Flying by night: USGS scientists put technology to work on bats

Product Type: Science Feature

Year: 2004

Author(s): Cryan, P., T. O’Shea, L. Ellison, M. Bogan, and J. Wilson

Pages: 2

Suggested Citation: Cryan, P., T. O’Shea, L. Ellison, M. Bogan, and J. Wilson. 2004. Flying by night: USGS scientists put technology to work on bats. http://www.fort.usgs.gov/resources/research_briefs/FlyNight.asp.

Abstract

How do you study something that flies under cover of darkness? This question persistently troubles scientists investigating the mysterious lives of bats. The 45 bat species that occur in the continental United States play important roles in U.S. ecosystems as major predators of flying insects and pollinators of desert plants. Bats also play an as-yet poorly understood role in disease transmission cycles. For these reasons, it is important to monitor the health of bat populations. The cryptic and nocturnal habits of bats render assessment of their status difficult. To meet this challenge, USGS scientists at the Fort Collins Science Center are employing new technology to help answer previously difficult-to-answer questions to assess the health of bat populations...