Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units Program: Oklahoma
Education, Research and Technical Assistance for Managing Our Natural Resources

Oklahoma Project

Genetic Structure of Ozark Big-eared Bat Populations and the Establishment of an Unobtrusive Population Monitoring Program

October 2010 - September 2013

Personnel

Participating Agencies

  • Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation
Ozark big-eared bat (endangered) in eastern Oklahoma

We seek to develop a panel of variable genetic markers that are relatively inexpensive, easy to use, versatile enough to be adaptable to a variety of tissue sources (membrane punches, fecal matter) and allow for the long-term genetic monitoring of populations of Ozark Big-eared bats with minimal disturbance. We are using these genetic markers to obtain information on the genetic structure of populations of Ozark Big-eared Bats throughout their range in Oklahoma and Arkansas. We also will develop protocols using these nuclear genetic markers for long-term, unobtrusive genetic monitoring of populations of Ozark Big-eared Bat in Arkansas and Oklahoma.