Wildlife Acoustics
A Special Webinar with Bat Conservation International
For this webinar, we’re partnering with Bat Conservation International (BCI), a 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit dedicated to conserving the world’s bats and their ecosystems for a healthy planet.
Researchers are using bioacoustics to help bats make a comeback in the face of white-nose syndrome, habitat loss, and climate change. But what exactly is acoustic monitoring helping folks in the field uncover, and how can it be scaled for success elsewhere? Tune in to our FREE webinar on April 25th to find out!
Topics & Speakers
Uncovering the Life History Traits of the Critically Endangered Hill’s Horseshoe Bat in Nyungwe National Park, Rwanda
Jon Flanders, PhD
Director, Endangered Species Interventions
Bat Conservation International
Hill’s horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus hilli) was previously only known from the description of two specimens collected in Nyungwe National Park in Rwanda. With no records since 1981, there was growing uncertainty about whether a population still existed. However, the successful capture of two Hill’s horseshoe bats in 2019 made it possible for researchers to record the first echolocation signature for the species. This has allowed for acoustic monitoring activities within Nyungwe to identify the species’ core range and where to focus future research efforts.
Fat Bats at the Bug Buffet: Can Enhancement of Foraging Habitat Help Support Bats with White-Nose Syndrome?
Amanda Adams, PhD
Director, Research Coordination
Bat Conservation International
Little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus) that enter hibernation with more fat are more likely to survive the winter than bats with less fat in areas with established white-nose syndrome (WNS). To assist bats with pre-hibernation fattening, we created artificial prey patches by attracting insects to ultraviolet (UV) lights near bats’ winter dwellings during swarming. We recorded bats’ echolocations using Wildlife Acoustics passive acoustic recorders and discovered that WNS-affected bats foraged three to eight times more than usual at UV lights.
Using Acoustics to Identify Critical Habitat for the Endangered Florida Bonneted Bat in Southern Florida, United States
Melquisedec Gamba-Rios, PhD
Regional Director, Latin America & Caribbean Initiatives
Bat Conservation International
The Florida bonneted bat (Eumops floridanus) is one of North America’s rarest bat species. Endemic to southern Florida, it faces multiple threats, including the loss of habitat to climate change and rapid urbanization. Approximately 17 percent of natural roosting habitat is left for Florida bonneted bats, and urban environments within the distribution range provide essential habitats for their recovery and holistic, long-term conservation. Acoustic monitoring in Miami has been critical to identifying priority areas for foraging and artificial roost installations, leading to the establishment of the largest species population throughout the range.
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