Bat Ecology, Conservation, and Bioacoustics

Of the 6,500 or so different mammal species on earth, approximately 1,406 are from one group—bats! In other words, over 20% of known mammal diversity are bats. This module covers the basic biology and ecology of bats, the ecosystem services they provide, the threats they face globally, and how conservation actions can mitigate these threats. Students focus more locally in an accompanying exercise, Field Guide to the Bats in Your Neighborhood, where students are asked to research and present on bats in their region. In the case-study based exercise, Bats in the City? An Exploration of Acoustic Monitoring of Bats, students analyze acoustic data to answer ecological questions. Overall, students are introduced to bat ecology and conservation, urban biodiversity, bat echolocations/vocalizations, and the monitoring of these species through analyzing acoustic recordings with specialized software, Kaleidoscope. These materials were made in association with City Bats, a program in New York City designed to teach students more about the scientific process and urban biodiversity.