Student Scholars & Faculty Mentors
Projects funded by our internal grants program. Search the table to find students or faculty mentors that share in your interests, and could help you achieve your goals in research, creative activity, or service.
Are There Differences in Urban Bat Activity Between Green Roofs and Conventional Roofs?
Name: Hauf,
Advisor: Aaron Haines
Department: BIOL
Award: Student Research Grant
Abstract: Urbanization is a leading cause for the decline of biodiversity. Green roofs may provide a potential solution by providing alternative habitat for urban biodiversity. One of the main species impacted by urbanization is bats. It has been hypothesized that green roofs are beneficial to bat species by attracting insects for them to eat. The goal of this research project is to determine if green roofs promote a higher rate of bat activity than conventional roofs. To determine this, acoustic audio devices placed on a variety of green and conventional roofs were used to record the frequencies of bats flying overhead. The devices will be set to record for the same time and dates. The data will then be downloaded and analyzed using Kaleidoscope Pro software to determine the specific species of bats recorded. The presence of bat species will then be compared between green and conventional roofs to determine whether there is a significant effect on bat activity.