Bat Species of Northeast Texas: A Bioacoustics Assessment

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Biological and Environmental Sciences

Date of Award

8-14-2024

Abstract

Bats are significant to our ecosystem, but little is known about the species of bats that reside in Northeast Texas. Bioacoustics methods will be performed using Echo Meter Touch 2 to determine what species are present in Northeast Texas. Recordings will be taken at multiple areas in Northeast Texas between the dates of March 25, 2023, through October 1, 2023, at least twice. Eleven species of bats from the Vespertilionidae family are hypothesized to be detected: the Seminole bat (Lasiurus seminolus), the Evening bat (Nycticeius humeralis), the Hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus), the Tri-colored bat (Perimyotis subflavus), the Eastern red bat (Lasiurus borealis), the Western red bat (Lasiurus blossevillii), the Southeastern Myotis (Myotis austroriparius), the Northern Long-eared Myotis bat (Myotis septentrionalis), Big Brown Bat (Eptesicus fuscus), Rafinesque's Big-eared Bat (Corynorhinus rafinesquii), and the Brazilian Free-tailed Bat (Tadarida brasiliensis) (TPWD, 2016). as these are forest-dwelling species. With these positive detections, a habitat and statistical analysis will be created for each area where a positive detection was made. This study will be the first step to discovering and conserving bat species in Northeast Texas.

Advisor

Johanna Delgado-Acevedo

Subject Categories

Animal Sciences | Life Sciences

Share

COinS