EDINBURGH, Ind.- The Indiana National Guard's Environmental Management Branch staff coordinated, hosted and participated in an acoustic techniques and analysis training delivered by some of the leading experts in the field of bat acoustic analysis. The training was conducted at Camp Atterbury in July and was open to outside agencies, researchers and consultants with representation from Indiana DNR Division of Forestry, Ball State University, Indiana State University and private industries.
The training event was a two-course program covering acoustic sampling techniques and analysis as it relates to the study and identification of bats through the capture (recording) and analysis of their ultrasonic echolocation calls. The first course was a frequency division class designed to give good overall understanding of the recording equipment used (bat detector) and visual bat call analysis using software.
Participants gained hands on training with multiple types of detectors in a number of field environments and learned how to manage frequency division data efficiently with a focus on how to accurately interpret recorded bat calls and identify bat species using this data. The second course focused on advanced software techniques for analysis of bat call data using a variety of filters, scans and automated identification programs.
"We are doing this to posture ourselves to best address Endangered Species Act requirements on INNG property," said Michael Peterkin, deputy chief of conservation for the Indiana National Guard.
Camp Atterbury and Muscatatuck Urban Training Center both serve as summer roost habitat to the federally endangered Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis) and the federally threatened northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis). In addition, the state endangered evening bat (Nycticeius humeralis), and state listed species of concern; little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus), tricolored bat (Perimyotis subflavus), hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus) and eastern red bat (Lasiurus borealis) are all known to use one or both of the properties.
Acoustic monitoring helps the environmental branch at Camp Atterbury develop a better picture of how various bat species are using the property over time. "This information allows us to increase the sustainability of the military training mission by integrating it with science based land stewardship as we meet legal requirements of the Endangered Species Act," said Peterkin. "The ultimate goal is ensure there is as little impact to the training mission as possible while being the best stewards of the resources entrusted to us by the American people," stated Peterkin.
The intent of training for many participants was to increase the "in house" capacity of the INNG environmental branch staff and the use of specialized equipment, software and subject matter. "It is not something that many people are able to do and not a typical set of skills required for natural resources work," said Peterkin. He hopes with time and practice the environmental staff will be able to implement a monitoring program utilizing in house assets rather than outside service contracts which will increase both the amount of data they can capture and maximize the flexibility in study design to benefit the INNG and reduce cost.
"This will augment other required bat surveys driven by Endangered Species Act requirements. With proper planning we can both train our soldiers and assist in protecting vulnerable resources," Peterkin said.