Molecular genetic analysis of air, water, and soil to detect big brown bats in North America

Serrao, Natasha R.; Weckworth, Julie K.; McKelvey, Kevin S.; Dysthe, Joseph C.; Schwartz, Michael K.

doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2021.109252

Cited by 22 publications

(36 citation statements)

References 50 publications

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“…Using qPCR, we detected big brown bat in two environmental samples from Kentucky and eastern red bat from one sample in Ohio and one sample in Kentucky. Similar to Serrao et al (2021), we found low detection rates and low eDNA concentrations for big brown bat within an aquatic environment. In our case, all positive samples fell below LOQ and all but one below LOD.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 73%

“…These factors likely influenced the higher concentrations found within the CBD samples. Although their control setup differed from the current study, Serrao et al (2021) likewise found greater concentrations of bat eDNA in control samples compared to concentrations in the natural environment. Using qPCR, we detected big brown bat in two environmental samples from Kentucky and eastern red bat from one sample in Ohio and one sample in Kentucky.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 72%

“…Additionally, as wetlands are becoming more recognized as ecologically important bat habitat (Mas et al, 2021), eDNA may be a beneficial monitoring tool to understand the extent of bat occurrence within wetland habitat. While bat eDNA has been collected from sediment (Walker et al, 2019;Serrao et al, 2021), guano (Walker et al, 2016(Walker et al, , 2019, and air (Serrao et al, 2021), targeting eDNA from these isolated water holes provides opportunities for detection without a priori knowledge of bat roosts. Furthermore, road-ruts may provide the only DNA source for some species that roost singularly in trees, rather than in large colonies.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For bats in particular, traditional survey methods often target riparian zones, river systems, and still bodies of water where individuals gather from surrounding populations (Kiser & MacGregor, 2004; Brooks & Ford, 2005; Johnson et al, 2010), therefore these locations may also be suitable for bat surveys utilizing eDNA. However, the only investigation into aquatic eDNA bat detection found limited detection of big brown bat ( Eptesicus fuscus ) eDNA from streams in western US despite visual confirmation of presence (Serrao et al, 2021). Water samples collected across four rivers yielded only a single positive detection at very low concentrations (i.e., below limit of detection), suggesting eDNA sampling from lotic systems might limit detection of bats as their saliva may quickly become diluted and transported down river.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Detecting bat environmental DNA from water-filled road-ruts in upland forest

Marshall

Symonds

Walker

et al. 2022

Preprint

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Declines in population and diversity of North American bats are rapidly occurring due to habitat loss, incidental take from various industry projects, and lethal White-nose Syndrome disease. It is critical to accurately census habitat for appropriate conservation measures, yet traditional sampling methodology, such as mist netting and acoustic recordings, can be time-intensive and biased. Instead, a passive sampling tool that does not rely on the a priori knowledge of bat roosts may provide crucial information on bat communities. In the water-limited habitats of forested uplands of the Appalachian Plateau, water-filled road-ruts are important resources for bats. Therefore, we developed an environmental DNA (eDNA) protocol to sample isolated road-ruts that may have the presence of sloughed cellular material from actively drinking bats. The detection of bat eDNA was investigated from a positive control experiment, and across 47 water samples collected in Kentucky and Ohio. Water samples were analyzed using both species-specific quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and community metabarcoding methodologies. Using qPCR analysis, we detected eDNA from big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus) and eastern red bat (Lasiurus borealis) from water-filled road-ruts. While the community metabarcoding approach failed to detect any bat eDNA, many non-target amphibians, birds, and mammals were identified. These results suggest eDNA found within road-ruts provides an additional detection tool for surveying biodiversity across upland forests. Additionally, the use of qPCR increased the detection of rare eDNA targets, which will be crucial for properly implementing future eDNA applications for improving bat conservation efforts across the landscape.Article impact statementEnvironmental DNA provides detection of bats from drinking sources offering a novel survey method for management and conservation efforts

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 73%

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 72%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Detecting bat environmental DNA from water-filled road-ruts in upland forest

Marshall

Symonds

Walker

et al. 2022

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…To date, the most common metric of efficacy for fatality reduction tests has been to compare the number of dead bats found beneath wind turbines following nights with and without applied treatments (e.g., curtailment, acoustic deterrents [ 20 , 21 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 109 , 110 ]). This gold standard of counting carcasses to judge if a method works is fully justified and supported by robust statistical measures and laboratory techniques to enhance the quality, precision, and reliability of such data [ 111 , 112 , 113 , 114 , 115 , 116 , 117 , 118 , 119 , 120 , 121 ]. Had we relied on fatality ground searches as a metric of bat response to dim-UV treatment, we would not have been able to statistically test for treatment effects, by either attraction or deterrence, simply (and fortunately) due to the low sample size.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influencing Activity of Bats by Dimly Lighting Wind Turbine Surfaces with Ultraviolet Light

Cryan

Gorresen

Straw

et al. 2021

Animals

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Wind energy producers need deployable devices for wind turbines that prevent bat fatalities. Based on the speculation that bats approach turbines after visually mistaking them for trees, we tested a potential light-based deterrence method. It is likely that the affected bats see ultraviolet (UV) light at low intensities. Here, we present the results of a multi-month experiment to cast dim, flickering UV light across wind turbine surfaces at night. Our objectives were to refine and test a practical system for dimly UV-illuminating turbines while testing whether the experimental UV treatment influenced the activity of bats, birds, and insects. We mounted upward-facing UV light arrays on turbines and used thermal-imaging cameras to quantify the presence and activity of night-flying animals. The results demonstrated that the turbines can be lit to the highest reaches of the blades with “invisible” UV light, and the animal responses to such experimental treatment can be concurrently monitored. The UV treatment did not significantly change nighttime bat, insect, or bird activity at the wind turbine. Our findings show how observing flying animals with thermal cameras at night can help test emerging technologies intended to variably affect their behaviors around wind turbines.

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Airborne environmental DNA metabarcoding for the monitoring of terrestrial insects—A proof of concept from the field

et al. 2022

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Biodiversity is in decline due to human‐induced pressures on ecosystems around the world. To be able to counteract this alarming trend, it is paramount to closely monitor biodiversity at global scales. Because this is practically impossible with traditional methods, the last decade has seen a strong push for new solutions. In aquatic ecosystems, the monitoring of species from environmental DNA (eDNA) has emerged as one of the most powerful tools at our disposal, but in terrestrial ecosystems, the power of eDNA for monitoring has so far been hampered by the local scale of the samples. In this study, we report the successful detection of insects from airborne eDNA from samples taken in the field. We compare our results to two traditional insect monitoring methods (1) light traps for moth monitoring and (2) transect walks for the monitoring of butterflies and wild bees. Airborne eDNA metabarcoding revealed DNA from six classes of arthropods, and twelve order of insects—including representatives from the four largest orders: Diptera (flies), Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths), Coleoptera (beetles), and Hymenoptera (bees, wasps, and ants). We did not detect all species observed using traditional methods and suggest further directions for the development of airborne eDNA metabarcoding. We also recovered DNA from nine species of vertebrates, including frogs, birds, and mammals as well as from 12 other phyla. Airborne eDNA has the potential to become a powerful tool for terrestrial biodiversity monitoring, with many impactful applications including the monitoring of pests, invasive, or endangered species and disease vectors.

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Molecular genetic analysis of air, water, and soil to detect big brown bats in North America

Cited by 22 publications

References 50 publications

Detecting bat environmental DNA from water-filled road-ruts in upland forest

Detecting bat environmental DNA from water-filled road-ruts in upland forest

Influencing Activity of Bats by Dimly Lighting Wind Turbine Surfaces with Ultraviolet Light

Airborne environmental DNA metabarcoding for the monitoring of terrestrial insects—A proof of concept from the field

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