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300032 UE Bat Monitoring and Methods (2025S)
Continuous assessment of course work
Labels
Registration/Deregistration
Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).
- Registration is open from Th 06.02.2025 14:00 to Th 20.02.2025 18:00
- Deregistration possible until Sa 15.03.2025 18:00
Details
max. 20 participants
Language: German, English
Lecturers
Classes
*All lecture times include a lunch break from 12-1pm, but questions can be answered during this time if required.
*Please let me know in advance by email if you are unable to attend the preliminary discussion or debriefing.
10.03.2025, 10:00 to 11:00 am. OnlinePresence event (Rennweg 14, Practice Room 1):
26.03.2025, 10:00-12:00 am
02.04.2025, 10:00-12:00 am, 13:00-14:00 pm
29.04.2025, 10:00-12:00 am
21.05.2025, 10:00-12:00 amDebriefing:
25.06.2025, 10:00-11:00 am. OnlineField trips: Practical Bat Monitoring
09.04.2025, 17:00 - 19:00 pm: Excursion 1 (Fledermausstation -Bat Rehab Center Vienna)
Field trip 2: Box control, date tba in class
Field trip 3: Acoustic recording in the Botanical Garden of the University of Vienna, date tba in class
Information
Aims, contents and method of the course
Assessment and permitted materials
- Active participation in the course.
- Group presentation of bat species profiles, including biological and acoustic characteristics.
- Pratical bat call analysis: Creation of an Excel file for species identification using bioacoustic analysis software and automated classification tools.
- Metadata representation and protocol: Short written report/protocol summarising the data (in tabular form) and briefly interpreting them to link the results with ecological contexts.
- Group presentation of bat species profiles, including biological and acoustic characteristics.
- Pratical bat call analysis: Creation of an Excel file for species identification using bioacoustic analysis software and automated classification tools.
- Metadata representation and protocol: Short written report/protocol summarising the data (in tabular form) and briefly interpreting them to link the results with ecological contexts.
Minimum requirements and assessment criteria
Presence during the course is required.The final grade will be composed of: Active participation during the course: 40%; Group presentation of species profiles: 20%; Bat call analysis: 20%; Metadata representation and protocol: 20%Each of the four components needs to be positively evaluated (i.e., at least grade “4”).
Examination topics
In addition to the group presentation of bat species profiles, including biological and acoustic features for the selected species, the course includes two exercises that must be submitted by the respective deadlines.
1. Practical analysis of bat calls using the Kaleidoscope software with a bat sound package provided in the course, including automatic classification with post manual validation. This exercise ends with the creation of a CSV file in the software and the subsequent generation of an Excel file for species identification.
2. Metadata presentation and protocol consisting of the visualisation of the corrected data table from the sound package (e.g. table, boxplot, etc.) and a short written report/protocol summarising and briefly interpreting the data in order to link the results with ecological contexts. max. 2 pages (including figures and tables).
1. Practical analysis of bat calls using the Kaleidoscope software with a bat sound package provided in the course, including automatic classification with post manual validation. This exercise ends with the creation of a CSV file in the software and the subsequent generation of an Excel file for species identification.
2. Metadata presentation and protocol consisting of the visualisation of the corrected data table from the sound package (e.g. table, boxplot, etc.) and a short written report/protocol summarising and briefly interpreting the data in order to link the results with ecological contexts. max. 2 pages (including figures and tables).
Reading list
Will be announced/provided at the preparatory first meeting (10.03.2025) and during the course.(Not compulsory) Additional reading can be helpful:
- Dietz, C., & Kiefer, A. (2016). Bats of Britain and Europe. Bloomsbury Publishing.
- Barataud, M. (2015). Acoustic ecology of European bats: Species identification, study of habitats. Biotope Editions.
- Middleton, N., Froud, A., & French, K. (2022). Social calls of the bats of Britain and Ireland: Expanded and revised second edition. Pelagic Publishing.
- Dietz, C., & Kiefer, A. (2016). Bats of Britain and Europe. Bloomsbury Publishing.
- Barataud, M. (2015). Acoustic ecology of European bats: Species identification, study of habitats. Biotope Editions.
- Middleton, N., Froud, A., & French, K. (2022). Social calls of the bats of Britain and Ireland: Expanded and revised second edition. Pelagic Publishing.
Association in the course directory
MNB6, MEC-9, MZO W4, MZO4
Last modified: Th 23.01.2025 11:46
- understand the theoretical principles and practical methodologies of different bat survey techniques (e.g. mist netting, acoustic recording and box inspection etc.).
- gain a solid understanding of echolocation fundamentals, including the dynamic behavioral variations in bat echolocation.
- configure bioacoustic hardware, define relevant parameters for data collection, and analyze recorded data using software tools.
- acquire skills to process and standardise bioacoustic data for statistical and ecological analysis.
- have acquired the background knowledge to assess the ecological roles of bats and their importance to ecosystems, as well as the principles of bioacoustics.
_____________________________________Contents and methods of the course (SE):This course provides a theoretical and practical introduction to the techniques and principles of bat survey methods and bioacoustic analysis.The course will:- provide an introduction to the biology and ecology of European bat species, focusing on their diversity, behaviour, and biological traits. Students will work collaboratively to produce species profiles, integrating research on biological and acoustic traits, and present their findings in student-led presentations.
- cover the basics of echolocation, focusing on species differences and the dynamic behavioural changes that influence echolocation patterns.
- introduce students to various survey methods, including acoustic recording, box inspections, and bat handling, through theoretical discussion and practical field applications/observations.
- provide practical training in setting up and configuring bioacoustic hardware (AudioMoth detectors) to ensure accurate parameter decisions.
- teach students how to analyse and interpret bioacoustic data using software tools such as Kaleidoscope, with a focus on bat species identification.
- include exercises in the processing and standardisation of bioacoustic meta-data, culminating in the production of data matrices for ecological interpretation and potential further statistical analysis.