Browsing by Author "Moen, Ronald"
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Item Accuracy and location success of an ultralite GPS unit(University of Minnesota Duluth, 2014) Elfelt, Morgan; Moen, RonaldTechnological advances in GPS tracking units for wildlife have led to smaller and lighter devices. Increased battery life allows for collection of more locations. Before a new device is used in the field, it is important to evaluate its performance in order to more accurately interpret the raw data collected. Our objective was to determine the accuracy and location success of the G10 Ultralite GPS logger for potential use in a study of wood turtles (Glyptemys insculpta). We conducted stationary and moving tests under a variety of device settings and field conditions. For stationary tests, accuracy was measured by calculating the 50% and 95% circular error probable (CEP) at each test location. The CEP is the radius of a circle centered at the true location which contains either 50% or 90% of locations. We also calculated angular dispersion of each dataset, a measure of the direction and concentration of locations. Moving tests were conducted at two sites where wood turtles occur in order to evaluate the GPS unit performance under expected field conditions. Location success was ≥ 95% for all tests, including moving tests, indicating strong potential for consistent performance in the field. Location accuracy was not affected by snapshot size, location interval, or canopy cover. The angular dispersion values calculated indicated little bias in any compass direction, although smaller datasets had greater bias. The 95% CEP for most tests was < 40 m, demonstrating feasibility for assessment of wood turtle movements and habitat use. Integrating use of a temperature sensor would allow for better determination of aquatic vs. terrestrial behavior. To increase accuracy of GPS datasets, data should be screened to identify and remove outliers, using prior knowledge of animal movement characteristics. The high accuracy and location success documented in our tests combined with low power consumption and high storage capacity demonstrates the potential of the G10 Ultralite as an effective animal tracking device.Item Accuracy of a Modular GPS/GLONASS Receiver(University of Minnesota Duluth, 2018) Joyce, Michael; Moen, RonaldOne of the main factors that affect GPS location accuracy is the type of GPS receiver being used. In general, more expensive receivers (e.g., mapping-grade or survey-grade receivers) provide better accuracy, and GPS users must balance GPS receiver cost with location accuracy when determining which receiver to use. Applications of GPS often require use of GPS receivers in less than ideal conditions while GPS manufacturers often report accuracy specifications that can be expected under ideal conditions. Forest canopies reduce GPS accuracy by interfering with signal transmission between GPS satellites and the GPS receiver and causing multipath errors. When GPS receivers are to be used in forest conditions and accuracy thresholds must be met, it is important to conduct accuracy testing in forest conditions rather than relying on accuracy specifications provided by the manufacturer. We tested the accuracy of the SXBlue II + GNSS, a modular, mapping-grade GPS receiver, under forest canopies in northeastern Minnesota. We estimated cumulative accuracy to evaluate the relationship between collection period and accuracy. GPS test sites covered a range of canopy conditions. We compared accuracy among sites to determine how canopy closure influenced location accuracy. Finally, we compared post-hoc methods to evaluate accuracy based on characteristics of the sites and acquired GPS fixes. The SXBlue II + GNSS receiver typically provided meter or sub-meter accuracy, even under forest canopy. Maximum accuracy was achieved after 10-30 minutes. Accuracy was lower at sites with higher canopy closure values. In sites with canopy closure >65%, maximum accuracy was reduced to 1.5 m. Post-hoc filtering to remove outliers did not improve accuracy. There was a strong, positive relationship between 50% CEP, a measure of location precision, and accuracy, suggesting that 50% CEP can be used for post-hoc accuracy assessment. Our results suggest that the SXBlue II + GNSS provides sufficient accuracy for a wide range of applications, including those that require GPS location measurement in forest conditions.Item Accuracy of a Modular GPS/GLONASS Receiver(University of Minnesota Duluth, 2018) Joyce, Michael; Moen, RonaldOne of the main factors that affect GPS location accuracy is the type of GPS receiver being used. In general, more expensive receivers (e.g., mapping-grade or survey-grade receivers) provide better accuracy, and GPS users must balance GPS receiver cost with location accuracy when determining which receiver to use. Applications of GPS often require use of GPS receivers in less than ideal conditions while GPS manufacturers often report accuracy specifications that can be expected under ideal conditions. Forest canopies reduce GPS accuracy by interfering with signal transmission between GPS satellites and the GPS receiver and causing multipath errors. When GPS receivers are to be used in forest conditions and accuracy thresholds must be met, it is important to conduct accuracy testing in forest conditions rather than relying on accuracy specifications provided by the manufacturer. We tested the accuracy of the SXBlue II + GNSS, a modular, mapping-grade GPS receiver, under forest canopies in northeastern Minnesota. We estimated cumulative accuracy to evaluate the relationship between collection period and accuracy. GPS test sites covered a range of canopy conditions. We compared accuracy among sites to determine how canopy closure influenced location accuracy. Finally, we compared post-hoc methods to evaluate accuracy based on characteristics of the sites and acquired GPS fixes. The SXBlue II + GNSS receiver typically provided meter or sub-meter accuracy, even under forest canopy. Maximum accuracy was achieved after 10-30 minutes. Accuracy was lower at sites with higher canopy closure values. In sites with canopy closure >65%, maximum accuracy was reduced to 1.5 m. Post-hoc filtering to remove outliers did not improve accuracy. There was a strong, positive relationship between 50% CEP, a measure of location precision, and accuracy, suggesting that 50% CEP can be used for post-hoc accuracy assessment. Our results suggest that the SXBlue II + GNSS provides sufficient accuracy for a wide range of applications, including those that require GPS location measurement in forest conditions.Item Acoustic Bat Research at Lake Vermilion – Soudan Underground Mine State Park in 2018(University of Minnesota Duluth, 2018-12) Moen, Ronald; Swingen, MorganThe Soudan Mine at Lake Vermilion – Soudan Underground Mine State Park (LVSUMSP) is the largest known bat hibernacula in Minnesota. In 2012, the fungus that causes white-nose syndrome (WNS) was detected in Soudan Underground Mine, and the first bats at this hibernaculum with WNS symptoms were observed during the winter of 2015–2016. The appearance of WNS, observations of dead and dying bats by park staff, and no northern long-eared bats being observed in 2017 winter surveys was cause for concern. In this report we summarize bat call data collected at the Alaska shaft and the No. 8 mine shaft at the Soudan Mine in the spring and fall of 2018. We also include a subset of the bat call data collected in 2017 in this report, as well as data from the 2004 acoustic detector work (Nordquist et al. 2006). A consistent pattern over the past two years of acoustic detection at the LVSUMSP is that the little brown bat is by far the most common species present at the mine shafts. The second most common species is the northern long-eared bat. Little brown bats had begun emerging from the mine shafts in mid-April when we first deployed detectors. There was a linear trend in increasing numbers of bat call files recorded / night until the end of May when detectors were removed. There were more little brown bats recorded / night at the No. 8 shaft in 2004, while currently there are more bat call files recorded / night at the Alaska shaft. In the fall the number of little brown bats recorded remained constant at about 5,000 calls / night at the Alaska shaft until mid-October. As in the spring, there were fewer bat calls / night, in contrast, at the No. 8 shaft. Calls of other bat species are identified in relatively low numbers, less than 1% of the total number of calls except for the hoary bat. The timing of spring emergence and fall swarming was similar in 2004, 2017, and 2018, but there seemed to be more bat call files recorded in 2004. The biological reason is that WNS is causing mortality of some bats. There could also be some differences caused by changes in acoustic detectors and call analysis programs. We required consensus agreement of two different programs, which was a conservative method and resulted in only 20% of the bat calls being identified to species. However, species composition was consistent with expectations and was also consistent with results of other acoustic detection and mist-netting projects in northern Minnesota.Item Bat Acoustic Surveys in Minnesota 2015 - 2017(University of Minnesota Duluth, 2018-12) Moen, Ronald; Swingen, Morgan; Walker, Marcus; Baker, Richard; Nordquist, Gerda; Catton, Timothy; Kirschbaum, Kari; Dirks, Brian; Dietz, NancyItem Bat Radiotelemetry in Forested Areas of Minnesota 2015-2017(University of Minnesota Duluth, 2018-12) Swingen, Morgan; Moen, Ronald; Walker, Marcus; Baker, Richard; Nordquist, Gerda; Catton, Timothy; Kirschbaum, Kari; Dirks, Brian; Dietz, NancyItem Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) in Minnesota: Road Use and Movements within the Home Range(University of Minnesota Duluth, 2012) Terwilliger, Lauren; Moen, RonaldResponses of Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) to linear corridors, particularly roads and trails, depend on geographic area, individual lynx, road characteristics and local habitat. Roads and trails may benefit lynx by increasing both the ease and speed of travel between use areas. However, proximity to roads may increase the probability of lynx-human interactions and the risk of mortality from vehicle collisions and incidental human-caused mortality. In Minnesota, lynx frequently travel along and cross roads and trails, and proximity to road features occurs both within home ranges and during long-distance movements outside of established territories. The use of linear features by lynx was assessed within seasonal home ranges based on about 4,500 GPS locations from 7 lynx collected during a 6 year radiotelemetry study in the Superior National Forest. Within home ranges, lynx were closer to roads than both water or wetland features, and about 3% of locations occurred on roads/trails. As expected, male lynx had faster movement rates and larger home ranges than female lynx. Although the sample size was small preventing statistical analysis, movement rates were faster for consecutive locations on a road/trail than locations not on a road/trail for female lynx, but similar for male lynx. Distance to roads/trails decreased with increasing road density; however movement rate was not affected by road/trail density which was similar among individuals, home ranges and seasons. Road crossings were also not related to road density, and were proportionate to the total length of various road surface types present within a home range. Finally, distance to roads/trails did not differ between actual locations and random locations. This suggested that lynx were not selecting for or against roads within their home ranges, although within 25 m of a road/trail lynx were closer to roads than random expectation. It appears that the consistent road density across the study area (< 2 km/km2) may account for the lack of relationship between road density and lynx use of roads. It is also probable that lynx use roads/trails within home ranges for more than just movement, potentially foraging along road corridors. Interactions with prey, and encounters with human activities, vehicles and competitors near roads and trails likely explains why movement rates were not increased by road/trail presence. The frequency of lynx occurrence near roads within the home range and during long-distance movements indicates that lynx in Minnesota are occasionally vulnerable to mortality associated with roads. The extent of this potential threat to lynx in Minnesota is unknown.Item Canada Lynx in the Great Lakes Region: 2008 Report to Minnesota Department of Natural Resources(University of Minnesota Duluth, 2009) Moen, Ronald2008 was a year of transition for the Canada lynx project in Minnesota. It is the end of the 6th year of the project, and radiocollared lynx have been present in Minnesota for the entire project. Other than the study by Dr. L.D. Mech in the early 1970’s in which 14 lynx were radiocollared and monitored for up to a year, this project remains the only radiotelemetry project on Canada lynx in the central portion of their range in North America. In part because Canada lynx were listed as a Threatened species under the Endangered Species Act, we also know more about Canada lynx in Maine, Montana, and Wyoming than was ever known before because of radiotelemetry projects in those states. Results from all of these studies are appearing in the peer-reviewed literature. The project in Minnesota began when GPS collars became available that were light enough to be worn by lynx. We obtained over 15,000 locations of Canada lynx, and have technical reports, peerreviewed papers, and annual reports both published and in preparation. We review these new papers and provide an update on the status of Canada lynx in Minnesota based on interpretation of historical records and data collected during this radiotelemetry project. Information contained in this update could be useful to MN DNR personnel currently deciding whether the status of lynx in Minnesota should be changed to endangered, threatened, or a species of special concern. We will continue to monitor radiocollared lynx, and place new radiocollars on lynx with available funding. We had three animals radiocollared at the start of 2008 in Minnesota and by the end of 2008 only two male lynx in Minnesota had functioning transmitters. We could not locate the last transmitting radiocollared female in Minnesota (L31) after April 2008. There were two additional radiocollared lynx (one male and one female) with transmitting collars located in Ontario in May 2008. We continued to count snowshoe hare pellets in spring 2008. Pellet counts showed continued presence of snowshoe hare at densities adequate to support lynx. The highest snowshoe hare densities are found in cover types that have a conifer component or have a brushy layer at the ground surface. These same cover types (Regenerating Forest, Upland Conifer, and Shrubby Grassland) are also selected by Canada lynx during daily movements within their home range. Since 2003 the project has been supported by several agencies with common deliverables and with some deliverables that varied with agency. The report covers the lynx project in its entirety and we indicate specific deliverables in Appendix 2. We continue to use the project website (www.nrri.umn.edu/lynx) to provide information to biologists and the general public. This website is a historical record of the project, lists project goals and accomplishments, and is a source of publications available for download.Item Canada Lynx in the Great Lakes Region: Annual Report to USDA Forest Service and MN Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit(University of Minnesota Duluth, 2004) Moen, Ronald; Niemi, Gerald J; Burdett, Christopher L.; Mech, L. DavidIn this report we summarize accomplishments of the Canada Lynx Ecology in the Great Lakes Region project. We carried out initial work in the Superior National Forest to address 4 major questions about this Canada lynx population: distribution, abundance, persistence, and habitat requirements. In the first 8 months of this project we have captured and deployed radiotelemetry collars on 8 Canada lynx. Each animal was relocated approximately weekly after being collared. Of the 8 Canada lynx that have been collared, 2 have died. Two of the collars deployed on Canada lynx were GPS collars. This marked the first time ever that a GPS collar was deployed on Canada lynx. We downloaded the locations from one of these GPS collars when one of the collared animals was recaptured on December 30th, 2003 after wearing the GPS collar for 3 weeks. The importance of GPS collar data for understanding movements and habitat use of Canada lynx should not be underestimated. In addition to the telemetry research, we have also conducted the first year of surveys for the major prey species of Canada lynx: snowshoe hare and red squirrel. Permanent pellet plots were established throughout the SNF for snowshoe hare. Plots were distributed based on stratified random, systematic, and selective site selection strategies. We established new plots to estimate red squirrel abundance in an area of known high lynx density, and also utilized an existing long-term data set for red squirrel abundance from SNF. Another year of surveys following the National Lynx Survey protocol was completed, and a snow-track survey for Canada lynx and other mesocarnivores was completed on the National Lynx Survey grid. There were also many opportunities to disseminate information on Canada lynx to the biological community and to the general public. More than 10 presentations on lynx biology were given by project personnel. Project personnel assisted in planning, helped with field trips, and gave presentations at the National Lynx and Wolverine Steering Committee Meeting in May 2003 and the Interagency Lynx Biology Team Meeting in October 2003, both of which were hosted by SNF. We have developed a website for the Canada Lynx Ecology in the Great Lakes Region project (www.nrri.umn.edu/lynx). This website provides a history of the project, lists project goals and accomplishments, and includes links to press coverage of the project. We begin the report with a brief chronological summary of the Canada lynx ecology in the Great Lakes Region project. The project was supported by several agencies with some common deliverables and some deliverables that varied among agencies. To produce a cohesive, logically organized Annual Report, we describe the project in its entirety, and we indicate specific deliverables in Appendix 1. We first describe Canada lynx trapping and the deployment of radiotelemetry collars. The radiotelemetry program is very important because each of the major deliverables depends on telemetry data. Next, we address progress made on each of the major questions: (1) Location, (2) Distribution, (3) Persistence, and (4) Habitat use. Prey species surveys and National Lynx Survey results are also summarized. We conclude each section with the current status and future plans for each research topic. We believe it is important to recognize that the project is only 8 months old. A complete answer for any of the questions will require the several years of data collection which is built into the project master plan. We caution that results presented in this report are preliminary because of the few animals that have been collared, and because of the relatively few locations that have been obtained. Management recommendations should not be made from the little information that has been obtained to date. However, with the number of Canada lynx now radiocollared, and with expectations of more in the near future, there will be sufficient data for management recommendations by the end of the second year of this project.Item Den sites of radiocollared Canada Lynx in Minnesota 2004-2007(University of Minnesota Duluth, 2009) Moen, RonaldDen sites are used by female Canada lynx to raise kittens for a period of about 50 days after parturition. We reported on litter size, movements around the den site, and broad-scale habitat types around ten den sites in a peer-reviewed publication (Moen et al. 2008). Pictures of each den site, personal observations, and comments on den site characteristics that are not in the peerreviewed publication are included in this report, in which we describe den sites found in Minnesota in more detail than can be done in a peer-reviewed publication. We also discuss characteristics of Minnesota den sites with respect to the den sites described in published literature.Item Development of Habitat Models and Habitat Maps for Breeding Bird Species In the Agassiz Lowlands Subsection, Minnesota, USA(University of Minnesota Duluth, 2015) Bednar, Joshua D; Zlonis, Edmund J; Panci, Hannah; Moen, Ronald; Niemi, Gerald JWe report results of a two-‐year effort in 2013 and 2014 to sample breeding bird species in the extensive lowland coniferous forests in the Agassiz Lowland Ecological Subsection (ALS) of northwestern Minnesota. The effort is a part of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) forest planning process to identify forested areas of conservation concern to selected forest bird species potentially affected by logging activity. The general objectives were to: 1) identify lowland coniferous forest stands that encompassed a gradient of age classes, productivity as measured by site index, and forest patch sizes, 2) sample breeding bird populations within each of the selected stands in 2013 and 2014, 3) identify habitat and landscape characteristics associated with selected breeding bird species within these forest stand types, 4) develop habitat models for bird species of conservation concern and those potentially affected by logging activity, 5) apply the habitat models to state-‐owned land to map the potential distribution of individual species or combinations of species in the ALS, and 6) provide recommendations on forest management that could be beneficial for conservation of breeding birds within the ALS.Item Diet of Canada Lynx in Minnesota Estimated from Scat Analysis(University of Minnesota Duluth, 2008) Hanson, Kayla; Moen, RonaldWe estimated winter diet composition of lynx in Minnesota from 87 scats we collected while trailing lynx, from live-traps that were being used to capture lynx for a radiotelemetry study in northeastern Minnesota, and opportunistically while searching for lynx. We separated scats into a confirmed category (DNA analysis, collected from live traps or along trail of radio-collared lynx) and a probable category (no DNA analysis, tracks likely lynx but not certain or not found, scat dimensions and odor) for analysis. Scats were soaked, washed, and then undigested hair and bones from prey items and vegetation were identified. Undigested prey items were identified to species through comparison to a reference collection. We used the point-frame method for estimates of species composition in scats from hairs. Snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus) remains were present in 76% of scats. If scats in which only white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) hair was found were eliminated, snowshoe hare remains were found in 97% of scats. We believe most, if not all, deer hair found in lynx scats was from bait used during the radiotelemetry project. Over 80% of the diet of Canada lynx in other parts of the range has been snowshoe hare. We also found evidence of predation or scavenging on other species, including deer, marten, grouse, and other birds. We found one instance of scavenging and possible predation on another lynx. Vegetation was present in trace quantities in many scats and was identified in broad categories of conifer needles, deciduous leaves or grass, and bark, possibly consumed while lynx were eating snowshoe hares they had caught. Scat analysis indicated snowshoe hare are the most important component of Canada lynx diet in northeastern Minnesota in the winter.Item Distribution of Lymnaeid Snail Hosts of the Giant Liver Fluke in Northeastern Minnesota(University of Minnesota Duluth, 2016) Vannatta, J. Trevor; Moen, RonaldLymnaeid snails are important intermediate hosts for many trematode parasites, such as the giant liver fluke, but little is known about their habitat associations. Lymnaied snail surveys were conducted across St. Louis County and Lake County in 2015. 84 locations were sampled for snails and several habitat variables were measured (calcium carbonate, substrate type, lake area, pH, etc.). ArcGIS data was queried to obtain landscape variables such as cover type near sampling locations. Lymnaea megasoma, L. stagnalis, L. elodes, L. catascopium, and Fossaria spp. were found in the study area. Lymnaea megasoma L. elodes, and Fossaria spp species were associated with higher CaCO3 concentrations compared to locations without these species. L. megasoma was associated with smaller proportions of open water on the landscape scale, suggesting this species favors quiet bays and stagnant channels. Fossaria spp. were not found in close association with open water suggesting this species inhabits small woodland ponds and vernal pools. No giant liver fluke cercariae were found during this survey. However, xiphidiocercariae and strigea cercariae were found in the study area. Xiphidiocercariae cercariae were not associated with higher CaCO3 concentrations (mean with cercariae = 59 ppm; without cercariae = 58 ppm). Strigea cercariae were associated with higher CaCO3 concentrations (mean with cercariae = 91 ppm; without cercariae = 58 ppm). Infection with either one of these cercariae decreased survival time in L. megasoma. L. megasoma warrants futher study as this species is restricted to the Great Lakes basin and may be an important wildlife parasite intermediate host in this area.Item Effect of Temperature on Habitat Use by Moose in Voyageurs National Park in the Summer(University of Minnesota Duluth, 2015) Moen, Ronald; Joyce, Michael; Windels, Steven KMoose (Alces alces) are an integral part of biological processes and a favorite sight of visitors to Voyageurs National Park (VNP). In the face of global climate change moose may also become a bellwether species for the persistence of northern species in VNP and the surrounding area. Climate change will affect national parks like VNP in many ways, ranging from changes in vegetation and possible loss of wildlife species to altered visitation rates by people. Minnesota is at the southern edge of moose distribution. Climate change predictions are for a 3o to 4o C increase in average summer temperatures by 2100, which would result in an increased number of summer days during which moose would be heat stressed. We deployed GPS collars on moose in VNP to evaluate changes in habitat use and activity as related to fine-scale changes in ambient temperature. We captured and radiocollared 21 moose by aerial darting or net-gunning. We measured black globe temperatures in habitats across VNP. The annual Minimum Convex Polygon home range area was about 15 km2, while seasonal home ranges were about 10 km2. Home range size was slightly less than in adjoining areas of northeast Minnesota. There was no difference in proportional cover type in the home range among annual, winter, and summer home ranges, and cover type use was similar to cover type use by moose in northeast Minnesota. Wet bog and wet marsh/fen cover types were preferred in hot summer temperatures, while open water was not used very much, with less than 1% of locations in water when temperatures were above 30 C. Use of almost all cover types was similar whether temperature, dew point, or heat index were used as the metric. For future analysis of cover type use ambient or black globe temperature should be an adequate metric. Habitats that are of most use to moose in hot temperatures have a wet substrate and some canopy cover during the day. At night moose seemed to be less limited by heat dissipation because of colder temperatures and the lack of solar radiation. Monitoring the population status of moose at Voyageurs National Park is of critical importance in order to make contrasts with the declining moose populations in other regions of Minnesota.Item Effect of Temperature on Habitat Use by Moose in Voyageurs National Park in the Summer (RWO 94 Final Report, 2015)(2015) Moen, Ronald; Joyce, Michael; Windels, Steve, K.Item Effects of Stand Age on Species Composition and Browse Density in Northeastern Minnesota(University of Minnesota Duluth, 2014) Ward, Rachel L; Moen, RonaldLarge ruminant herbivores like moose spend most of their time foraging and ruminating to acquire and process enough plant biomass to meet energy and nutrient requirements. In northeastern Minnesota, moose forage in a mosaic of forest stands with ages shaped by harvest and other disturbances. Distribution and abundance of browse species varies across the landscape and each browse species has unique growth patterns and a patchy distribution within and among different stand types. We measured browse availability and use along foraging paths of GPS radio-collared moose and within randomly selected regenerating stands in northeastern Minnesota. We measured all sites using traditional methods and a method that simulates moose foraging behavior by measuring large feeding stations. At each site we measured available species composition and available browse density. We tested three hypotheses: (1) the proportion of available browse species common in the diet along foraging paths would be greater than within randomly selected regenerating stands, (2) the density of available browse species would be greater along foraging paths than within randomly selected regenerating stands, and (3) the density of available twigs would be highest in young stands and decrease with stand age. Paper birch, willow, and quaking aspen were common in young stands while hazel, mountain maple, and balsam fir (winter) or juneberry (summer) were common in older stands. Browse density also changed with stand age, but the changes in species composition and browse density were similar along foraging paths and within randomly selected regenerating stands indicating that moose habitat restoration projects can effectively create forage for moose. In areas with and without collared moose the simulated browsing method was an effective tool for measuring browse availability and use.Item Fisher Den Box Building Plans(University of Minnesota Duluth, 2022-08) Joyce, Michael; Moen, RonaldThe design for this fisher den box is based on a design that has been used for fishers in British Columbia (Davis 2016). We made minor design modifications as described in this manual, for example we used screws instead of nails in all construction. Almost 100 of these boxes were deployed in northern Minnesota, with several boxes used by fishers (M. Joyce, 2022, Final Report, Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund project M.L. 2019, First Special Session, Chp. 4, Art. 2, Sec. 2, Subd. 03i).Item Historical Northern Long-Eared Bat Occurrence in Minnesota Based on Acoustic Surveys(University of Minnesota Duluth, 2018) Moen, Ronald; Swingen, MorganAlthough long thought to exist throughout the forested region of Minnesota, occurrence records for northern long-eared bats (Myotis septentrionalis) were historically based on winter hibernacula records and sporadic summer observations. The ability to record and identify bats by their echolocation calls allowed scientists to more systematically survey for bats in Minnesota beginning in the 2000s; however, these data were not compiled in a central database. With the arrival of whitenose syndrome in Minnesota and the federal listing of the northern long-eared bat in 2015 as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, the need for a more detailed and current distribution map for this species was evident. In this report, we summarize the occurrence records for northern long-eared bats based on specimens collected, existing acoustic survey data from various sources collected prior to 2015, and acoustic survey data collected from 2015 to 2017. Northern long-eared bats do appear to be distributed throughout the forested region of Minnesota. Presence has been documented in the northern half of the state, surrounding the Twin Cities metropolitan area, and in the southeast corner of the state. Detection of the northern long-eared bat in almost every attempt suggests that the species is also present in unsurveyed regions of the forested regions of the state, although it is less common than the little brown bat (M. lucifugus), especially after white-nose syndrome has led to mortalities in Minnesota.Item Historical Northern Long-Eared Bat Occurrence in Minnesota Based on Acoustic Surveys(University of Minnesota Duluth, 2018) Moen, Ronald; Swingen, MorganAlthough long thought to exist throughout the forested region of Minnesota, occurrence records for northern long-eared bats (Myotis septentrionalis) were historically based on winter hibernacula records and sporadic summer observations. The ability to record and identify bats by their echolocation calls allowed scientists to more systematically survey for bats in Minnesota beginning in the 2000s; however, these data were not compiled in a central database. With the arrival of whitenose syndrome in Minnesota and the federal listing of the northern long-eared bat in 2015 as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, the need for a more detailed and current distribution map for this species was evident. In this report, we summarize the occurrence records for northern long-eared bats based on specimens collected, existing acoustic survey data from various sources collected prior to 2015, and acoustic survey data collected from 2015 to 2017. Northern long-eared bats do appear to be distributed throughout the forested region of Minnesota. Presence has been documented in the northern half of the state, surrounding the Twin Cities metropolitan area, and in the southeast corner of the state. Detection of the northern long-eared bat in almost every attempt suggests that the species is also present in unsurveyed regions of the forested regions of the state, although it is less common than the little brown bat (M. lucifugus), especially after white-nose syndrome has led to mortalities in Minnesota.Item Identifying Woody Species Browsed by Moose in Northeastern Minnesota(University of Minnesota Duluth, 2014) Ward, Rachel L; Moen, RonaldIdentifying tree and shrub species that herbivores consume in northeastern Minnesota can be challenging due to the number of woody species in the region. However, it is an important skill for many researchers studying the boreal forest. Researchers can use a dichotomous key or tree identification book to learn species identification. However, these often are state-wide resources and therefore include species that are not common in the northeastern part of the state. This report describes how to identify the common woody species available in northeastern Minnesota in both summer and winter seasons. This report has information specific to moose browsing, but the information about the woody plants is relevant for anyone trying to identify woody species in the arrowhead region.