​This project aims to improve methods for capturing biological information required for environmental assessments of highly mobile species and enable strategic environmental planning in Northern Australia. Using Australia’s iconic ghost bat as a focus, the project will test and apply emerging technologies to obtain key information on a species’ population status and its critical resources to inform assessments of ecological impacts of industry development. Important benefits of the project include information and tools for streamlining development approvals and accurately assessing risks to threatened species to improve outcomes for both our economy and our natural environment.

Chief investigators: Professor Sam Banks (Charles Darwin University); Dr Kyle Armstrong (University of Adelaide); Prof Justin Welbergen (WSU)
Postdoc: Dr Nicola Hanrahan (Charles Darwin University​)
Partner Investigators: Dr Laura Ruykys; Ms Brydie Hill; Dr Kym Ottewell; Mr John Augusteyn; Dr Tamara Keeley; Dr Luke Lloyd-Jones; Dr Luke Einoder; Professor Emma Teeling; Professor Gerald Wilkinson; Ms Emer McGowan
Funding Body: ARC Linkage (LP230100171)
Period: 2024-2028

This collaborative project is just taking flight, so watch this space!

see Our previous ghost bat work here

References

HANRAHAN, N., TURBILL, C., DALZIELL, A. H., ARMSTRONG, K. N., & WELBERGEN, J. A. (2023). Calling up ghosts: acoustic playback of social vocalisations reveals complex communication in a cryptic bat and provides a promising tool for monitoring disturbance-sensitive species. Mammal Research, 69:59-69

​HANRAHAN, N., TURBILL, C, DALZIELL, A. H., ARMSTRONG, K. N. & WELBERGEN, J. A. (2022). Ethogram of ghost bat (Macroderma gigas) behaviours and associated social vocalisations. Acta Chiropterologica, 24:195-208

HANRAHAN, N., TURBILL, C., ARMSTRONG, K. N., DALZIELL, A. H., & WELBERGEN, J. A. (2021) Ghost bats exhibit informative daily and seasonal temporal patterns in the production of social vocalisations. Australian Journal of Zoology, 67:305-315