New Mexico Landscapes Field Station: Wildlife Research
An Arizona bat or Occult bat (Myotis occultus) roost from southern CO
Dissected bat guano pellet showing insect antennae, eyes, and body parts
A field of wind turbines.
Below are ongoing or completed research projects related to wildlife at the New Mexico Landscapes Field Station.
Ecology of Insect-eating Bats
Principal Investigator - Ernie Valdez
Recently, many insectivorous bat species have suffered drastic declines in numbers due to new environmental stressors, both natural and human caused. One of these stressors is the emerging wildlife disease known as white-nose syndrome (WNS). This disease is caused by the fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans (P.d.) and has been devastating colonies of hibernating bats in the eastern United States for several years. At present, there is no known cure for WNS, which continues to spread north-, south-, and westward. It is likely that the effects of declining insectivorous bat populations will influence insect populations, including possible increases, in some geographic areas of insects that are economic pests.
Documenting Naturally Occurring Bacteria in Bats
Principal Investigator - Ernie Valdez
In 2015, three tri-colored bats (Perimyotis subflavus), a species found primarily in the eastern United States, tested positive for P.d. in eastern Oklahoma. Until March 2016, the discovery of WNS and P.d. in Washington state, these records represented the westernmost occurrence of the disease-causing fungus. In addition, records of P.d from eastern Oklahoma are also on the same latitude and trajectory as a possible corridor to the western United States via northeastern New Mexico and southeastern Colorado. In 2003, tri-colored bats were discovered in northeastern New Mexico, thus suggesting that this species is moving into the West via the riparian corridors of northeastern New Mexico.
Assessing Impacts to Ecosystems from Uranium Mining in the Grand Canyon Region
Principal Investigator - Ernie Valdez
The use of uranium is an alternative energy source to petroleum products and some of the United States’ highest quality ore is located on the Colorado Plateau. However, some regions where suitable mining efforts are conducted include areas that are near important environmental resources such as National Parks that provide views and habitat for wildlife. Research is ongoing to reduce the uncertainties of mining impacts and effects on water quality and quantity, and better understand the potential toxicological and radiological effects of mining on wildlife, as well as to evaluate the potential impacts on cultural and tribal resources.
Surveillance for the Presence of White-Nose Syndrome in the Bat Community at El Malpais National Monument, New Mexico
Principal Investigator - Ernie Valdez
To better plan and manage for the possible arrival of WNS, it is imperative to have current information on the occurrence of bat species and the types of habitat they use in the national monument. These data will serve as a current baseline on the status of the existing species and can be compared to historic and future studies alike.
The purpose of this study is to locate new hibernacula (locations where bats hibernate), as well as provide an up-to-date assessment of bats and their microbiota that occur on El Malpais National Monument. This study will provide new insight into which species may be affected by the potential occurrence of white-nose syndrome. Moreover, information from this study will provide information that is critical for managing habitat of the park as well as insight into which species may be using the lava tube systems.
This study will be initiated with a review of the literature, as well as the database of species encountered during the 1999-2000 bat assessment conducted by the US Geological Survey. Field studies that include acoustic monitoring and mist netting bats over open water sources will target early emergence of bats during late winter and early spring to allow for detection of hibernacula across the landscape and evidence of WNS, respectively. Mist netting will continue throughout the spring and likely the summer of 2013. All efforts are dependent on local weather conditions and available funding.
Bat Fatalities at Wind Turbines—Investigating the Causes and Consequences
Principal Investigators - Ernie Valdez and Paul Cryan
Wind energy is one of the fastest-growing industries in the world and represents an important step toward reducing dependence on nonrenewable sources of power. However, unprecedented numbers of tree-roosting bats are dying at wind turbines on multiple continents, raising concerns about the well-being of these animals. While causes of bat fatalities at wind turbines remain unknown, potential clues can be found in the patterns of fatalities. Scientists in the Wildlife Ecology Branch at FORT, in collaboration with other U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) science centers as well as partners from Federal, State, and non-governmental organizations, are using these clues to focus research efforts. Investigations are underway to better identify the seasonal distributions, habitat needs, and migration patterns of species showing greatest susceptibility, assess the potential roles of mating and feeding behaviors in turbine collisions, develop new video-based methods for studying and monitoring bats flying around wind turbines at night, and test whether bats are attracted to turbines. Findings from these studies are leading us toward new ways of monitoring and possibly avoiding bat fatalities at wind turbines.
The New Mexico Landscapes Field Station
External Microbiota of Bats as Potential Bio-control Against Wildlife Diseases
Ecology of Insect-eating Bats
Bat Fatalities at Wind Turbines—Investigating the Causes and Consequences
Surveillance for the Presence of White-Nose Syndrome in the Bat Community at El Malpais National Monument, New Mexico
Assessing Impacts to Ecosystems from Uranium Mining in the Grand Canyon Region
Below are ongoing or completed research projects related to wildlife at the New Mexico Landscapes Field Station.
Ecology of Insect-eating Bats
Principal Investigator - Ernie Valdez
Recently, many insectivorous bat species have suffered drastic declines in numbers due to new environmental stressors, both natural and human caused. One of these stressors is the emerging wildlife disease known as white-nose syndrome (WNS). This disease is caused by the fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans (P.d.) and has been devastating colonies of hibernating bats in the eastern United States for several years. At present, there is no known cure for WNS, which continues to spread north-, south-, and westward. It is likely that the effects of declining insectivorous bat populations will influence insect populations, including possible increases, in some geographic areas of insects that are economic pests.
Documenting Naturally Occurring Bacteria in Bats
Principal Investigator - Ernie Valdez
In 2015, three tri-colored bats (Perimyotis subflavus), a species found primarily in the eastern United States, tested positive for P.d. in eastern Oklahoma. Until March 2016, the discovery of WNS and P.d. in Washington state, these records represented the westernmost occurrence of the disease-causing fungus. In addition, records of P.d from eastern Oklahoma are also on the same latitude and trajectory as a possible corridor to the western United States via northeastern New Mexico and southeastern Colorado. In 2003, tri-colored bats were discovered in northeastern New Mexico, thus suggesting that this species is moving into the West via the riparian corridors of northeastern New Mexico.
Assessing Impacts to Ecosystems from Uranium Mining in the Grand Canyon Region
Principal Investigator - Ernie Valdez
The use of uranium is an alternative energy source to petroleum products and some of the United States’ highest quality ore is located on the Colorado Plateau. However, some regions where suitable mining efforts are conducted include areas that are near important environmental resources such as National Parks that provide views and habitat for wildlife. Research is ongoing to reduce the uncertainties of mining impacts and effects on water quality and quantity, and better understand the potential toxicological and radiological effects of mining on wildlife, as well as to evaluate the potential impacts on cultural and tribal resources.
Surveillance for the Presence of White-Nose Syndrome in the Bat Community at El Malpais National Monument, New Mexico
Principal Investigator - Ernie Valdez
To better plan and manage for the possible arrival of WNS, it is imperative to have current information on the occurrence of bat species and the types of habitat they use in the national monument. These data will serve as a current baseline on the status of the existing species and can be compared to historic and future studies alike.
The purpose of this study is to locate new hibernacula (locations where bats hibernate), as well as provide an up-to-date assessment of bats and their microbiota that occur on El Malpais National Monument. This study will provide new insight into which species may be affected by the potential occurrence of white-nose syndrome. Moreover, information from this study will provide information that is critical for managing habitat of the park as well as insight into which species may be using the lava tube systems.
This study will be initiated with a review of the literature, as well as the database of species encountered during the 1999-2000 bat assessment conducted by the US Geological Survey. Field studies that include acoustic monitoring and mist netting bats over open water sources will target early emergence of bats during late winter and early spring to allow for detection of hibernacula across the landscape and evidence of WNS, respectively. Mist netting will continue throughout the spring and likely the summer of 2013. All efforts are dependent on local weather conditions and available funding.
Bat Fatalities at Wind Turbines—Investigating the Causes and Consequences
Principal Investigators - Ernie Valdez and Paul Cryan
Wind energy is one of the fastest-growing industries in the world and represents an important step toward reducing dependence on nonrenewable sources of power. However, unprecedented numbers of tree-roosting bats are dying at wind turbines on multiple continents, raising concerns about the well-being of these animals. While causes of bat fatalities at wind turbines remain unknown, potential clues can be found in the patterns of fatalities. Scientists in the Wildlife Ecology Branch at FORT, in collaboration with other U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) science centers as well as partners from Federal, State, and non-governmental organizations, are using these clues to focus research efforts. Investigations are underway to better identify the seasonal distributions, habitat needs, and migration patterns of species showing greatest susceptibility, assess the potential roles of mating and feeding behaviors in turbine collisions, develop new video-based methods for studying and monitoring bats flying around wind turbines at night, and test whether bats are attracted to turbines. Findings from these studies are leading us toward new ways of monitoring and possibly avoiding bat fatalities at wind turbines.