Using trace elements to identify the geographic origin of migratory bats.

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Wildlife Management
• Biogeochemistry

Background:

• Wind energy development causes migratory bat mortality.
• Identifying bat origins is crucial for effective conservation and management strategies.
• Current methods for tracing bat origins are limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the viability of using trace element analysis in fur to determine the geographic origin of eastern red bats (Lasiurus borealis).
• To develop a basemap of trace element concentrations in bat fur across eastern North America.
• To infer the summer molting locations of bats killed at wind-energy facilities.

Main Methods:

• Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was used to analyze 14 trace elements in the fur of 126 known-origin eastern red bats.
• Trace element concentrations in bat fur were compared to publicly available soil trace element data.
• A probabilistic framework was employed to generate likelihood-of-origin maps for individual bats.

Main Results:

• Trace element profiles in fur allowed for successful geographic assignment of individual bats 80% of the time.
• The method effectively reduced the probable origin areas for bats by half.
• Trace element analysis shows strong potential for identifying bat origins.

Conclusions:

• Trace element analysis of fur is a promising tool for determining the geographic origin of eastern red bats and potentially other migratory species.
• This technique can aid in managing bat populations affected by wind energy infrastructure.
• Combining trace element data with other biomarkers like genetic and stable isotope data can further enhance origin assignment accuracy.