Introduction
Advances in laboratory and analytical techniques now allow researchers to use genetic and stable isotope data to investigate a wide range of topics including amounts of genetic diversity, geographic structure of populations, species limits and relationships, migratory habits, and population sizes and their changes over time. Currently, researchers are using genetic data to study population dynamics and stable isotope studies to investigate migratory patterns of bat species commonly killed at wind farms. Other scientists are working on studies of endangered species or other genetic or stable isotope projects that also require samples from different geographic areas. To facilitate this research and to provide a permanent site for deposition of specimens that may have been collected for other reasons, the American Museum of Natural History is now accepting samples of North American bats for permanent archiving. Frozen bats, dried carcasses, whole or partial skeletons, and tissue samples (e.g., wing punches) will all be considered for inclusion in our repository. Donated samples will join over 270,000 mammal specimens already in our collections and will be made broadly available to the scientific community for research through the AMNH Department of Mammalogy website and by other methods described therein.

Taxa of interest
All North American bats including samples from Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean Islands. We are most interested in migratory bats (e.g., Lasiurus borealis, Lasiurus blossevillii, Lasiurus cinereus, Lasionycteris noctivagans, Tadarida brasiliensis) and rare and endangered species (e.g., Myotis sodalis, plecotines) because studies of these species are now underway. However, all species will be accepted.

Donating Specimens

The procedures for donating specimens are relatively simple and AMNH will pay shipping charges associated with accepted donations. See Conditions and procedures for donating specimens to AMNH for more information.

Additional Information

Publication: Assessing Impacts of Wind-Energe Development on Nocturnally Active Birds and Bats: A Guidance Document (Kunz, et al., 2007)

AMNH Mammalogy collections Additional information on the AMNH Mammal collections, including on-line searchable database.

AMNH frozen tissue repository Information on the state-of-the-art facility for tissue storage maintained at the AMNH.

Bats and Wind Energy General information, key facts, literature references, and description of the Bats and Wind Energy Cooperative (BWEC).

Genetic studies of bats impacted by wind farms Description of studies now underway to assess the affects of wind farm mortalities on North American bat populations.

Bat Migration and wind farm mortalities Ongoing work on patterns of migration of North American bats and the relationship between migration and mortalities at wind farms.

Use of stable isotopes to trace migration of bats Information on the use of stable isotope analyses to track migratory patterns of North American tree bats.

Genetic studies of the Indiana Bat Ongoing research on the population genetics of the endangered Indiana Bat (Myotis sodalis).

Information on collecting and preserving bat specimens This article provides information on how to prepare specimens. Note that for the purposes of this project, AMNH will accept unprepared frozen or dried specimens as well as those specifically collected and prepared as vouchers.

Bat Conservation International General information on bat conservation, education, and research initiatives involving bats. Our thanks to BCI for providing most of the images on this site.