Speaker
Dr
Vu Dinh Thong
(Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources)
Description
Vietnam is recognised as an important country in Asia for bat research and conservation. To date, 126 bat species belonging to 36 genera and 8 families are known. However, the acoustic characters of many Vietnamese bats are still poorly studied. Between 2006 and 2018, we conducted a series of bat surveys in Vietnam with an emphasis on bioacoustic research. Echolocation calls of bats were recorded in different situations using PCTape; they were subsequently analysed with Selena software. We have obtained comprehensive data of echolocation calls for over 50 bat species of 7 families: Emballonuridae, Hipposideridae, Megadermatidae, Miniopteridae, Molossidae, Rhinolophidae and Vespertilionidae. Of these, the echolocation calls of the Hipposideridae and Rhinolophidae are sufficiently distinct to enable identification to species level. Our results have been included in a database of Vietnamese bat echolocation call, which will be used for monitoring, ecological studies and conservation. This presentation provides a historical review of research of echolocation of Vietnamese bats; our achievements between 2006 and 2018; and recommendations and potential trends for further research in the future.
