Using Bayesian Occupancy Modeling to Inform Bat Conservation in Indiana

Using historic acoustic bat data collected by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, we constructed Bayesian occupancy models to gain insights into bat communities and populations across Indiana. Through use of informative prior distributions, we addressed two important considerations for bat conservation with our occupancy models: 1) exploring a compensatory community dynamic causing the expansion of evening bat (Nycticeius humeralis) populations in Indiana following the establishment of white-nose syndrome (WNS), and 2) estimating a percent decline of summertime hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus) populations in Indiana due to wind energy development. We found evidence for a potential compensatory community dynamic in the evening bat system, in which losses of the Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis) and the little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus) due to WNS may be resulting in new realized niche space for evening bats, thereby contributing to a compensatory community dynamic. In our hoary bat system, we found evidence of a regional summertime decline of 8.9% annually since 2012. These findings have important conservation implications considering imperiled nature and conservation priorities for bats in North America.