TY  - CONF
AU  - Budinski, Ivana
AU  - Montauban, Cecilia M
AU  - Ketola, Christopher T
AU  - Hillier, Lewis P
AU  - Kirkby, Christopher A
AU  - Lloyd, Julia N
AU  - Kwarija Innocent
AU  - Kityo, Robert
PY  - 2023
UR  - http://radar.ibiss.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/6257
AB  - Uganda is recognised as a biodiversity hotspot, but knowledge gaps remain, especially for lesser-known
taxonomic groups like bats. More comprehensive taxonomic studies and combined monitoring methods
are needed to assess bat species' distributions and populations. In early 2023, NGO Fauna Forever
partnered with local biologists, rangers and community members to conduct a rapid bat diversity
assessment at eight privately-owned sites across Uganda, mostly in close proximity of National Parks.
We used a combination of ground mist nets, a triple high mist net system, and a 2-bank harp trap to
survey bats. We captured 664 bats of 44 species from 8 families. Each method revealed unique captures,
with 38% of individuals caught in the triple high net (including 8 species not trapped elsewhere), all but
one of the Nycterid bats caught in ground nets, and the only individual of Kerivoula smithii trapped in
the harp trap. We emphasize the importance of using a combination of methods to assess the bat
community, and advocate for training local conservationists in diverse survey techniques. Furthermore,
we share our experience delivering workshops at Sadhguru School to showcase the diversity and
importance of local bat fauna. Our study yields significant contributions, including new species
distribution records, genetic and morphometric data, and hand-release echolocation call recordings.
These findings will contribute to conservation efforts, taxonomic assessments, and the growth of a bat
call reference library in Uganda. Undoubtedly, continuous monitoring of biodiversity is crucial for
understanding population trends, detecting threats, and formulating effective conservation strategies.
PB  - Windhoek: University of Namibia
C3  - Programme and Abstract: 14th African Small Mammal Symposium; 2023 Sep 17-22; Swakopmund, Namibia
T1  - Exploring Uganda’s bat diversity: a rapid assessment utilizing a combination of techniques
SP  - 13
UR  - https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_ibiss_6257
ER  - 

@conference{
author = "Budinski, Ivana and Montauban, Cecilia M and Ketola, Christopher T and Hillier, Lewis P and Kirkby, Christopher A and Lloyd, Julia N and Kwarija Innocent and Kityo, Robert",
year = "2023",
abstract = "Uganda is recognised as a biodiversity hotspot, but knowledge gaps remain, especially for lesser-known
taxonomic groups like bats. More comprehensive taxonomic studies and combined monitoring methods
are needed to assess bat species' distributions and populations. In early 2023, NGO Fauna Forever
partnered with local biologists, rangers and community members to conduct a rapid bat diversity
assessment at eight privately-owned sites across Uganda, mostly in close proximity of National Parks.
We used a combination of ground mist nets, a triple high mist net system, and a 2-bank harp trap to
survey bats. We captured 664 bats of 44 species from 8 families. Each method revealed unique captures,
with 38% of individuals caught in the triple high net (including 8 species not trapped elsewhere), all but
one of the Nycterid bats caught in ground nets, and the only individual of Kerivoula smithii trapped in
the harp trap. We emphasize the importance of using a combination of methods to assess the bat
community, and advocate for training local conservationists in diverse survey techniques. Furthermore,
we share our experience delivering workshops at Sadhguru School to showcase the diversity and
importance of local bat fauna. Our study yields significant contributions, including new species
distribution records, genetic and morphometric data, and hand-release echolocation call recordings.
These findings will contribute to conservation efforts, taxonomic assessments, and the growth of a bat
call reference library in Uganda. Undoubtedly, continuous monitoring of biodiversity is crucial for
understanding population trends, detecting threats, and formulating effective conservation strategies.",
publisher = "Windhoek: University of Namibia",
journal = "Programme and Abstract: 14th African Small Mammal Symposium; 2023 Sep 17-22; Swakopmund, Namibia",
title = "Exploring Uganda’s bat diversity: a rapid assessment utilizing a combination of techniques",
pages = "13",
url = "https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_ibiss_6257"
}

Budinski, I., Montauban, C. M., Ketola, C. T., Hillier, L. P., Kirkby, C. A., Lloyd, J. N., Kwarija Innocent,& Kityo, R.. (2023). Exploring Uganda’s bat diversity: a rapid assessment utilizing a combination of techniques. in Programme and Abstract: 14th African Small Mammal Symposium; 2023 Sep 17-22; Swakopmund, Namibia
Windhoek: University of Namibia., 13.
https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_ibiss_6257

Budinski I, Montauban CM, Ketola CT, Hillier LP, Kirkby CA, Lloyd JN, Kwarija Innocent, Kityo R. Exploring Uganda’s bat diversity: a rapid assessment utilizing a combination of techniques. in Programme and Abstract: 14th African Small Mammal Symposium; 2023 Sep 17-22; Swakopmund, Namibia. 2023;:13.
https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_ibiss_6257 .

Budinski, Ivana, Montauban, Cecilia M, Ketola, Christopher T, Hillier, Lewis P, Kirkby, Christopher A, Lloyd, Julia N, Kwarija Innocent, Kityo, Robert, "Exploring Uganda’s bat diversity: a rapid assessment utilizing a combination of techniques" in Programme and Abstract: 14th African Small Mammal Symposium; 2023 Sep 17-22; Swakopmund, Namibia (2023):13,
https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_ibiss_6257 .

TY  - CONF
AU  - Montauban, Cecilia M
AU  - Devenish, Adam JM
AU  - Budinski, Ivana
AU  - Annorbah, Nathaniel ND
AU  - Chibesa, Moses
AU  - Welch, Andreanna J
AU  - Tobias, Joseph A
PY  - 2023
UR  - http://radar.ibiss.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/6256
AB  - Increasing agricultural production to meet rapidly growing demand for food is driving widespread
conversion of natural habitats to arable land. Safeguarding biodiversity while improving food security
of local communities remains a key global challenge, especially in regions such as Sub-Saharan Africa,
where the population is expected to double by 2050. To develop sustainable solutions to this trade-off,
we need to better understand natural regulation processes. Bats are widely regarded as a major predator of crop pests, yet little is known about them in African agroecosystems. We investigated the role of bats
as natural pest consumers across land-use gradients from intact forest to cropland in two contrasting
Afrotropical systems of Zambia and Ghana. Between 2021 and 2022, 2151 bats of 61 species were
captured across four field seasons. From these, metabarcoding dietary analyses of 895 faecal samples
of insectivorous bats were performed. Bats were found to consume detrimental agricultural pests in
both systems, with differing proportions and prevalence of pests in their diets across localities and
agroecosystem types (e.g., maize and cacao). We find a shift in bat taxonomic and functional diversity,
with some forest-dependent species absent from agricultural areas, particularly on the clear-cut edges
of tropical evergreen rainforests of Ghana. Intraspecific dietary analyses of bat species present along
the gradient show alteration of trophic interactions, with reduced dietary breadth and nestedness with
increasing distance from the forest. Our study highlights the degradation of ecological interactions in
changing landscapes, with important implications for conserving their function and stability.
PB  - Windhoek: University of Namibia
C3  - Scientific Programme and Abstract: 14th African Small Mammal Symposium; 2023 Sep 17-22; Swakopmund, Namibia
T1  - Forest loss alters bat diversity, trophic interactions and natural pest consumption in adjacent agricultural land
SP  - 22
EP  - 23
UR  - https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_ibiss_6256
ER  - 

@conference{
author = "Montauban, Cecilia M and Devenish, Adam JM and Budinski, Ivana and Annorbah, Nathaniel ND and Chibesa, Moses and Welch, Andreanna J and Tobias, Joseph A",
year = "2023",
abstract = "Increasing agricultural production to meet rapidly growing demand for food is driving widespread
conversion of natural habitats to arable land. Safeguarding biodiversity while improving food security
of local communities remains a key global challenge, especially in regions such as Sub-Saharan Africa,
where the population is expected to double by 2050. To develop sustainable solutions to this trade-off,
we need to better understand natural regulation processes. Bats are widely regarded as a major predator of crop pests, yet little is known about them in African agroecosystems. We investigated the role of bats
as natural pest consumers across land-use gradients from intact forest to cropland in two contrasting
Afrotropical systems of Zambia and Ghana. Between 2021 and 2022, 2151 bats of 61 species were
captured across four field seasons. From these, metabarcoding dietary analyses of 895 faecal samples
of insectivorous bats were performed. Bats were found to consume detrimental agricultural pests in
both systems, with differing proportions and prevalence of pests in their diets across localities and
agroecosystem types (e.g., maize and cacao). We find a shift in bat taxonomic and functional diversity,
with some forest-dependent species absent from agricultural areas, particularly on the clear-cut edges
of tropical evergreen rainforests of Ghana. Intraspecific dietary analyses of bat species present along
the gradient show alteration of trophic interactions, with reduced dietary breadth and nestedness with
increasing distance from the forest. Our study highlights the degradation of ecological interactions in
changing landscapes, with important implications for conserving their function and stability.",
publisher = "Windhoek: University of Namibia",
journal = "Scientific Programme and Abstract: 14th African Small Mammal Symposium; 2023 Sep 17-22; Swakopmund, Namibia",
title = "Forest loss alters bat diversity, trophic interactions and natural pest consumption in adjacent agricultural land",
pages = "22-23",
url = "https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_ibiss_6256"
}

Montauban, C. M., Devenish, A. J., Budinski, I., Annorbah, N. N., Chibesa, M., Welch, A. J.,& Tobias, J. A.. (2023). Forest loss alters bat diversity, trophic interactions and natural pest consumption in adjacent agricultural land. in Scientific Programme and Abstract: 14th African Small Mammal Symposium; 2023 Sep 17-22; Swakopmund, Namibia
Windhoek: University of Namibia., 22-23.
https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_ibiss_6256

Montauban CM, Devenish AJ, Budinski I, Annorbah NN, Chibesa M, Welch AJ, Tobias JA. Forest loss alters bat diversity, trophic interactions and natural pest consumption in adjacent agricultural land. in Scientific Programme and Abstract: 14th African Small Mammal Symposium; 2023 Sep 17-22; Swakopmund, Namibia. 2023;:22-23.
https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_ibiss_6256 .

Montauban, Cecilia M, Devenish, Adam JM, Budinski, Ivana, Annorbah, Nathaniel ND, Chibesa, Moses, Welch, Andreanna J, Tobias, Joseph A, "Forest loss alters bat diversity, trophic interactions and natural pest consumption in adjacent agricultural land" in Scientific Programme and Abstract: 14th African Small Mammal Symposium; 2023 Sep 17-22; Swakopmund, Namibia (2023):22-23,
https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_ibiss_6256 .