Rapid Biodiversity Sampling for Bat Assemblages in Northwestern Nevada

Abstract

Bat (Chiroptera) assemblages in the western North America remain understudied despite their importance to ecosystem function and vulnerability to multiple anthropogenic stressors. We present the first large-scale survey that we are aware of for bat fauna in the Black Rock Plateau of northwestern Nevada in the northern Great Basin Desert. We conducted surveys using both acoustic and mist net methods, documenting 14 species across 19 sites sampled during a four-night period in August 2016. We surveyed over water sources, usually surrounded by cliff and canyon habitat, and in salt desert scrub, sagebrush, and woodland habitats, detecting multiple sensitive bat species (spotted bat Euderma maculatum, little brown bat Myotis lucifugus, canyon bat Parastrellus hesperus) in the canyon habitats of the High Rock region. We analyzed regional species diversity and present the utility of using multiple detection methods to enhance understanding of Chiroptera biodiversity at both local and regional scales. Our results demonstrate the utility of “BioBlitz” approaches in documenting local and regional diversity and provide insight into areas with species assemblages or vulnerable species. Knowledge of these sites is increasingly important for future disease surveillance and population monitoring.