Bats

Inventory Methods for Bats Standards for Components of British Columbia's Biodiversity No. 20

Resources Information Standards Committee, B.C. Ministry of Land, Water and Resource Stewardship, Ecosystems Branch.

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Abstract

This manual is an updated version of Inventory Methods for Bats, Standards for Components of British Columbia's Biodiversity No. 20. Version 2.0. The manual was compiled by the Elements Working Group of the Terrestrial Ecosystems Task Force, under the auspices of the Resources Information Standards Committee (RISC). The objectives of the working group are to develop inventory methods that will lead to the collection of comparable, defensible, and useful inventory and monitoring data for the species component of biodiversity. It provides updated and standardized sampling protocols for assessing bat community composition, relative abundance, and habitat associations of bats. The limitations associated with obtaining absolute abundance estimates for bats are discussed. The use of up-to-date and standardized methodologies will help to ensure that bat inventory projects are well-planned and effective, with results that are comparable among projects. Use of the methods described in this manual is recommended for surveyors (e.g., qualified professionals) who apply for permits to capture bats, or design survey projects to support environmental assessments, inventory, monitoring and research on bats in B.C. The methods also provide up-to-date techniques to support other government legislation, policies and processes (e.g., Canadian Environmental Assessment Act and B.C. Environmental Assessment Office; B.C. Environmental Mitigation Policy and Procedures, B.C. Develop with Care 2014; Wildlife Habitat Areas or Wildlife Habitat Features under the Identified Wildlife Management Strategy, SARA Critical Habitat inventory).

Recommended citation

Resources Information Standards Committee, B.C. Ministry of Land, Water and Resource Stewardship, Ecosystems Branch. (2022). Inventory Methods for Bats Standards for Components of British Columbia's Biodiversity No. 20. Resources Information Standards Committee (RISC). https://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/eirs/lookupDocument.do?fromStatic=true&repository=BDP&documentId=19790