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Lecture: Bat Ecology in the West

August 1 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm MDT

Voyagers of the Night: Investigating the Ecology of Bats in the West

By Dr. Riley F. Bernard

August 1, 2024
Noon–1 p.m.
Dr. Riley Bernard holding a bat.
Dr. Riley Bernard researches the ecology of bats.

Join us for the August Lunchtime Expedition, Voyagers of the Night: Investigating the Ecology of Bats in the West, presented by Dr. Riley F. Bernard, Assistant Professor, Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming.

The in-person talk takes place in the Center’s Coe Auditorium, with a virtual option available. If you prefer to join us online, you may register in advance via Zoom webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_EaX18w_PRmeA6NMrPPNhQw

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

About the program

Numerous bat species in North America are facing severe population declines due to anthropogenic stressors such as habitat loss, climate change, and the introduction of disease. While research on bats has been incredibly informative for conservation, most research has been conducted in the eastern portion of the continent, where bats are more easily accessible (i.e., in caves and mines during winter).

Bats in the West are just as susceptible to these threats, but information regarding their ecology is lacking. Researchers in the Bernard Research Lab at the University of Wyoming are working to fill knowledge gaps related to bat ecology, behavior, and persistence. Specifically, we are working to better understand where at-risk species roost during summer, how they utilize our novel landscape, and how they are affected by various stressors such as the introduction of disease (white-nose syndrome) and climate change.

In this talk, Dr. Bernard provides a primer of what makes bats special and unique to study, as well as provide a sneak peek into what her lab has been helping uncover in an attempt to save the region’s bats.

About the speaker

Dr. Riley Bernard is an applied wildlife ecologist and Assistant Professor in the Department of Zoology and Physiology at the University of Wyoming. Her research focuses on the ecology and behavior of cryptic species on topics such as foraging, competition, invasive species interactions, the effects of disease on community structure, species susceptibility, and survival. She also uses tools from Decision Science to ensure the questions she seeks to answer provide the best information for wildlife and natural resource managers to make tractable and robust decisions.

Upcoming Lunchtime Expeditions

The series generally continues on the first Thursday of each month.
September 5A Specialist Carnivore at its Southern Range Periphery: Canada Lynx in Disturbed Landscapes, by Dr. John Squires
October 10 (note date change): Sporting Lead-Free: A Vital Step for Wildlife Conservation, by Hannah Leonard
• November 7: Wolverine Conservation, by ZooMontana staff
• December 5

Have you missed a Lunchtime Expedition?

The talks in this series are gathered in YouTube playlists by year:

2024 Lunchtime Expeditions
2023 Lunchtime Expeditions

Support for the Draper’s Lunchtime Expedition series has been made possible by Sage Creek Ranch and the Nancy-Carroll Draper Charitable Foundation.

Venue

Buffalo Bill Center of the West
720 Sheridan Avenue
Cody, WY United States
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Organizer

Draper Natural History Museum
Phone
307-578-4078
Email
amyp@centerofthewest.org
BUFFALO BILL CENTER OF THE WEST ◦ 720 Sheridan Avenue ◦ Cody, WY 82414 ◦ 307-587-4771Contact Us
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