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.
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.