WNS is considered one of the worst wildlife diseases of modern times and threatens to decimate populations of many hibernating bat species. WNS has caused an overall estimated 90% decline in hibernating bat populations within the affected area and threatens regional or range-wide extinction in multiple species. Currently, 13 bat species, including two endangered species and one threatened species, have been confirmed with white-nose syndrome in North America. Due to the effects of WNS, the northern long-eared bat is listed as threatened and is being reconsidered for endangered status. WNS's effects reversed hard-fought gains in the recovery of the endangered Indiana bat. The tricolored bat is on the USFWS listing workplan for FY21. Little brown bats, which are found in Utah, have been listed as endangered by the IUCN and Canada and is on the USFWS workplan for FY23. Not all bat species are affected by WNS syndrome to the same degree. Some bat species show some resistance to WNS and some individuals of highly susceptible species (e.g., little brown bats, Myotis lucifugus) are persisting (Cheng et al. 2019, Dobony and Johnson 2018). There is no effective method available to treat bats in the wild or to fully control the spread and persistence of the pathogen in the environment, but many efforts to develop treatments and controls are being researched. Past management actions for reducing impacts of WNS on bat populations have primarily focused on reducing disturbance of bats through protection of hibernacula, and minimizing risks of human-assisted spread. Current WNS treatment/control efforts are focused on integrated approaches that combat the causative fungus directly or reduce infection and mortality in bats, as well as promoting overall health of bat populations to support resistance to and recovery from WNS. UDWR has a WNS response protocol which outlines goals, objectives, and strategies first designed to prevent the disease from establishing in Utah and secondly to provide management and surveillance strategies should WNS be detected in the state (Roug et al. 2017). To date, WNS has not been documented in Utah, but given past rates of spread, is expected to be confirmed in the coming years. WNS was confirmed in Wyoming in 2018 and the causative fungus was potentially detected within Grand Canyon National Park in 2019. WNS has now been confirmed in six of eighteen species known from Utah, four of which are only found in the western US. However, it is unknown how WNS will manifest in these newly impacted species and western populations of little brown bats. Utah bat species identified with diagnostic symptoms of white-nose syndrome: * Big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus) * Fringed bat (Myotis thysanodes) * Little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus) * Long-legged bat (Myotis volans) * Western long-eared bat (Myotis evotis) * Yuma bat (Myotis yumanensis) In addition to WNS, wind power is considered a growing threat to bat population, particularly migratory tree-roosting species. A widely publicized 2019 study reported that hoary bats populations in the Pacific Northwest are declining 2% a year (Rodhouse et al. 2019) which is consistent with a previous study that estimated the species could decline 90% in North America in the next 50 years (Frick et al. 2017). These two relatively novel threats are added to a background of roost disturbance and destruction, habitat alteration, among many other threats. Because of that, conservation of bat populations will require a holistic approach. To address the multiple threats to bats we developed a conservation plan and WNS protocol. Both plans call for monitoring that guides conservation actions. Since 2009, Utah has been conducting routine monitoring of bat populations that has informed a wide variety of conservation actions. We now have among the most robust pre-WNS pictures of bat populations and are uniquely poised to determine the impacts of WNS on bat occupancy and distribution as it affects western species. Over the years, we have been able to generate basic occupancy estimates, trend analyses, and presence data. Now, with 5 sampling occasions, we would like to complete more thorough analyses looking at trends in light of habitat associations, drought, and threats. We would also compare outputs from Utah sampling to more recent regional sampling efforts.

Our overall goal is to promote healthy, resilient, and diverse bat population across Utah. The objective of this project is to analyze data collected through a biologically and statistically sound statewide bat inventory and monitoring protocol since 2009. The results will provide information crucial for proactive management - a key component of the Utah Bat Conservation Plan and WNS protocol.

Addressing species before they are faced with extinction provides greater flexibility to use more cost-efficient management methods. Once species are managed at an individual level, rather than population or ecosystem, options are often limited and restrictive.

Utah Bat Conservation Plan -identifies population monitoring as the most important tool for guiding, evaluating, and adapting bat management Utah white-nose syndrome protocol - Prior to the detection of WNS in Utah- conduct activities to prevent or delay WNS spread and prepare Utah for the arrival of WNS through communication, bat population monitoring, disease surveillance, disease prevention, and public education. Obtain and compile baseline information on bat species distribution, relative abundance, and hibernacula counts. Identify and protect sites used by bats for hibernation or maternity colonies. Collect and curate existing data to help guide WNS management. White-nose syndrome national plan- this project's objectives support the Communication and Outreach (Actions A.2.1.4, A.2.3.1 and 2), Disease Surveillance (Actions F.2.1.b and c) and Conservation and Recovery (Actions G.2.1.1, 2 and 3, G.3.3.1, 4, and 7) goals outlined in the National Response Plan. North American B at Conservation Partnership Strategic Plan - supports priority research actions. Wildlife Action Plan- directly addresses threats to the Allen's big-eared bat, big free-tailed bat, fringed myotis, Townsend's big-eared bat, western red bat, and Yuma myotis identified in the Wildlife Action Plan and executes conservation actions for those species including: population research and monitoring; habitat research and monitoring; evaluating population response to change; and protecting significant areas. Species Conservation Assessment and Conservation Strategy for the Townsend's Big-eared Bat - WAFWA MOU "to identify, protect, and restore important habitats and viable Corynorhinus townsendii populations throughout the species' range in the western United States" Also supports actions identified in DoD INRMPs, BLM RMPs, and USFS plan.

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No specific federal compliance is required.

We have been conducting bat surveys following an acoustic and capture protocol at sites distributed statewide since 2009. The work is conducted every three years and as of last summer we now have 5 sampling occasions. The data was designed to be analyzed in an occupancy framework and we have been generating basic detection probability and occupancy estimates. The data volume and quality is such, that we can now perform a more thorough analysis. We will work with the USGS Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit to complete the work and determine the most appropriate analytical methods. Specific analyses will include: -Delineation of species' ranges within Utah. -Occupancy estimates and trends with those ranges. -Occupancy probabilities in relation to landscape attributes. -Trends in relation to climate variability and threats. -Identification of high-priority landscapes and attibutes for managment.

Bat monitoring has been incorporated into the UDWR Wildlife Conservation Biologists' work plans and bat monitoring protocol implementation will be a priority every three years. Additionally, UBCC members have made commitments to continue bat monitoring. If population declines are detected, additional investigation will occur to determine causes and implement appropriate conservation measures. If WNS is detected, measures outlined in the Utah WNS protocol would be implemented.

The Utah Bat Conservation Cooperative has representatives from the Department of Defense, U.S. Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, U.S.D.A. Natural Resources Conservation Service, UT Division of Wildlife Resources, UT Division of Oil, Gas, and Mining, UT Division of Parks and Recreation, Utah State University, Brigham Young University, Southern Utah State University, The Nature Conservancy, Rocky Mountain Power, Kennecott Utah Copper, Volunteers, caving grottos, and Wild Utah Project. Through that partnership, all parties have been involved in project planning and have made commitments to long-term implementation of the bat monitoring protocol and bat conservation in general. The group has biannual business meetings.

Management activities stemming from this project implementation could include, but are not limited to: restricting access to roosting habitat during critical time periods; implementing restrictions outlined in the WNS protocol if any signs of the disease are detected; and improving habitat through artificial roost structures or other on-the-ground actions. Data will be made available to partners in bat conservation though the "BatBase" web-enabled database. This database will enable biologists land managers to easily enter and search for bat data in-line with data sharing regulations.

Implementation of conservation measures for bats will help preclude the need for listing under the ESA and prevent restrictions on sustainable uses.

07/01/2022

06/30/2023

2023

1. Data Entry: Data entry for the UDWR bat databases began with transferring UTM, Date, and calculating Julian Day from site-data database(s) to the master database. This also included assessments of missing date and UTM information. Some missing date and UTM information were recovered from UDWR regional biologists. 2. Data Summarization: Data summaries were developed including calculations of the number of surveys per year, proportion of species present across surveys per year, and the number/proportion of surveys located inside and outside of UDWR 20 x 20km hexagon study sites. 3. Static Predictor Variables Static predictor variables were gathered based on information from UDWR biologists and a literature review of landscape features that best predict bat occurrence in the western United States. These data were developed across survey years and four different scales (point level, 5km, 10km, and 20km). Scales were developed based on UDWR biologist observation and a bat distribution and biology literature review. a. Spatial survey information (survey site and year) for processing in Google Earth Engine was first prepared in ArcGIS Pro for each survey year. Elevation, annual percent cover vegetation metrics from the Rangeland Analysis Platform, and Multi-scale Topographic Position Index measurements were compiled for each survey location and each year in Google Earth Engine. b. Shapefile layers for USGS National Mine Map Repository, USGS National Hydrography Dataset (Surface Water Indicator), Statewide Utah Ecoregions, and World Karst Aquifer Map (Karst indicator) were compiled and processed in ArcGIS Pro. Covariate values were developed for each survey year and across four spatial scales. Polygon features were rasterized to extract values for Karst indicator and Utah Ecoregion layers to each survey. Distances from survey location to mine feature locations and Surface Water Indicator locations were calculated using the Near analysis tool. 4. Temporal Predictor Variables Temporal predictor variables important for bat occupancy analyses based on literature review were developed in program R. a. PRISM Climate Data information consisting of two primary climate elements (mean daily temperature and daily total precipitation) were developed for each survey with temporal (date) information across four spatial scales (point level, 5km, 10km, and 20km). Survey locations without date information did not receive temporal covariate data but did receive static covariate data. 5. False-positive Occupancy Model Development Data transformation from long form data to wide form data was completed in program R to prepare species-specific occupancy matrices and environmental predictor variables for false-positive occupancy analyses in program R. a. All modeling was implemented in R package UNMARKED. A multi-season false-positive occupancy model was developed which included multiple model hypotheses to evaluate the probability of bat occupancy and detection at an occupied site. b. Covariates for probability of detection and occupancy models were selected based on hypotheses developed from literature review and personal communications with UDWR biologists. These include both temporal and spatial covariates on probability of detection and probability of occupancy. c. Simple, single-species, false-positive occupancy models have converged with a minimal number of environmental predictor variables. Once additional sites (see #6) and their associated environmental predictors variables are fully prepared, we will continue in the modeling process. 6. Distance Calculations Among Surveys a. A spatial analysis in R was completed to determine distances between ARU and capture locations within each survey year. This was due to the discovery that distances between ARU and capture locations ranged from (0km--17.2km). Sites with repeat visits in the same year and when a repeated survey was >30m away from a separate visit to the site were split into multiple sites totaling 103 new sites based on spatial discrepancies. Approximately 2/3rds of covariates have been processed for these additional sites. 7. Next Steps: a. Finalize compiling predictor variables associated with the additional sites developed from survey distance calculations. b. Perform false-positive occupancy hypotheses testing using the occuFP function in the UNMARKED package. c. Compare and interpret model results to assess bat occupancy, detection probability, and to compare model results across years to inform species population trends. d. Use the predict method in UNMARKED to develop rasterized distribution maps for each bat species. The predict function provides expected occupancy values, standard errors, and confidence intervals for each pixel. e. Identify areas of high species richness and areas of conservation priority for rare species from species distribution maps and model results. f. Compare occupancy and trend from the completed analysis to outputs from the NaBat monitoring program.

A research associate (Alan Harrington) was hired by the USGS co-op unit to complete the analysis outlined. Much time needed to be spent organizing and cleaning data to properly prepare for analyses. He has made significant progress working under ESMF funding and will complete the outlined objectives with funding from USFWS and the BLM.

The final report from this project is anticipated by January 2024. That information will be used to guide and refine statewide bat monitoring occurring next summer. With pending ESA decisions for two bats species, continued monitoring and management is needed to assess Utah's bat populations. The methods and programming code developed for this project will be available to streamline analysis in future years.