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Trapping, measurements, radio tracking and field surveys

Trapping, measurements, radio tracking and field surveys. Trapping - Harp Traps. Harp traps are designed to catch flying bats without damaging their wings.

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Trapping, measurements, radio tracking and field surveys

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  1. Trapping, measurements, radio tracking and field surveys

  2. Trapping - Harp Traps • Harp traps are designed to catch flying bats without damaging their wings. • They consist of a frame that supports two rows of fine thread, and a catching bag at the base. If a bat detects the first row and swerves to pass through, it collides with the second row and tumbles into the collecting bag.

  3. Trapping - Mist Nets • Mist nets are used by ornithologists and bat biologists to capture wild birds and bats for banding or other research projects. • Mist nets are typically made of nylon mesh suspended between two poles, resembling an oversized volleyball net. • When properly deployed, the nets are virtually invisible.

  4. Monitoring and Measurements • Traps are checked after the evening peak activity and bats are collected • Processing of most bats are done in the forests, however selected species will be taken back to base for further processing • If kept over night, released at first light and species trapped during dawn peak activity processed

  5. Monitoring and Measurements • Measurements taken once a bat has been trapped: • Forearm length • Age • Sex • Species • Weight • Location • If the individual has been caught before, we can then work out how far the bat has traveled since we last caught it, and how much older it is

  6. Radio Tracking • By attaching a small electronic device to an individual animal, movement throughout its environment can be accurately tracked and monitored. • There are a number of different tracking techniques, but each involves the transmission of an electronic signal from an attached device – either via satellite, high frequency radio waves, or the mobile telephone network.

  7. Radio Tracking cont. • In this study, radio tracking will be used to identify roosts. • The spatial co-ordinates are recorded and then then the roost is characterised in terms of its physical characteristics • Roost type • Diameter at breast height • Height of roost opening • Vegetation cover • Distance to trail, water etc • The roost is monitored daily to see if the bat switches roosts

  8. Field Surveys • Field surveys are essential to identify the habitats present in a study area and to record the locations of habitats • Habitat surveys are done in 50x50m plots. • Each tree over 5m is assigned to a size class.

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