The stage is set...

Seven months into my MSc and the really exciting part is almost upon us. Since January I have been training to handle bats, designing my study, reading around the subject and identifying lots of woodlands to survey in. Over the next two months I will be going out into woodlands across the Midlands and South of England to collect data for my research by catching bats!

Me learning to set up a harp trap back
in the cold weather in May.
(Photo: Paul Kennedy)

I am looking to collect data to further describe the distribution in the UK of a newly discovered species, the Alcathoe bat. This bat was only described as a new species to science as recently as 2001 with the first records coming from Greece. Since then it has been found in various countries across Europe including the UK in the last couple of years. At present it is only known in a few locations up and down the country. I’m hoping to find a few more…

The Alcathoe bat is almost identical to two other species, the Brandt’s and Whiskered bats. As these three bat species look so similar, not a lot is known about the difference between them. Only very knowledgeable experts or DNA analysis of tissue samples or droppings can tell them apart, even their echolocation calls are very similar.

I am by no means an expert so will be collecting droppings from the bats (if you are wondering how I intend to do this check back soon as I’ll be posting a “poo-tastic” blog in the near future).These droppings can then be tested to determine which species of bat have produced them.

Is it Whiskered, Brandt's or Alcathoe bat???
(Photo:Bob Cornes)

By putting traps up in different types of woodlands (woodlands close to or far away from water bodies), I can investigate if different bat species use different types of woodland to hunt their insect prey.

By putting traps up in different locations within the same wood (one trap on the edge of the woodland and the other in the middle), I can also investigate if different bat species use different areas within the same woodland.

If the weather is kind to us this summer and I am able to trap at enough sites I hope to be able to describe any differences between the foraging areas of Brandt’s, Whiskered and Alcathoe bats. I might even be able to describe the distribution of the newly discovered Alcathoe bat in the UK!

I am studying for a self funded MSc at the University of Bristol with equipment and support from the Bat Conservation Trust http://www.bats.org.uk/ and training and guidance from Daniel Whitby of AEWC Ltd. If you would like to contact me about my research please email: philip.brown@bristol.ac.uk