Discovering the secrets of microbats

In order to understand more about these elusive, insectivorous bats, researchers at the University of Melbourne are calling on the general public to help survey our microbat population and identify the best habitats for bat conservation. Members will join as Earthwatch volunteers to find out more about microbats’ behaviour by becoming field research assistants.

Dr Rodney van der Ree, from the Australian Research Centre for Urban Ecology based at the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne and School of Botany, University of Melbourne, says that although 16 species of small bats have been detected across greater Melbourne, so far there have not been any systematic surveys of insectivorous bats to quantify their distribution, abundance, habitat requirements or conservation status within urban and suburban areas.

Microbat surveys will be conducted during evenings until the end of March by the University of Melbourne and Earthwatch, led by Drs van der Ree, Fiona Caryl and PhD student Caroline Wilson from the University of Melbourne.

Dr van der Ree says Earthwatch volunteers will be an invaluable asset in surveying the bats, helping to set up traps at dusk and track their locations at night using GPS equipment and hand-held bat detectors to record their ultrasonic calls.

In January, Earthwatch volunteers helped Dr van der Ree and his team capture over 65 bats in areas like Napier Park, Essendon.

Data collected from these surveys will help Dr van der Ree’s team assess the preferred habitat and diet of microbats living in these areas.

“Many management actions such as habitat clearing, pruning of dead branches, planting of particular species of trees, artificial night lighting and park design are likely to disadvantage and cause extinction of bats.

“We hope to identify landscape-scale habitat features, as well as the micro-scale features such as preferred nesting locations that will enable managers of urban areas to consciously manage resources for the benefit of bats as well as humans.”

For more information on Melbourne’s Microbats and how to volunteer with Earthwatch:
earthwatch.org/australia/exped/vanderree_short.html
03 9682 6828.