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Ecology, management and conservation in natural and modified habitats
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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 35(8)

A comparison of the effectiveness of bat detectors and harp traps for surveying bats in an urban landscape

C. L. Hourigan A C , Carla P. Catterall A , Darryl Jones A and Martin Rhodes B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Centre for Innovative Conservation Strategies, Griffith University, Nathan, Qld 4111, Australia.

B University of Queensland, St Lucia, Qld 4067, Australia.

C Corresponding author. Email: clhourigan@yahoo.com.au

Wildlife Research 35(8) 768-774 https://doi.org/10.1071/WR07154
Submitted: 28 September 2007  Accepted: 12 August 2008   Published: 16 December 2008

Abstract

Obtaining adequate information for informed conservation-management decisions requires effective and cost-efficient survey techniques. We compared the effectiveness of bat detectors and harp traps for surveying bat assemblages within an urban landscape in Brisbane, Australia, with respect to number and composition of species. Nine sites within each of three habitat types (remnant bushland, parkland, and low-density residential – a total of 27 sites) were sampled twice each. The bat detectors recorded 3628 calls, from which 13 taxa were identified. The harp traps captured 17 individuals, from which five taxa were identified. All species captured by harp trap were also detected by bat detector, with the possible exception of N. bifax. Bat detectors recorded significantly more species per site than were captured by harp traps, both overall and within each of the three habitat types. And although a considerable amount of time and expense was required to identify the recorded echolocation calls to species, bat detectors were also the most cost-efficient sampling method. These results collectively show that bat detectors were the most effective and cost-efficient method for surveying the bat assemblage in this urban landscape.


Acknowledgements

We greatly appreciate the comments and assistance provided by G. Hoye and C. Corben regarding the identification of bat calls to species. Helpful comments were made on an early draft of this manuscript by members of the Wildlife Ecology Discussion Group, Monika Rhodes and three anonymous referees. Thanks also to all the home owners and golf course managers for allowing access to their properties and golf courses, and Ian Witheyman, Jane Ogilvie, Jason Edgar, Cathy Dexter, Brett Taylor, Michelle Bolger, and Josh King for assistance in the field setting up and checking so many empty harp traps. Grants from the Royal Zoological Society of NSW and Griffith University funded this research. Ethics approval (AES/09/04/aec) and permits from the Environmental Protection Agency (WITK02300304, WISP02299604, and TWB/02/2004) were obtained before conducting the study.


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