Michael R. Gannon

Michael R. Gannon
Professor of Biology

Tropical Ecology
Ecology of Bats

Ph. D. Texas Tech University 1991
M.S. SUNY Brockport 1984
B.A. SUNY Oswego 1980
A.A.S. Rockland Community College (SUNY) 1978

Department of Biology
Penn State Altoona College
3000 Ivyside Park
Altoona, PA 16601-3760
Phone: 814-949-5210
Fax: 814-949-5435
E-Mail: mrg5@psu.edu

Other Appointments

Research Associate, Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Section of Mammals

Instructor, Smithsonian Institution, Monitoring and Assessment of Biodiversity

My research interests are broad and lie in many areas of zoology, evolution, and museum science. Current research activities focus on topics in population, and community ecology of bats, with emphasis on both temperate amd tropical systems, and using statistical techniques to answer questions of interest to both theoretician and field biologist.

I have conducted ecological research on bats on the Caribbean Islands of Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Dominica, and St. John, U. S. Virgin Islands. Much of this work is concerned with long-term monitoring of bat populations and the effects that Hurricanes have on them. In addition, I have worked in the Allegheny National Forest, Canoe Creek State Park, and other locations in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Here, my students and I have been developing ultrasonic bat survey techniques which may be used to identify different species of bats by their ultrasonic calls. This includes the endangered Indiana Bat.

Recent Publications:

Book

Gannon, M. R., A. Kurta, A. Rodriguéz-Durán, and M. R. Willig. 2005. The Bats of Puerto Rico. Texas Tech Press, 2005.

Book Chapters - Click on a link below to download a pdf version of that publication.

Gannon, M. R., and M. R. Willig. 1998. Long-term monitoring protocol for bats: Lessons from the Luquillo Experimental Forest. In Forest diversity in North, Central, and South America, and the Caribbean: Research and monitoring (F. Dallmeier and J. Comiskey, eds.). Man and Biospehere series, vol. 21:271-291. UNESCO and the Parthenon Publishing Group, Carnforth, Lancashire, UK.

Willig, M. R., M. F. Secrest, S. B. Cox, G. R. Camilo, J. F. Cary, J. Alvarez, and M. R. Gannon. 1998. Long-term Monitoring of Snails in the Luquillo Experimental Forest of Puerto Rico: Heterogeneity, Scale, Disturbance, and Recovery. In Forest diversity in North, Central, and South America, and the Caribbean: Research and monitoring (F. Dallmeier and J. Comiskey, eds.). Man and Biospehere series, vol. 21:293-322. UNESCO and the Parthenon Publishing Group, Carnforth, Lancashire, UK.

Willig, M. R., and M. R. Gannon. 1996. Mammals. In: The Food Web of a Tropical Rain Forest (D. P. Reagan and R. B. Waide, eds.), pp. 399-431. Univ. Chicago Press.

Journal Publications - Click on a link below to download a pdf version of that publication.

Olnhusen, L. R., and M. R. Gannon. 2004. An evaluation of bat rabies prevention in the United States, based on an analysis from Pennsylvania. Acta Chiropterologica, 6: 163-168.

Vaughan Jennings, N., S. Parsons, K. E. Barlow, and M. R. Gannon. 2004. Echolocation calls and wing morphology of bats from the West Indies . Acta Chiropterologica, 6: 75-90.

Gannon, M. R. 2004. Bat Man in the tropics: Stories of one man’s career in field studies of bats (book review). Ecology, 85:2912-2913

Dick, C. W., M. R. Gannon, W. E. Little, and M. J. Patrick. 2003. Ectoparasite Associations of Bats from Central Pennsylvania. Journal of Medical Entomology 40(6):813-819.

Jones, K. E., K. E. Barlow, N. Vaughan, A. Rodríguez-Durán, and M. R. Gannon. 2001. Short term impact of extreme environmental disturbance on the bats of Puerto Rico. Animal Conservation, 4:59-66.

Barlow, K. E., N. Vaughan, K. E. Jones, A. Rodríguez-Durán, and M. R. Gannon. 2000. Are bats which pollinate and disperse forest plants particularly sensitive to disturbance? A case study on the effects of Hurricane Georges on bats of Puerto Rico. Bull. British Ecol. Soc., 31: 36-37

Willig, M. R., E. A. Sandlin, and M. R. Gannon. 1998. Habitat selection by a Puerto Rican land snail: structural and taxonomic correlates, Southwestern Naturalist, 43:70-79.

Gannon, M. R., and M. R. Willig. 1997. The effect of lunar illumination on movement and activity of the red fig-eating bat (Stenodermarufum), Biotropica, 29:525-529.

Willig, M. R., and M. R. Gannon. 1997. Gradients of species density and turnover in Marsupials: A hemispheric perspective. Journal of Mammalogy, 78:756-765.

Gannon, M. R., and M. R. Willig. 1995. Ecology of ectoparasites from tropical bats. Journal of Environmental Entomology, 24:1495-1503.

Gannon, M. R. 1994. A new technique for marking bats. Bat Research News, 34:88-89.

Gannon, M. R., and M. R. Willig. 1994. The effects of Hurricane Hugo on the bats of the Luquillo Experimental Forest of Puerto Rico. Biotropica, 26:320-331.

Gannon, M. R. and M. R. Willig. 1994. Records of bat ectoparasites from the Luquillo Experimental Forest of Puerto Rico, Caribbean Journal of Science, 30:281-283.

Gannon, M. R., K. Pardieck, M. R. Willig, and R. B. Waide. 1993. Movement and home range of the Puerto Rican Screech-Owl (Otusnudipes) in the Luquillo Experimental Forest. Caribbean Journal of Science, 29:174-178.

Willig, M. R., E. A. Sandlin, and M. R. Gannon. 1993. Structural and taxonomic components of habitat selection in the neotropical folivore Lamponiusportoricensis (Phasmatodea: Phasmatdidae). Environmental Entomology, 22:634-641.

Gannon, M. R., and M. R. Willig. 1992. Bat Reproduction in the Luquillo Experimental Forest of Puerto Rico, Southwestern Naturalist, 37:414-419.

Gannon, M. R., M. R. Willig, and J. K. Jones, Jr. 1992. Morphometric variation, measurement error, and fluctuating asymmetry in the Red Fig-eating Bat (Stenoderma rufum). Texas Journal of Science, 44:389-404.

Rylander, K., M. R. Gannon, and P. B. Blessing. 1991. Rodent populations in the Chihuahuan Desert of Western Texas. Texas Journal of Science, 43:435-436.

Gannon, M. R., M. R. Willig, K. B. Willis, and M. P. Moulton. 1990. Intraspecific comparisons of diet of Cnemidophorus gularis (Sauria:Teiidae) in Central Texas. Texas Journal of Science, 42:263-272.

Gannon, M. R., and K. B. Willis. 1990 . Clutch size and parasitism of the Texas Spotted Whiptail, Cnemidophorus gularis (Sauria: Teiidae), from South-Central Texas. Southwestern Naturalist, 35:215-217.

Losos, J. B., M. R. Gannon, W. J. Pfeiffer, and R. B. Waide. 1990. Notes on the ecology and behavior of Anolis cuvieri (Lacertilia: Iguanidae) in Puerto Rico. Caribbean Journal of Science, 26: 65-66.

Gannon, M. R., M. R. Willig, and J. K. Jones, Jr. 1989. Sturnira lillium, Mammalian Species, 333:1-5.

Gannon, M. R. 1987. New western distributional record of Terrapene carolina triunguis. Texas Journal of Science, 39: 293.

Penn State Altoona Bat Lab Publicity and Press Releases
Click on a link below to download a pdf version of that article.

Westsylvania Autumn/2004 Scientific American 2/2004 Tribune Review 10/2002 Centre Daily Times 8/2002

Intercom 3/2002 Penn State News 2/2002 Research Penn State 1/2002 Bradford Era 9/1999

AlumniNews SUNY Oswego 5/97 Altoona Collegian 1/1996 Por Dentro 8/1995 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 4/1995

Chicago Tribune 4/1995 Columbus Dispatch 4/1995 Intercom 9/1994 Science News 8/1994

New Scientist 6/1994 Detroit News 6/1994 Chronicle of Higher Education 6/1994

Newsweek 11/1993 Centre Daily Times 8/1993 Journal News 6/1994

Teaching:
Undergraduate courses taught at Penn State Altoona College

Biology 110: Basic Concepts and Diversity - This four credit course covers the study of evolution of the major groups of organisms and includes the fundamental concepts of biology.

Biology 129: Mammalian Anatomy - Anatomy of a mammal, with special reference to that of man. Four credits.

Biology 141: Introductory Physiology Explanation of the normal structure and function of
the animal body, with special emphasis on human body systems. Three credits.

Biology 142: Phyiology laboratory - Experiments demonstrating basic physiological principles, with
special reference to man. Prerequisite: or concurrent: BIOL 141. One credit.

Biology 240: Function and Development of Organisms - This four credit course includes the study of development, and physiological processes at the organismic level.

Biology 296/Biology 496: Independent Studies - This is a special to be arranged course where students can receive credit in a variety of different areas related to research and teaching.

Biology 297: Special topics - Biology in the Cinema - This is a seminar course open to all majors. Students view films with a current biological theme, and discuss these films as well as pertinent literature on those topics in a seminar discussion format.

Biology 450W: Experimental Field Biology - A practical introduction to modern experimental techniques for ecological study of terrestrial, marine, and fresh water habitats. Prerequisite: BIOL 220W , BIOL 240W. Five credits.

Wildlife 408: Mammalogy - This three credit course covers the study all aspects of mammals including identification, systematics, ecology, and evolution - Prerequisite: Biology 110.

Bat Information: