Ernest Valdez, PhD
Ernie Valdez is a Research Wildlife Biologist at the Fort Collins Science Center, and works at the New Mexico Landscapes Field Station in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Ernie received his doctorate degree in Biology, during 2006, at the University of New Mexico. His research interests span a variety of topics but are focused on conservation and ecology of insects and small mammals, with an emphasis on bats in temperate and tropical ecosystems. Ernie specializes in the feeding ecology and movement of insectivorous bats but also includes research on the ectoparasites of bats. His current projects include research related to white-nose syndrome, wind energy, and habitat use by bats at uranium mines in the Southwest.
Professional Experience
U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, New Mexico Landscapes Field Station, Albuquerque, New Mexico. 1997-present
National Biological Survey (NBS), Albuquerque, New Mexico. 1994-1996
U.S. Fish & Wildlife, Mid-continent Ecological Science Center, Fort Collins, Colorado. 1991-1993
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. in Biological Sciences, University of New Mexico (Advisor: Dr. J. Scott Altenbach)
M.S. in Biological Sciences, Fort Hays State University (Advisor: Dr. Jerry Choate)
Affiliations and Memberships*
Adjunct faculty member in Dept. of Biology at University of New Mexico 2007-present
Museum Research Associate in Division of Mammals at the Museum of Southwestern Biology 2007-present
Museum Research Associate in Division of Arthropods at the Museum of Southwestern Biology 2009-present
American Society of Mammalogists 1994-Life Member
Southwestern Association of Naturalists 1995-Life Member
Research Associate of Indiana State University Center for North American Bat Research Center and Conservation 2005 to present
Western Bat Working Group 2003 to present (President 2015 to present)
New Mexico Bat Working Group 1997 to present (co-chair 2008-2009)
Arizona Bat Working Group 2003 to present
Colorado Bat Working Group 2002 to present
USGS Colorado Plateau Science Strategy Team 2015
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 32
Insect prey eaten by Hoary Bats (Lasiurus cinereus) prior to fatal collisions with wind turbines
Wind turbines are being deployed all across the world to meet the growing demand for energy, and in many areas, these turbines are causing the deaths of insectivorous migratory bats. One of the hypothesized causes of bat susceptibility is that bats are attracted to insects on or near the turbines. We examined insect remains in the stomachs and intestines of hoary bats (Lasiurus cinereus) found dea
Authors
Ernest W. Valdez, Paul M. Cryan
Surveillance for White-Nose Syndrome in the bat community at El Malpais National Monument, New Mexico, 2011
From late winter to summer 2011, the U.S. Geological Survey Arid Lands Field Station conducted mist-netting efforts at El Malpais National Monument and on adjacent lands belonging to Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service to detect the occurrence of white-nose syndrome or causal fungal agent (Geomyces destructans). During this assessment, 421 bats belonging to 8 species were documented
Authors
Ernest W. Valdez
Status and Natural History of Emballonura Semicaudata Rotensis on Aguiguan, Mariana Islands
Pacific sheath-tailed bats (Emballonura semicaudata rotensis) in the Mariana Islands declined greatly in abundance and distribution during the 20th century. The small island of Aguiguan now supports the only persisting population. We studied abundance and natural history of this population from 1995–2008. There was a likely population increase during the study, with 359–466 (minimum and maximum) b
Authors
Gary J. Wiles, Thomas J. O'Shea, David J. Worthington, Jacob A. Esselstyn, Ernest W. Valdez
Bats of Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado: Composition, reproduction, and roosting habits
We determined the bat fauna at Mesa Verde National Park (Mesa Verde) in 2006 and 2007, characterized bat elevational distribution and reproduction, and investigated roosting habits of selected species. We captured 1996 bats of 15 species in mist nets set over water during 120 nights of sampling and recorded echolocation calls of an additional species. The bat fauna at Mesa Verde included every spe
Authors
Thomas J. O'Shea, Paul M. Cryan, E. Apple Snider, Ernest W. Valdez, Laura E. Ellison, Daniel J. Neubaum
Diets of the sympatric pacific sheath-tailed bat (Emballonura semicaudata rotensis) and Mariana Swiftlet (Aerodramus bartscht) on Aguiguan, Mariana Islands
The Pacific sheath-tailed bat (Emballonura semicaudata rotensis) and Mariana swiftlet (Aerodramus bartschi) are two rare insectivorous taxa restricted to the southern Mariana Islands in western Micronesia. It is believed that populations of both have dwindled because of impacts to their food resources. However, there is little information on the food habits of A. bartschi and none exists for E. s.
Authors
Ernest W. Valdez, G.J. Wiles, Thomas J. O'Shea
Does variation in cranial morphology of Myotis occultus (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) reflect a greater reliance on certain prey types?
Few studies have investigated the relationship between morphological variation and local feeding habits of bats in the United States. We used discriminant function analysis (DFA) to compare cranial morphology of Myotis occultus from southern Colorado, and central, and southern New Mexico. We analyzed guano collected from maternity colonies in southern Colorado and central New Mexico to compare foo
Authors
Ernest W. Valdez, Michael A. Bogan
Spring and winter records of the eastern pipistrelle (Perimyotis subflavus) in southeastern New Mexico
Eastern pipistrelles (Perimyotis subflavus) were first documented from South Dakota, western Texas, and New Mexico during recent years, suggesting that the distribution of this species is expanding westward across central parts of North America. In New Mexico, only 2 records of P. subflavus previously were known—one from summer and one from autumn. Here we report on 3 new records of P. subflavus f
Authors
Ernest W. Valdez, Keith Geluso, Jennifer Foote, Gosia Allison-Kosior, David M. Roemer
Food habits of the hoary bat (LASIURUS CINEREUS) during spring migration through new mexico
Hoary bats (Lasiums cinernis) exhibit continental patterns of migration that are unique to bats, but details about their behaviors during migration are lacking. We captured 177 hoary bats in spring and early summer 2002 as individuals migrated through the Sandia Mountains of north-central New Mexico. Our results support earlier observations of asynchronous timing of migration between sexes of L. c
Authors
E.W. Valdez, P.M. Cryan
Ectoparasites of the occult bat, Myotis occultus (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae)
Only a single previous study has examined ectoparasites of the occult bat (Myotis occultus), from which only 2 species of fleas were identified. For our study, we examined 202 individuals, 52 fresh hosts and 150 museum specimens, from New Mexico and southern Colorado for ectoparasites. We recorded 2158 ectoparasites, 634 from fresh hosts and 1524 from museum specimens. Ectoparasites belonged to 10
Authors
Ernest W. Valdez, Christopher M. Ritzi, John O. Whitaker
Habitat occupancy and detection of the pacific sheath-tailed bat (emballonura semicaudata) on aguiguan, commonwealth of the northern Mariana Islands
Occupancy analysis was used to quantify Pacific sheath-tailed bat (Emballonura semicaudata) foraging activity and its relationship to forest structure and proximity to cave roosts on Aguiguan Island in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Bat occurrence was most closely associated with canopy cover, vegetation stature and distance to known roosts. The metrics generated by this study c
Authors
P. M. Gorresen, F.J. Bonaccorso, C.A. Pinzari
Late-seasonal activity and diet of the evening bat (Nycticeius humeralis) in Nebraska
In North America, Nebraska represents part of the northwestern edge of the distribution for the evening bat (Nycticeius humeralis). To date, little information on this bat's natural history has been published from the state or from other parts of the Great Plains. Here we report on aspects of its natural history in Nebraska from 2 localities. In late summer and early autumn of 2006, we documented
Authors
Keith Geluso, J.P. Damm, E.W. Valdez
Mammal inventories for eight National Parks in the Southern Colorado Plateau Network
Historically, the Colorado Plateau has been the subject of many geological and biological explorations. J. W. Powell explored and mapped the canyon country of the Colorado River in 1869 (Powell 1961). C. H. Merriam, V. Bailey, M. Cary, and other employees of the Bureau of Biological Survey conducted biological explorations of the area in the late 1800s. In recent times, researchers such as S. D. D
Authors
Michael A. Bogan, Keith Geluso, Shauna Haymond, Ernest W. Valdez
Science and Products
- Publications
Filter Total Items: 32
Insect prey eaten by Hoary Bats (Lasiurus cinereus) prior to fatal collisions with wind turbines
Wind turbines are being deployed all across the world to meet the growing demand for energy, and in many areas, these turbines are causing the deaths of insectivorous migratory bats. One of the hypothesized causes of bat susceptibility is that bats are attracted to insects on or near the turbines. We examined insect remains in the stomachs and intestines of hoary bats (Lasiurus cinereus) found deaAuthorsErnest W. Valdez, Paul M. CryanSurveillance for White-Nose Syndrome in the bat community at El Malpais National Monument, New Mexico, 2011
From late winter to summer 2011, the U.S. Geological Survey Arid Lands Field Station conducted mist-netting efforts at El Malpais National Monument and on adjacent lands belonging to Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service to detect the occurrence of white-nose syndrome or causal fungal agent (Geomyces destructans). During this assessment, 421 bats belonging to 8 species were documentedAuthorsErnest W. ValdezStatus and Natural History of Emballonura Semicaudata Rotensis on Aguiguan, Mariana Islands
Pacific sheath-tailed bats (Emballonura semicaudata rotensis) in the Mariana Islands declined greatly in abundance and distribution during the 20th century. The small island of Aguiguan now supports the only persisting population. We studied abundance and natural history of this population from 1995–2008. There was a likely population increase during the study, with 359–466 (minimum and maximum) bAuthorsGary J. Wiles, Thomas J. O'Shea, David J. Worthington, Jacob A. Esselstyn, Ernest W. ValdezBats of Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado: Composition, reproduction, and roosting habits
We determined the bat fauna at Mesa Verde National Park (Mesa Verde) in 2006 and 2007, characterized bat elevational distribution and reproduction, and investigated roosting habits of selected species. We captured 1996 bats of 15 species in mist nets set over water during 120 nights of sampling and recorded echolocation calls of an additional species. The bat fauna at Mesa Verde included every speAuthorsThomas J. O'Shea, Paul M. Cryan, E. Apple Snider, Ernest W. Valdez, Laura E. Ellison, Daniel J. NeubaumDiets of the sympatric pacific sheath-tailed bat (Emballonura semicaudata rotensis) and Mariana Swiftlet (Aerodramus bartscht) on Aguiguan, Mariana Islands
The Pacific sheath-tailed bat (Emballonura semicaudata rotensis) and Mariana swiftlet (Aerodramus bartschi) are two rare insectivorous taxa restricted to the southern Mariana Islands in western Micronesia. It is believed that populations of both have dwindled because of impacts to their food resources. However, there is little information on the food habits of A. bartschi and none exists for E. s.AuthorsErnest W. Valdez, G.J. Wiles, Thomas J. O'SheaDoes variation in cranial morphology of Myotis occultus (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) reflect a greater reliance on certain prey types?
Few studies have investigated the relationship between morphological variation and local feeding habits of bats in the United States. We used discriminant function analysis (DFA) to compare cranial morphology of Myotis occultus from southern Colorado, and central, and southern New Mexico. We analyzed guano collected from maternity colonies in southern Colorado and central New Mexico to compare fooAuthorsErnest W. Valdez, Michael A. BoganSpring and winter records of the eastern pipistrelle (Perimyotis subflavus) in southeastern New Mexico
Eastern pipistrelles (Perimyotis subflavus) were first documented from South Dakota, western Texas, and New Mexico during recent years, suggesting that the distribution of this species is expanding westward across central parts of North America. In New Mexico, only 2 records of P. subflavus previously were known—one from summer and one from autumn. Here we report on 3 new records of P. subflavus fAuthorsErnest W. Valdez, Keith Geluso, Jennifer Foote, Gosia Allison-Kosior, David M. RoemerFood habits of the hoary bat (LASIURUS CINEREUS) during spring migration through new mexico
Hoary bats (Lasiums cinernis) exhibit continental patterns of migration that are unique to bats, but details about their behaviors during migration are lacking. We captured 177 hoary bats in spring and early summer 2002 as individuals migrated through the Sandia Mountains of north-central New Mexico. Our results support earlier observations of asynchronous timing of migration between sexes of L. cAuthorsE.W. Valdez, P.M. CryanEctoparasites of the occult bat, Myotis occultus (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae)
Only a single previous study has examined ectoparasites of the occult bat (Myotis occultus), from which only 2 species of fleas were identified. For our study, we examined 202 individuals, 52 fresh hosts and 150 museum specimens, from New Mexico and southern Colorado for ectoparasites. We recorded 2158 ectoparasites, 634 from fresh hosts and 1524 from museum specimens. Ectoparasites belonged to 10AuthorsErnest W. Valdez, Christopher M. Ritzi, John O. WhitakerHabitat occupancy and detection of the pacific sheath-tailed bat (emballonura semicaudata) on aguiguan, commonwealth of the northern Mariana Islands
Occupancy analysis was used to quantify Pacific sheath-tailed bat (Emballonura semicaudata) foraging activity and its relationship to forest structure and proximity to cave roosts on Aguiguan Island in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Bat occurrence was most closely associated with canopy cover, vegetation stature and distance to known roosts. The metrics generated by this study cAuthorsP. M. Gorresen, F.J. Bonaccorso, C.A. PinzariLate-seasonal activity and diet of the evening bat (Nycticeius humeralis) in Nebraska
In North America, Nebraska represents part of the northwestern edge of the distribution for the evening bat (Nycticeius humeralis). To date, little information on this bat's natural history has been published from the state or from other parts of the Great Plains. Here we report on aspects of its natural history in Nebraska from 2 localities. In late summer and early autumn of 2006, we documentedAuthorsKeith Geluso, J.P. Damm, E.W. ValdezMammal inventories for eight National Parks in the Southern Colorado Plateau Network
Historically, the Colorado Plateau has been the subject of many geological and biological explorations. J. W. Powell explored and mapped the canyon country of the Colorado River in 1869 (Powell 1961). C. H. Merriam, V. Bailey, M. Cary, and other employees of the Bureau of Biological Survey conducted biological explorations of the area in the late 1800s. In recent times, researchers such as S. D. DAuthorsMichael A. Bogan, Keith Geluso, Shauna Haymond, Ernest W. Valdez - Science
- Data
No Result Found
- Multimedia
No results found.
- News
*Disclaimer: Listing outside positions with professional scientific organizations on this Staff Profile are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of those professional scientific organizations or their activities by the USGS, Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government