Standardisation in bat acoustic research: a review of reporting practices in Australia

Kelly Sheldrick; David A. Hill; Patricia A. Fleming; Rochelle Steven

doi:10.1071/WR25043

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Standardisation in bat acoustic research: a review of reporting practices in Australia

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Standardisation in bat acoustic research: a review of reporting practices in Australia

Kelly Sheldrick, David A. Hill, Patricia A. Fleming and Rochelle Steven

Wildlife research (East Melbourne), Vol.52(10), WR25043

2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1071/WR25043

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Abstract

acoustic detectors

Australian bats

bat acoustic surveys

bat call identification

bat call libraries

bat conservation

bat ecology

bat research

bioacoustics

echolocation

ecoacoustics

reporting standards

research transparency

survey methodology

wildlife monitoring

Acoustic monitoring is a common survey method for echolocating bats. However, differences in equipment, methods of field deployment, and variability in bat calls complicate acoustic analysis. The Australasian Bat Society (ABS), the peak body for bat conservation in the region, published reporting standards (hereafter ‘standards’) as a guide towards consistent and transparent methods in acoustic bat surveys. Here we review how the current standards are integrated into Australian bat acoustic research. Our analysis showed that only 8 of the 107 studies reviewed adhered fully to the standards. While 89% of studies included citation to reference libraries, and 79% of studies described call characteristics of similar species, only 17% of studies adhered to guidelines requiring the inclusion of time versus frequency spectrographs for species identification. Furthermore, only 19% reported on survey effort as a function of detector hours. This review underscores the need for easily accessible and updated standards as well as the sharing of bat call reference libraries to improve the accuracy and comparability of bat acoustic surveys in Australia. Enhancing consistency and transparency in bat acoustic reporting will facilitate more robust studies and enhance the effectiveness of conservation efforts.

Details

Title: Standardisation in bat acoustic research: a review of reporting practices in Australia
Authors/Creators: Kelly Sheldrick - Conservation Council of Western Australia, West Perth, WA, Australia
David A. Hill - Kyoto University
Patricia A. Fleming - Murdoch University, Centre for Terrestrial Ecosystem Science and Sustainability
Rochelle Steven - Murdoch University, School of Environmental and Conservation Sciences
Publication Details: Wildlife research (East Melbourne), Vol.52(10), WR25043
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing; CLAYTON SOUTH
Number of pages: 9
Grant note: Australasian Bat Society (http://data.elsevier.com/vocabulary/SciValFunders/501100022921)
Identifiers: 991005815049507891
Murdoch Affiliation: Harry Butler Institute; Centre for Terrestrial Ecosystem Science and Sustainability; School of Environmental and Conservation Sciences
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Citation topics: 3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology; 3.35 Zoology & Animal Ecology; 3.35.1587 Chiroptera
Web Of Science research areas: Ecology; Zoology
ESI research areas: Plant & Animal Science