Biologist

ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS & INNOVATIONS, INC.

Résumé

Megan Caylor

EDUCATION

M.S. Biology, Indiana State University, 2011

Masters Thesis: Impacts of Different Forest Tree-Harvest Methods on Diets and Populations of Insectivorous Forest Bats

B.A. Biology with an emphasis in Zoology, Ball State University, 2008

CERTIFICATIONS AND TRAINING

Certified in CPR and First Aid

Acoustic analysis including qualitative analysis of eastern bat species and use of acoustic analysis automated programs EchoClass, BCID, and Kaleidoscope, WEST, Inc., March 2013

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Ms. Caylor has over eight years of experience conducting a variety of terrestrial wildlife surveys in the eastern, mid-western, and southern U.S. Her particular specialty is the ecology of bats. Her work in this field includes acoustic surveys, mist-netting, harp trap surveys, radio telemetry, diet analysis, and post-construction wind farm mortality surveys of various species, including federally endangered bats. Her field experience includes bat handling and identification, implementation of White Nose Syndrome protocols and proficiency with the following equipment and techniques:

Mist net set up, bat handling and identification, and morphometric processing (species, weight, gender, and various measurements)

Harp trap set up at portal entrances

Data collection and analysis

Radio-telemetry, including foraging / home range, roost searches, and emergence counts

Acoustic monitoring and analysis

Habitat suitability assessment including roost tree identification

Potential hibernacula portal surveys

Use of handheld, sub-meter accurate Trimble GPS unit

Basic map making and processing within ArcGIS

Identification and classification of plant, avian, insect, mammal, reptile, and amphibian species.

While working for Indiana State University, Ms. Caylor managed several wildlife projects associated with the Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment. Projects included mist-netting, acoustic monitoring, and bat diet analysis in Morgan-Monroe and Yellowwood State Forests in Indiana. Ms. Caylor co-authored technical reports and presented this information to professional societies (Midwestern Bat Working Group, Indiana Academy of Science).

PROJECT EXPERIENCE

Field Supervisor – MVP, Mountain Valley Pipeline: 2014. Conducted searches for portals suitable for endangered bat habitation in Braxton, Greenbrier, Nicholas, and Webster counties, West Virginia.

Team Leader – Ohio River System LLC and Regency Utica Gas Gathering, LLC, Smithfield to Cadiz Natural Gas Pipeline: 2014. Conducted searches for portals suitable for endangered bat habitation.

Biologist– Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s 68/80 Cadiz Bypass: 2014. Conducted field surveys of bats using bridges over two streams within an area considered known occupied habitat for the Indiana bat, gray bat, and northern long-eared bat in Trigg County, Kentucky.

Field Supervisor – NextEra Energy Resources, LLC, Grand Traverse Wind Energy: 2014. Assisted with preliminary study of the summer bat community, then performed mist net surveys in the summer within a Wind Resource Area (WRA) consisting of approximately 10,984 acres in Grand Traverse and Wexford counties, Michigan. Supervised two teams.

Field Supervisor – NextEra Energy Resources, LLC, Cadillac Wind Resource Area: 2014. Assisted with preliminary study of the summer bat community, then performed mist net surveys in the summer within a WRA consisting of approximately 30,332 acres in Osceola, Wexford, and Missaukee counties, Michigan. Supervised two teams.

Team Leader– USDA - Forest Service, Wayne National Forest: 2014. Participated in a general survey of bats within the Forest to identify species and determine distribution within the forest and to inventory bats as part of white nose syndrome monitoring in Athens, Hocking, and Perry counties, Ohio. Authored field report to USDA.

Team Leader – PVR Marcellus Gas Gathering, LLC, Ohio River Pipeline: 2014. Conducted mist net surveys for federally endangered Indiana bat and northern long-eared bat (proposed for listing) in eastern Ohio.

Field Supervisor – AEP, American Electric Power, Sorenson Line. 2014. Conducted mist net surveys for federally endangered Indiana bat and northern long-eared bat (proposed for listing) in Allen County, Indiana. Authored field report to AEP.

Field Supervisor – Indiana Department of Transportation, Interstate 69, Pre- and Post-construction Surveys: 2014. Conducted summer mist net and radio-telemetry surveys for the federally endangered Indiana bat along final ROW for Sections 1, 2, 3, and 5. Supervised up to four crews at one time.

Field Supervisor – SUNOCO 9-Mile Pipeline Improvement: 2014. Supervised emergence counts for Indiana bats at a proposed steam crossing site along the Clinton River in Rochester, Michigan.

Team Leader – Indiana Department of Transportation, Illiana Expressway: 2013-2014. In 2013, completed mist net and acoustic monitoring surveys in support of Tier 2 Environmental Impact Studies in Indiana. Responsible for assisting with bat identification, communication with land owners, and implementation of WNS protocols. In 2014, managed subcontractors conducting northern long-eared bat habitat assessment and roost tree marking. Authored technical report and appendix to the Biological Assessment. Assisted with editing portions of the Environmental Impact Statement.

Team Leader – NRG Marion-Livingston Pipeline: 2013. Completed habitat assessment, mist netting and acoustic surveys for the federally endangered Indiana Bat along a pipeline corridor in Livingston, McLean, DeWitt, Macon, Christian, Shelby, Fayette, and Marion counties Illinois. Three Indiana bats were captured. Assisted with identification, transmitter attachment, and radio-telemetry. Co-authored technical report.

Biologist – Grande Pointe Marina: 2013. Completed a phase one habitat assessment for the Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis) on a facility in St. Clair County, Michigan including a literature review, desktop review, and on-site assessment.

Biologist – Muskegon County Airport: 2013. Completed reporting and data management for a wildlife hazard assessment in Muskegon County, Michigan. The study was conducted in support of airport's FAA-required wildlife hazard management plan.

Biologist – M/I Homes Harrison Crossing: 2013. Completed regulated waters delineation reporting for a housing development in Indiana.

Team Leader – USDA-Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS): 2012 and 2013. Completed mist net surveys for the federally endangered Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis) within an area infested with the Asian long-horned beetle near Bethel, in Clermont County, Ohio. The first year of survey yielded 62 bats including 11 northern long-eared but no Indiana bats were captured. In 2013, personally responsible for capture of 59 bats over 36 net nights, including 1 Indiana bat and 14 northern long-eared bats. Conducted radio-tracking for two Indiana bats over five days. Responsible for net and acoustic monitoring site selection, communication with land owners, implementation of WNS protocols, and permit reporting.

Team Leader – EosolAmericas Wind Farm: 2012. Completed mist-netting and acoustic monitoring for the federally endangered Indiana bat in Marshall County and a portion of southern St. Joseph County, Indiana. Responsible for assisting with bat identification, mist net and acoustic monitoring site selection, communication with land owners, implementation of WNS protocols, and permit reporting.

Team Leader – Department of Defense, Indiana National Guard, Muscatatuck Urban Training Center: 2012. Completed mist net and acoustic monitoring surveys in Jennings County, Indiana. Assisted with radio-tracking one male northern bat for three days. Responsible for assisting with bat identification, mist net and acoustic monitoring site selection, communication with land owners, and implementation of WNS protocols. A new acoustic survey protocol was implemented by MUTC and USFWS. Calls recorded were analyzed via two methods: automated and visual. Results were compared and contrasted.

Team Leader – Confidential client, Wind Resource Area: 2013. Completed mist net and acoustic monitoring surveys on a 20,000-acre site in Saginaw, Bay, and Tuscola counties, Michigan. Responsible for assisting with bat identification, mist net and acoustic monitoring site selection, communication with land owners, implementation of WNS protocols, and permit reporting.

Team Leader – Texas Christian University, NextEra WindFarm: 2012. Participated in research study involving rates and causes of mortality of bats and birds in a primary migration corridor near a wind farm in Fort Worth, Texas. Conducted mortality surveys and acoustic surveys daily and set and monitored traps for insect surveys (to study sources of food). Assisted with identification of bats, birds, and insects. Observed decomposition rate and type of injuries exhibited on dead animal carcasses.

Research/Field Assistant – Indiana State University, Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment: 2008-2011. Managed the portion of the project that focused on bats for 3 years. Completed mist net and acoustic surveys including analyzing acoustic and mist-netting data, managing project budgets, hiring and training technicians, maintaining housing, scheduling, and presenting research at internal meetings and external conferences. Also completed winter harp trap surveys at Wyandotte and Ray’s caves, both priority 1 hibernacula (greater than 10,000 Indiana bats) in southern Indiana: Identified 83 Indiana bats at these caves. Also identified 15 endangered gray bats (Myotis griesescens) at Wyandotte Cave.

Research/Field Assistant – Ball State University, Camp Atterbury, Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge, Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge, Mammoth Cave National Park: 2007. Participated in study conducted to monitor the behavior of Indiana bat maternity colonies present on the DoD facility. Assisted with mist-net set up, bat identifications, and transmitter attachment to Indiana, northern long-eared, and little brown bats. Completed diurnal radio-tracking. Assisted with identification of 32 Indiana bats, 61 Northern long-eared and 6 Rafinesque’s big-eared bats. Helped draw blood from non-endangered animals, set up blood smears and centrifuged blood in the field. Collect guano directly from bats and from beneath roost trees and preserved it for lab analysis.

PRESENTATIONS AND PUBLICATIONS

Sheets, J. J.; Duchamp, J. E.; M. K. Caylor; L. D'Acunto; J. O. Whitaker, Jr.; V. Brack, Jr.; and D. W. Sparks, 2013. Habitat use by bats in two Indiana forests prior to silvicultural treatments for oak regeneration. General Technical Report NRS-P-108: 203-217

Sheets, J. J. and M. K. Caylor. In Review. Atypical American Beech Tree Used By Indiana Bat Maternity Colony. Submitted to Proceedings of the Indiana Academy of Science.

Caylor, M. C., V. C. Clarkston, V. Brack, Jr. and D. W. Sparks. In Review. Northern long-eared bats roosting in a debris pile. Submitted to Bat Research News.

Myotis septentrionalis Observations of Roost Selection Midwest & Northeast Regions. Presented to North American Symposium for Bat Research, October 2014.

Atypical American Beech Tree Used By Indiana Bat Maternity Colony. Presented to Midwest Bat Working Group, March 2014.

Impacts of different forest tree-harvest methods on diets and populations of insectivorous forest bats. Presented to the Indiana Academy of Science, March 2011

Impacts of different forest tree-harvest methods on diets and populations of insectivorous forest bats. Presented to the Midwest Bat Working Group, March 2011

HEE Project Results 2011: Bat Mist Netting, Guano Analysis, WNS Impact. Presented at the Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment Meeting, September 2011

Diets of insectivorous forest bats. Presented at the Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment Meeting, November 2010

Bats of Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment. Presented at the Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment Meeting, September 2009

Caylor, M.K. 2011. Impacts of different forest tree-harvest methods on diets and populations of insectivorous forest bats. Terre Haute, Indiana. MS thesis, Indiana State University.

Caylor, M.K., J. Sheets, J.O. Whitaker, Jr. Impacts of different forest tree-harvest methods on diets of insectivorous forests bats. Manuscript in Process, Indiana State University, Terre Haute, IN.

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

Midwest Bat Working Group

Center for Bat Research, Outreach, and Conservation

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