2.4 mm uniquely numbered aluminum lipped bands. Attach transmitters to male and female bats with an emphasis on pregnant or lactating females. An aerial crew can collect foraging data faster than multiple ground crews and can survey several potential foraging areas as well as track multiple bats in one night. Very little is known about the foraging habits of these species and the possibility exists that ground crews could not track the full extent of their habitat use, particularly when attempting to tack multiple species that may use different habitats in varying spatial extents. Loss of contact with telemetered bats would result in a loss of the time and equipment cost invested. For these reasons, tracking in this study must be done using manned airplane (s). Up to 15 bats of each target species (or substituted species) will be tracked by aerial telemetry via said manned aircraft in addition to ground truthing via triangulation if deemed necessary. At least 30 location points will be taken per individual bat. Track all individuals to identify primary foraging habitat(s). Track via radio telemetry all individual bats to roosts for the life of the transmitter (~14 days). Past studies at AAFB have found that aerial tracking with a manned airplane(s) is also required to locate diurnal roosts of transmittered bats. Perform at least one emergence count of all identified roosts, if not hindered by type of structure or land owner restrictions, to confirm location of transmittered bat and estimate number of individuals in roost. Multiple sampling periods, possibly separated by several days, will likely be required in order to collect the required data on all individually transmittered bats. Data analysis will evaluate the landscape characteristics of the foraging habitat based on the underlying GIS vegetation and landscape geomorphology layers provided by Arnold AFB underlying the calculated total foraging area (95% confidence fixed kernel), intermediate foraging area (75% confidence fixed kernel), and core foraging area (50% confidence fixed kernel) for each bat. Analysis other than fixed kernel can be used if shown to be more and effective at representing habitat use and home range.

Data will be collected that characterizes overall habitat and individual roost trees selected by bats. Data will include: tree species, tree decay stage (Hunter 1990), tree diameter at breast height (DBH), tree height, percent bark coverage, percent usable bark (i.e., loose bark available to bats for roosting), roost type (crevice, cavity, or bark), roost height, and roost aspect.

Surrounding vegetation data will also be collected within a 0.1 ha square plot

(10 X 10 meters) around each roost tree to characterize forest type. These data will include: canopy closure at the roost tree (measured to the nearest quarter percent); a measure of canopy, sub-canopy, and understory trees characteristics; overall plot tree density (total count of canopy and sub-canopy trees) and potential roost tree (PRT) density within the plot.

C. Report Preparation: Prepare a scientifically formatted report presenting the findings of the project.

III. Reporting

A. The contractor will provide weekly phone updates as to the progress of the project. The contractor will notify conservation personnel the day following any captures of any non-target species, especially Indiana or Northern long-eared bats.

B. The contractor shall provide draft reports (electronic copy) including all data collected, results of Pd swabs by band number, maps of survey sites with overlain results of tracked bat multiple home ranges, roost sites, and any other collected data, copies of data sheets. A summary and interpretation of data also will be provided. Spreadsheets and reports summarizing the findings from any acoustic and photo analyses will also be submitted.

C. Upon review (and subsequent return) of the draft reports, comments will be addressed and the final reports will be submitted to Arnold AFB.

D. All geographic data will be provided for entry into the Arnold AFB GIS database. Format will be in SDSFIE 3.1 or determined in consultation with GIS specialist.

IV. Schedule

The project shall be implemented according to the following schedule:

Task Date Study Plan/Equipment Preparation September – April

Field Surveys and Data Analysis May – July

Report Preparation August – September

V. Deliverables

A. Study Plan (Draft and Final): The draft and final study plan shall include the following sections: Introduction; Method, including survey protocols, GIS mapping procedures, and data collection; and schedule for project implementation.

B. Progress Reports: The contractor will provide minutes from weekly phone updates. The contractor shall prepare quarterly progress reports to include a summary of progress and results in all phases of the project, including any anticipated schedule alterations and a summary of resources consumed.

C. Final Reports (Draft and Final): The final report shall be prepared in electronic and hard copies, including but not limited to the following:

Introduction describing the basis for the project and overall study approach;

Methods section including data collection procedures, maps and descriptions of the study areas, survey methods, and data analysis techniques;

Results section providing details of the study including data analysis;

Discussion section interpreting the study findings;

Management Recommendations section

Recommendations for Future Study section detailing potential projects;

D. Electronic data delivered in SDSFIE 3.1 format coordinated early in the project with AAFB GIS staff to ensure integration into Arnold AFB’s GIS. At 10.5 months after Receipt of Order, submit draft final report for two week inspection and feedback period by government. Final report due at 12 months after Receipt of Order.

Duration of project is expected to be twelve months.