Data from: Geographic source of bats killed at wind-energy facilities in the eastern United States
Data files
Jan 12, 2024 version files 208.45 MB
Abstract
Bats subject to high rates of fatalities at wind-energy facilities are of conservation concern, but the impact on broader bat populations is difficult to assess. One reason is the poor understanding of the geographic source of individual fatalities and whether they constitute local resident individuals or migrants. Here, we used stable hydrogen isotopes, trace elements and species distribution models to determine the summer geographic origins of three different bat species (Lasiurus borealis, L. cinereus, and Lasionycteris noctivagans) killed at wind-energy facilities in Ohio and Maryland in the eastern United States. In Ohio, 58.4%, 78.7%, and 97.8% of all individuals of L. borealis, L. cinereus, and L. noctivagans, respectively, lacked evidence of movement and were likely residents. In contrast, in Maryland 22.7%, 62.9% and 72.7% of these same species were classified as residents. Our results suggest that a substantial portion of bats killed at a given wind facility are likely derived from resident populations. Finally, there is variation in the proportion of residents killed between seasons for some species and evidence of philopatry to summer roosts. Overall, these results indicate that impact of wind-energy facilities on resident bat populations may be greater than previously appreciated, but this impact is likely to vary across species and sites. Similar studies should be conducted across a boarder geographic scale to understand the impacts on bat populations from wind-energy facilities.
README: Data from: Geographic source of bats killed at wind-energy facilities in the eastern United States
https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.kd51c5bcr
Included in these files are all of the raw data (trace element and isotopic) that were used to determine the origin of bats killed at wind farms in Ohio and Maryland.
Description of the data and file structure
Key terms or abbreviations for included files:
- OH: Ohio
- MD: Maryland
- TE: Trace Elements
- isotope: stable hydrogen isotopes
- iso: isotope
- sdm: species distribution model
- combined: The combined maps of isotopes, trace elements, and species distribution models
- labo: Lasiurus borealis, eastern red bat
- laci: Lasiurus cinereus, hoary bat
- lano: Lasionycteris noctivagans, silver-haired bat
Each folder may not have the same structure. Species distribution models do not differentiate by state, or have multiple files for each species as the map created is species wide, rather than created for each individual.
The file structure for isotopes and trace elements breakdown as such [comments explaining each level in brackets, if multiple options are available all are shown split by "/"]:
maps[base folder with all generated maps]>iso/sdm[type of marker to look at, isotope or trace elements]>md/oh[state from which samples were collected]>labo/labo2/laci/laci2/lano/lano2[folder for each species, the number denotes the raw generated map (no number) or the cropped map to ensure all maps align properly (2)]>*.tif[maps for each individual]
Included in this dataset are the following items:
1. Trace element results for MD and OH \(named as such\)
2. Isotope results for MD and OH \(named as such\)
3. Folders for the following:
a. isotope maps (OH and MD)
b. trace element origin maps (OH and MD)
c. species distribution maps used (OH and MD)
d. the combined likely origin maps generated (OH and MD)
All trace element concentrations are in ppb. All isotope results are shown as a comparison of deutirum to hydrogen.
Code/Software
No new code was written for this manuscript or using these data. Code can be found in the manuscript describing the approach:
Wieringa, J.G., Nagel, J., Campbell, C.J., Nelson, D.M., Carstens, B.C. and Gibbs, H.L., 2023. Combining stable isotopes, trace elements, and distribution models to assess the geographic origins of migratory bats. Ecosphere, 14(6), p.e4588.
Methods
Data were processed following protocols set in Wieringa et al. (2023).
Wieringa, J.G., Nagel, J., Campbell, C.J., Nelson, D.M., Carstens, B.C., and Gibbs, H.L. 2023. Geographic source of bats killed at wind-energy facilities in the eastern United States. PeerJ [in submission].