Introduction to Bat Field Ecology and Survey Techniques

This workshop is designed for students who are just starting out in the world of bats (or want to do so), although it is also open to early career practitioners and consultants. It aims to provide the basic knowledge and tools for the study and sampling of bats in the field.

Responsible organisers/Instructors:

• Lead: Alba Coronado, David López-Bosch, Laura Torrent, Carme Tuneu-Corral (Biodiversity and Bioindicators Research Group, Natural Sciences Museum of Granollers, Spain)

• Co: Edward Hurme (Department of Migration, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behaviour, Germany)

 Ivana Budinski (Department of Genetic Research, Institute for Biological Research Siniša Stanković, Serbia)

 Cecilia Montauban (Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Imperial College London, UK)

 

Date: 7 – 13 September

Location: La Garrotxa, Catalonia (Spain)

Minimum and maximum number of participants: 10 – 14 people

Duration: 7 days (7^th September morning – 13^th September morning)

Description:

Over seven days and six nights, attendees will learn basic knowledge about the ecology of European bat species, and will be given theoretical and practical sessions of a wide range of methods, techniques, and technologies available for surveying bats. Throughout the week, students will receive guided, hands-on experience with the deployment of mist nets, harp traps, passive and active acoustic detectors and telemetry. Further, bat removal and handling skills are featured, as well as metrics for morphological identification and genetic sample collection in the field.

The workshop will take place in La Garrotxa, one of the most beautiful regions with the greatest diversity and abundance of bats in Catalonia. Attendees and instructors will stay in a rural house surrounded by nature, where theoretical and some practical sessions will be run. In-field demonstrations, bat trapping and real-time data collection will be conducted every night, covering several types of habitats, including forests, rivers, and caves.

Data collected from the course will feed into current research taking place in the area.

Proposed schedule:

Day 1: Techniques for capturing and handling bats

Morning/Afternoon (theory):

• Introduction to local habitats and bat species

• Bat capture methods and handling techniques

Evening/Night (fieldwork):

• Practical session and bat trapping

Day 2: Morphometrics and taxonomy

Morning/Afternoon (theory):

• Bat Natural History and Morphological Identification

• External and craniodental measurements

Evening/Night (fieldwork):

• Practical session and bat trapping

Day 3: Bat tracking and telemetry

Morning/Afternoon (theory):

• Introduction to bat tracking techniques and telemetry

• Case studies

Evening/Night (fieldwork):

• Practical session and bat trapping

Day 4: Radio-tracking/acoustics

Morning (fieldwork):

• Radiotracking – practical session

Afternoon (theory)

• Introduction to echolocation and ultrasound recording

• Overview of bat detector types

Evening/Night (fieldwork):

• Practical session and bat trapping

Day 5: Acoustics training

Morning/Afternoon (theory/practice):

• Echolocation call characteristics of local bat species

• Analysis of acoustic data and species identification

Evening/Night (fieldwork):

• Practical session and bat trapping

Day 6: Genetics

Morning/Afternoon (theory):

• Introduction to genetic analyses for studying bat ecology

• Case studies

Evening/Night (fieldwork):

• Practical session and bat trapping

Day 7: closing of the course

Morning:

• Final general discussion

• Wrap-up

Midday:
- Travel to Barcelona/other locations

Expenses: The total cost of the workshop will be 560 euros/person. This price includes the formation, daily transport and accommodation for 6 full days with full board (breakfast, lunch and dinner).

 

Worshop grant: Funding may be available to cover the workshop costs of a student from a non-high income country.

 

Registration:

Registration open until 15^th June, or earlier if all available places are sold out. Please contact Carme Tuneu-Corral (tuneucorral@gmail.com) and Laura Torrent (arual.torrent@gmail.com) and provide the following information as early as possible:

• Your motivation for joining the workshop (the workshop is for students who are starting in the world of bats, or planning to do so!; as well as for early career practitioners and consultants)

• If you are attending the EBRS.

• If you are a student from a non-high income country and wish to apply for the potential workshop grant.

• If you have any experience in capturing/handling bats, acoustic surveys, telemetry or genetics (do not worry, it is not a requirement to have experience in these fields. In fact, the aim of this workshop is to acquire this knowledge during the course)

• If you travel with your own car

• If you have any special dietary requirement

Proof of current Rabies vaccination or acceptable titre level is required for any participants wishing to handle bats (participants do not have to handle bats if they prefer to concentrate on other survey methods during the training).

This workshop has been co-sponsored by: