Genetic Approaches to Assessing the Impact of Wind Turbines on Eastern Red Bats

Presentation Type

Oral and/or Visual Presentation

Presenter Major(s)

Biology

Mentor Information

Amy Russell, russelam@gvsu.edu

Department

Biology

Location

Kirkhof Center 2270

Start Date

13-4-2011 2:30 PM

End Date

13-4-2011 3:00 PM

Keywords

Environment, Global Change, Technology

Abstract

Wind turbines are a conservation threat for wildlife, particularly birds and bats. In North America, hoary bats, eastern red bats, and silver-haired bats are the bat species primarily affected, however, basic elements of the life history of these species are unknown. We present results detailing the demographic trends of eastern red bat populations in response to conservation pressures from wind farms. Mitochondrial data reveal a large, panmictic, and growing population; however, inference from these data are limited to the females of the species and are subject to sampling error. We explore the utility of the autosomal chymase locus to evaluate the presence of sex-specific dispersal and to provide a multilocus estimate of effective population size and population growth rate. These data will provide the genetic and demographic background necessary to understand the potential biological and ecological impacts of increased wind power development on eastern red bat populations.

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Apr 13th, 2:30 PM Apr 13th, 3:00 PM

Genetic Approaches to Assessing the Impact of Wind Turbines on Eastern Red Bats

Kirkhof Center 2270

Wind turbines are a conservation threat for wildlife, particularly birds and bats. In North America, hoary bats, eastern red bats, and silver-haired bats are the bat species primarily affected, however, basic elements of the life history of these species are unknown. We present results detailing the demographic trends of eastern red bat populations in response to conservation pressures from wind farms. Mitochondrial data reveal a large, panmictic, and growing population; however, inference from these data are limited to the females of the species and are subject to sampling error. We explore the utility of the autosomal chymase locus to evaluate the presence of sex-specific dispersal and to provide a multilocus estimate of effective population size and population growth rate. These data will provide the genetic and demographic background necessary to understand the potential biological and ecological impacts of increased wind power development on eastern red bat populations.