Zoology Program Update

Bryce A. MaxellProgram Coordinator

(406) 444-3989bmaxell@mt.gov

Braden BurkholderBiologist / Biological Data AnalystMontana Natural Heritage Program

(406) 444-0202bburkholder@mt.gov

Montana Natural Heritage Program Partner’s MeetingDecember 7, 2015

Shannon Hilty Ellen Whittle

mtnhp.org

Senior Zoologist Position• Posted at http://bit.ly/1426mtnhp• Open until January 15th

• Combination of natural history, database, writing, and entrepreneurial skills

• Search committee is composed of MTNHP, BLM, FWP, and USFS representatives

• Aiming for person in place by late February

Animal Observations/SurveysFall 2012 Fall 2013 Fall 2014 Fall 2015

Observations 1,334,551 1,438,742 1,562,954 1,672,449% Obs Pending Final Review 12% 12% 12% 0.1% SOC

16% OverallSurveys 146,306 159,448 166,513 182,608

Observations Surveys

*Added FWP Scientific Collector’s Permit data between 2006 and 2014.**About to start a new exchange of data with Ebird.

Species Occurrence Updatesfor Environmental Reviews

• Updated 37 vertebrates and 31 invertebrates • Reviewed and/or updated 28,500+

observation records for Species of Concern• Updated >9,500 Species Occurrences• Created >700 new Species Occurrences

including 187 new bat roosts and 104 new bat SOs from acoustic monitoring

* Special Thanks to Braden Burkholder, Scott Blum & Karen Newlon!

Field Guide Updates• Updated Species Accounts

for 10 Species of Concern• Literature references now

correct for all Species of Concern.

• Updated or created range maps for 63 SOC & PSOC

• Custom Field Guide Reports

* Special Thanks to Shannon Hilty & Karen Newlon!

• Ran updated models for 11 speciesBaird’s Sparrow, Bald Eagle, Canada Lynx, Fisher, Idaho Giant Salamander, Long-billed Curlew, Marten, Spalding’s Catchfly, Sprague’s Pipit, Ute Ladies’-Tresses, Whitebark Pine

• Have models for most SOC and many Non-SOC.• On verge of ability to automate model production

Predicted Distribution Models

Long-billed Curlew

SOC List Updates

Red Knot(ESA Listed Threatened, SSS, G4, SNA)

Caenis youngi – A Mayfly

Removal from SOC

Northern Myotis(ESA Listed Threatened, SSS, G1G3, SU)

G4 – S3

Removal From Species of Greatest Inventory Need

Harlequin DuckEastern Screech-OwlGreat Horned OwlLong-eared OwlNorthern Saw-whet OwlShort-eared Owl

Special Status Species Designations

Bat Surveillance Efforts

Northern Myotis Surveys

Working with Cavers

Map and Photo byHans Bodenhamer

Educational Signs – Example Small Internal Mount

Visitation and Bat Activity Monitoring

Growth of Pseudogymnoascus destructans(Verant et al. 2012, PLoS One 7(9):e46280)

Temperature (Degrees Celsius)

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Bat Acoustic Surveillance Network

Acoustic Information Through September 2015

• 44,748 nights sampled across 76 detectors (30 active)

• 520,328 hours of bat detector deployment

• >6.25 million bat passes recorded

• 40,000 call sequences examined by hand

• 6,261 call sequences definitively identified to species

• 2,104 records of monthly species presence in Montana

• 8,440,361 temperature logger records

• 61,318,343 weather station records across 625 stations

Weather Datahttp://mesowest.utah.edu/ • Station ID and start and end date of interest

• Build URL Code that includes MesoWest token• Import site specific CSV files into SQL Server

*Code in Montana Bat/WNS Surveillance Plan

Statewide Bat ActivityTotal weekly bat passes

week and month of year

Statewide Acoustic Detections by MonthAll Previous Data (blue shading), Probable (black), Definitive (red)

Temperatures (°C) of Activity= Background Temperatures Available= Flight Temperatures Used

* Coldest confirmed flight temperature is -8.6 C from an unidentified 40 kHz Myotis

Wind Speeds (M/sec) of Activity= Background Wind Speeds Available= Wind Speeds Used

Barometric Pressure Change and Activity= Hourly Barometric Pressure Changes Available (millibars of mercury) = Hourly Barometric Pressure Changes Used (millibars of mercury)

Moon Illumination and Activity= Moon Illumination Hours Available= Moon Illumination Hours Used

0 = No moon illumination1 = Full Moon

Less thanExpected

More thanExpected

More thanExpected

Less thanExpected

Upcoming Zoology Efforts• Field Guide species accounts for pollinators• Update data exchange MOU with FWP• Data review, SO, & predictive model automation• Reports for existing bat acoustic monitoring data• Bat acoustic monitoring by habitat cover type• Continue bat roost monitoring• Statewide amphibian calling surveys• Western Toad breeding site monitoring• Pryor Mtns Bat/Cave Surveys & Conservation Plan• Northern Goshawk, Raptor, and Bird Surveys on

Ashland & Sioux Districts of Custer Forest• Bat roost and mist net surveys for BLM