R.U. Student Conducts Research on Endangered Bat Species

Senior Dorothy Landgren Aspires to a Career in Veterinary Medicine

Senior Biology major Dorothy Landgren writes the following account of her summer research.

This summer, I have been working with Dr. Karen Francl and the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries on an evaluation of several bats in peril due to the deadly White Nose Syndrome (WNS). I am assisting with a survey that revisits Virginia sites where the northern long-eared bat and eastern small-footed bats (both being considered for the federal Endangered Species List) were abundant before the on-set of WNS.

I am also helping to complete a bat survey at the Radford Army Ammunitions Plant, which includes the use of acoustic sampling (recording echolocation calls). I will spend this fall analyzing these data and identifying bat calls, and presenting my findings at a regional wildlife meeting next spring.

My career goal is to become a veterinarian. I feel this research will strengthen my application to vet school because it has given me important field research skills, both hands-on work with wildlife and communication skills.

Aug 13, 2012
Joel Hagen
(540)831-5817
jhagen@radford.edu