by Saska Lohi » October 7, 2014, 8:05 am
Hello Boatnerds!
I am a graduate student currently trying to finish my master's thesis, and I am doing research about bats in the Great Lakes region.
What I am trying to find out is that are bats hitchhiking in freighters or other ships in this region. To prove if they are actually purposefully hitchhiking is quite difficult, so I am focusing on bat sightings.
It is an interesting subject that has not previously been studied. No scientific survey on the topic has been made with the focus on bats before. What we would like to know is that how often bats are seen on board, when and where, dead or alive and other basic things. We have heard that some people have seen bats on board, but we want to find out how common these sightings are. As you might have heard the latest news, bat populations in northeastern North America are not doing too well due to a deadly fungal disease. Therefore it is really important that we conduct studies about bats while they are still present, in order to find ways to protect these peculiar flying mammals.
I made a short online questionnaire and I am trying to reach some regular Lake sailors to complete it. So if you are currently working on a freighter or other ship, or have been previously working, you are eligible to participate! Completing the questionnaire takes approximately 10 minutes, so I am not asking for a huge time commitment.
It should also be mentioned that all the information obtained will be confidential, and your employer's name or the names of the respondents will not be mentioned in the final paper.
Here's a link to the questionnaire:
https://elomake.helsinki.fi/lomakkeet/53403/lomake.html
So if you are a person who regularly sails on any of the Lakes, I really hope that you will participate in the study. Without the help of people like you, studies like this are impossible, so your participation is really important. You can also forward the questionnaire to all the people you know who are working on ships, if you think that they would be interested in participating. I really hope that I get as many responses as possible, as it would greatly help me to finish my studies and it would deepen our understanding about bats and their ecology.
Questions and/or discussion about the study or bats or hitchhiking on freighters are warmly welcomed!
Best regards,
Saska Lohi
Michigan Tech University / the University of Helsinki
Hello Boatnerds!
I am a graduate student currently trying to finish my master's thesis, and I am doing research about bats in the Great Lakes region.
What I am trying to find out is that are bats hitchhiking in freighters or other ships in this region. To prove if they are actually purposefully hitchhiking is quite difficult, so I am focusing on bat sightings.
It is an interesting subject that has not previously been studied. No scientific survey on the topic has been made with the focus on bats before. What we would like to know is that how often bats are seen on board, when and where, dead or alive and other basic things. We have heard that some people have seen bats on board, but we want to find out how common these sightings are. As you might have heard the latest news, bat populations in northeastern North America are not doing too well due to a deadly fungal disease. Therefore it is really important that we conduct studies about bats while they are still present, in order to find ways to protect these peculiar flying mammals.
I made a short online questionnaire and I am trying to reach some regular Lake sailors to complete it. So if you are currently working on a freighter or other ship, or have been previously working, you are eligible to participate! Completing the questionnaire takes approximately 10 minutes, so I am not asking for a huge time commitment.
It should also be mentioned that all the information obtained will be confidential, and your employer's name or the names of the respondents will not be mentioned in the final paper.
Here's a link to the questionnaire: [url]https://elomake.helsinki.fi/lomakkeet/53403/lomake.html[/url]
So if you are a person who regularly sails on any of the Lakes, I really hope that you will participate in the study. Without the help of people like you, studies like this are impossible, so your participation is really important. You can also forward the questionnaire to all the people you know who are working on ships, if you think that they would be interested in participating. I really hope that I get as many responses as possible, as it would greatly help me to finish my studies and it would deepen our understanding about bats and their ecology.
Questions and/or discussion about the study or bats or hitchhiking on freighters are warmly welcomed!
Best regards,
Saska Lohi
Michigan Tech University / the University of Helsinki