Integrated Modeling and Assessment of Natural Populations Using Infrared and Doppler Radar Imaging

巴西无尾蝙蝠（Tadarida brasiliensis）是人类已知的最大的哺乳动物群体之一，德克萨斯州中南部的一个洞穴可容纳多达2000万只。虽然人们通常认为这些空中捕食者在自然和管理的生态系统中以昆虫种群为食，但对它们的种群密度和夜间觅食行为知之甚少。 在这项为期三年的研究中，密度，组成，饮食和觅食行为的巴西无尾蝙蝠种群在中南部得克萨斯州正在测量和建模使用与先前公布的数据，食物习惯，农药使用，和作物生产，以评估这些蝙蝠对农业生产的影响。正在利用先进的红外和多普勒雷达成像技术评估觅食蝙蝠的种群密度和空间格局，以便为地理信息系统分析提供基本数据。 遥感方法和由此产生的综合经济模型在评估其他动物物种的人口和行为特征及其对选定的陆地和水生生态系统的经济影响方面具有重要的应用。

The Brazilian free-tailed bat (Tadarida brasiliensis) forms some of the largest aggregations of mammals known to mankind, with single caves in south-central Texas housing upwards to 20 million individuals. Although it is commonly assumed that these aerial predators feed on insect populations in both natural and managed ecosystems, relatively little is known about their population densities and nightly foraging behavior. In this three-year study, the density, composition, diet, and foraging behavior of Brazilian free-tailed bat populations in south- central Texas are being measured and modeled for use with previously published data on food habits, pesticide use, and crop production to evaluate the impact of these bats on agricultural production. Population densities and spatial patterns of foraging bats are being assessed using advanced infrared and Doppler radar imaging to provide the basic data for GIS analysis. Remote sensing methods and the resulting integrated economic model have important applications for assessing demographic and behavioral characteristics of other animal species and their economic impact on selected terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.