Participation Type
Paper
Session Title
Session 5.04 Environment and Ecology
Presentation #1 Title
Acoustic Monitoring and Detection of the Northern Flying Squirrel
Presentation #1 Abstract or Summary
The Northern flying squirrel, glaucomys sabrinus fuscus, is a nocturnal squirrel and one of nine federally listed species in West Virginia; moreover, over 90% of their habitat exists in the Southeastern portion of the state. This experiment investigates the effectiveness of acoustic monitoring for determining the presence as well as fitness of the Northern flying squirrel in West Virginia’s Kumbrabow State Forest. A recovery plan exists to restore the population, but the methods to quantify its success have yielded potentially inaccurate results. Instead of the existing procedures of live trapping or monitoring nest boxes, I am using acoustic sound recording to better indicate the presence of the squirrels. Pettersson ultrasound detectors were placed around areas where squirrel nest boxes have been established. These devices were left to record over night and the following morning the recorded data was downloaded and analyzed using BatSound acoustic software. This allows the calls to be identified and confirmed as a Northern flying squirrel. Results of this study will give additional information of the range and distribution of this species, and ultimately test the success of habitat restoration in the area.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #1
Junior Yeager Scholar at Marshall University majoring in biology.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #2
Not a presenter--coauthor.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #3
not a presenter--coauthor.
Acoustic Monitoring and Detection of the Northern Flying Squirrel
Smith Music Hall 110
The Northern flying squirrel, glaucomys sabrinus fuscus, is a nocturnal squirrel and one of nine federally listed species in West Virginia; moreover, over 90% of their habitat exists in the Southeastern portion of the state. This experiment investigates the effectiveness of acoustic monitoring for determining the presence as well as fitness of the Northern flying squirrel in West Virginia’s Kumbrabow State Forest. A recovery plan exists to restore the population, but the methods to quantify its success have yielded potentially inaccurate results. Instead of the existing procedures of live trapping or monitoring nest boxes, I am using acoustic sound recording to better indicate the presence of the squirrels. Pettersson ultrasound detectors were placed around areas where squirrel nest boxes have been established. These devices were left to record over night and the following morning the recorded data was downloaded and analyzed using BatSound acoustic software. This allows the calls to be identified and confirmed as a Northern flying squirrel. Results of this study will give additional information of the range and distribution of this species, and ultimately test the success of habitat restoration in the area.
