Mark Yates

Ph.D. Candidate
Advisor: Dr. Rose-Marie Muzika
Office: 211 ABNR

Research:

Using acoustic detection methods, the distribution of bat species in the St. Francis and Black river watersheds of the Ozark Plateau region of southeastern Missouri will be determined. Using double observer detection probability methods the probability of detecting a bat species in a particular forest type was calculated by placing two Anabat bat detectors at each sample location. Remotely sensed data was used to determine the distribution and arrangement of forest patches across the landscape. Forest patches were categorized by size into small (<20ha), medium (20-100ha) and large (>100ha). Local forest structure and composition was described and noted. Correlations will be made between bat species presence and activity levels at the local site level, the patch level and the landscape level at each study area (9 square mile).