Mammal Inventories
BISC
Network
Wide
Biscayne National Park- Small and Medium Sized Mammals
Project Title:
Small and Medium Mammal Species Inventory Within Biscayne National Park,
Florida
Download final report: (556 Kb)
Date:
June 2002 - October 2003
Cooperator:
Dr. Michael S. Gaines and Dr. Harald Beck University of Miami,
Department of Biology
Contact Information:
University of Miami, Department of Biology
Coral Gables, Fl. 33124
m.gaines@miami.edu
Purpose:
The goal of this study was to inventory the small- and medium-sized
mammal species at four mainland locations and seven Keys within the
Biscayne National Park, Florida to provide baseline for future management
strategies.
The goal of this study was to inventory the small- and medium-sized
mammal species at four mainland locations and seven Keys (Elliot Key,
Boca Chita Key, Sands Key, Adams Key, Old Rhodes Key, Totten Key, and
Long Arsenicker Key) within Biscayne National Park. Small- and
medium-sized mammal species were live-trapped and visually surveyed.
Each trapping site was selected to correspond to the locations
of the previously carried out vascular plant inventories. On the mainland
four trapping grids were used. Four common raccoons (Procyon
lotor), six black rats (Rattus rattus), five
adult female Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana), and one
rabbit (probably a marsh rabbit, Sylvilagus palustris) were
captured at the mainland sites. For the seven keys, 28 female raccoons
(P. lotor), 26 male raccoons (P. lotor), 10 male black
rats (R. rattus), and 8 female black rats (R. rattus)
were found.
Native small/medium mammals such as the deer mouse (Peromyscus gossypinus),
cotton rat (Sigmodon hispidus), rice rat (Oryzomys palustris),
and round-tailed muskrat (Neofiber alleni) were not found.
One marsh rabbit (S. palustris), and one Virginia opossum (D.
virginiana) were the only native mammal species captured. It is
unclear if black rats (exotic) and raccoons out-compete other native
mammal species.
Project Title:
South Florida / Caribbean Network Bat Inventories (All Parks)
Date:
Spring 2003 - Spring 2006
Cooperator:
Fly By Night Inc. www.flybynightinc.com
Co-investigators:
Thomas G. Finn
Dog - "Bruce Wayne"
Contact Information:
Laura Seckbach Finn
laura@flybynightinc.org
Fly By Night, Inc.
P.O. Box 562
Osteen , FL 32764-0562
407-324-0647 or 407-414-2142
Objective:
The National Park Service (NPS) recognizes the need for better baseline
information on the natural resources. The NPS's Inventory and Monitoring
Program (I&M) is required to begin to build baseline data sets.
The goal for this project is to bring the parks above a 90% level of
species knowledge for an inventory project focusing on the bats in all
six network parks: Big Cypress National Preserve, Biscayne National
Park , Buck Island Reef National Monument , Dry Tortugas National Park
, Everglades National Park , and Virgin Islands National Park . The
South Florida / Caribbean Inventory and Monitoring Network seeks proposals
for bat inventories in Big Cypress National Preserve, Buck Island Reef
National Monument, Dry Tortugas National Park, Everglades National Park,
and Virgin Islands National Park. These inventories will be part of
the National Park Service's Inventory and Monitoring program. Methods
included the use of Anabat bat detectors to record echolocation calls,
standard capture methods and a scent-trained dog to aid in the search
for day roosts.
Summary of Overall Progress and Methods:
As of 31 March 2004 , a total of 14 field surveys have been
completed for the bat I & M project. The 2003 IAR's were submitted
online for work completed at BICY, BISC, BUIS, DRTO and VIIS.
Five field surveys were conducted in 2004 and field surveys at Biscayne
NP and the Dry Tortugas are now complete (see above schedule). The 2004
IAR's and Final Report's for BISC and DRTO are currently in progress.
The research permit application was submitted for EVER and a preliminary
reconnaissance survey was conducted the week of 22 March 2004 . The
application remains in progress for a final research permit at BICY.
The fieldwork conducted during 2004 is summarized below.
See the 2003 Annual report for a summary of methods. Sorting and analysis
of Anabat files collected during the 2003 surveys remains in progress.
Transcription of field notes and data entry remains 'in-progress'.
2004 Field Survey Summaries:
Biscayne
The cool season BISC bat survey was conducted in January 2004, completing
the field work at Biscayne NP. During the Jan BISC survey, over 1400
Anabat files were collected. Anabat systems were placed on Elliot Key
(3 sites), Adams Key (1 site), Boca Chita (2 sites), Porgy's Key (1
site) and at the NPS Headquarters/Visitors center (1 site). Mobile Anabat
monitoring was conducted along mainland canal roads and near the Headquarters/Visitor
center. The roost survey included mainland and island structures, the
Stiltsville houses, and offshore towers. No roosts were identified in
January.
Dry Tortugas
The cool season DRTO survey occurred in March 2004, completing
the field work at DRTO. The survey was originally scheduled for February
2004, but was rescheduled for logistical reasons. During the March DRTO
survey, over 1200 Anabat files were collected at five sites on Garden
Key and Loggerhead Key. However, bat calls were confirmed in less than
10 files. Potential roost sites were examined for evidence of bat activity,
these included Fort Jefferson , cavity trees and man-made structures
on both Garden and Loggerhead Keys . Although potential roost areas
were abundant, the scent-dog "Bruce Wayne" did not alert at
any location and no roost sites were identified during the DRTO surveys.
Everglades
A preliminary 'recon' survey at EVER occurred in March 2004. .. During that session, over 4,000 Anabat files were collected at two remote sites and during mobile monitoring. A search for potential roosts was conducted with skip Snow, airboat with Bob Zepp & house boat with buckley.
Caribbean
Occupied roosts inside and outside NPS park boundaries at BUIS and VIIS
were re-visited visited in Jan 2004. New sites visited include the West
Indies Lab... Photographs (digital & 35mm) and video images were
recorded at roost sites. A separate USVI research permit was approved
for work outside the VIIS boundary. The final field survey is currently
scheduled for June 2004.
Buck Island Reef National Park
The cool season BUIS survey occurred in January 2004. During the
BUIS surveys, over 4,000 Anabat files were collected at five remote
sites. During a thorough examination of crevices at BUIS, minimal evidence
of bat activity was observed and no occupied roosts were located. No
foraging bats were observed at BUIS in January and no capture attempts
were made.
Virgin Islands National Park
The cool season VIIS surveys occurred in January 2004. At VIIS,
over 8,000 Anabat files were collected at 15 sites and during mobile
monitoring. Occupied day roosts used by Molossus, Brachyphylla,
Artibeus and Noctilio were revisited, but new roosts
were not identified. Bat activity was observed near mist nets that were
set at the petroglyphs, but no bats were captured in January. Guano
and parasite samples collected during the VIIS survey were submitted
to John Whitaker at Indiana State University.