Myotis lavali Moratelli, Peracchi, Dias, and Oliveira, 2011 is a vespertilionid bat commonly call... more Myotis lavali Moratelli, Peracchi, Dias, and Oliveira, 2011 is a vespertilionid bat commonly called LaVal’s myotis. It is a small- to medium-sized bat with long silky fur; dorsal fur strongly bicolored, with medium-brown bases and light-brown tips. It occurs from Northeastern Brazil to Paraguay and northern Argentina, and its distribution is associated with the South American diagonal of dry formations (Caatinga, Cerrado, Chaco, and Pantanal biomes), with peripheral records in the adjacent Atlantic Forest. Myotis lavali is listed as “Least Concern” (LC) by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources.
Seventeen species of emballonurid bats are known in Brazil, but their distribution is often deter... more Seventeen species of emballonurid bats are known in Brazil, but their distribution is often determined by patchy records. However, due to almost species-specific calls, echolocation can help to refine the distribution of emballonurids. Here we use acoustic samplings to assess and complement the list of emballonurids of Reserva Biológica Saltinho, an important Atlantic Forest remnant in Pernambuco state, Northeastern Brazil. We positively matched calls of Saccopteryx bilineata (Temminck, 1838) that was foraging along forest edges. However, a series of calls significantly different from those emitted by S. bilineata indicate the presence of a second Saccopteryx sonotype in the area. The lower frequencies in this sonotype presumably came from a larger species, indicating the possible existence of an undescribed cryptic species of Saccopteryx. We also detected Centronycteris maximiliani (Fischer, 1829), recorded 35 years after its first record in Pernambuco, and an undetermined species ...
ABSTRACT: We present the first record of Strebla proxima Wenzel, 1976 (Diptera: Streblidae) in Br... more ABSTRACT: We present the first record of Strebla proxima Wenzel, 1976 (Diptera: Streblidae) in Brazil. Our record in Pará state is 2,200 km SE from the nearest record and ends a 41-year hiatus with no records since the original description of the species in Venezuela. The collected specimens (1 male and 1 female) were found parasitizing a female of Peropteryx kappleri Peters, 1867 (Chiroptera: Emballonuridae). Host specificity and the reasons for such a temporal gap between records are discussed.
The big crested mastiff bat, Promops centralis, occurs in Central and South America, but knowledg... more The big crested mastiff bat, Promops centralis, occurs in Central and South America, but knowledge of its ecology is limited due to its open space hunting strategy, making captures extremely challenging. Notwithstanding, members of the species produce echolocation calls that are easy to identify. After recording calls of P. centralis 1,500 km away from its known range in Brazil, we hypothesized that the distribution range of this species was probably greatly underestimated. To improve the accuracy of P. centralis' real distribution, we employed acoustic surveys throughout parts of Brazil, conducted after a bibliographic review to gather additional records, and used MaxEnt to model the species' potential distribution. We have found that P. centralis has a much wider distribution in South America than previously thought, adding more than 3.8 million km2 to its former known area. We also describe an unusual vocalization pattern of P. centralis, with individuals emitting at leas...
Species distribution modelling (SDM) gained importance on biodiversity distribution and conservat... more Species distribution modelling (SDM) gained importance on biodiversity distribution and conservation studies worldwide, including prioritizing areas for public policies and international treaties. Useful for large-scale approaches and species distribution estimates, it is a plus considering that a minor fraction of the planet is adequately sampled. However, minimizing errors is challenging, but essential, considering the uses and consequences of such models. In situ validation of the SDM outputs should be a key-step—in some cases, urgent. Bioacoustics can be used to validate and refine those outputs, especially if the focal species’ vocalizations are conspicuous and species-specific. This is the case of echolocating bats. Here, we used extensive acoustic monitoring (>120 validation points over an area of >758,000 km2, and producing >300,000 sound files) to validate MaxEnt outputs for six neotropical bat species in a poorly-sampled region of Brazil. Based on in situ validati...
Freshwater systems have been profoundly changed by the construction of dams, and the influence of... more Freshwater systems have been profoundly changed by the construction of dams, and the influence of dams on bat activity is poorly understood. In this study, we analyzed the effects of small dams along mountain streams on local bat communities. This work was carried out in five small streams located in the NE of Portugal using bioacoustic surveys during the summer of 2011. The present study confirms that, in the northeast areas of Portugal, the majority of bat species use artificial bodies of water for either drinking or foraging, but species differed in terms of their activity levels over the reservoirs when compared with intact stream habitats. As predicted, small dams in the study area were important centers of overall bat activity relative to other sampling areas. At the same time, feeding activity was also higher in the flooded areas. We also found that Pipistrellus pipistrellus, Myotis daubentonii, Pipistrellus kuhlii, Pipistrellus pygmaeus/Miniopterus schreibersii, Tadarida teniotis and Nyctalus leisleri/Eptesicus serotinus benefited from the presence of dam reservoirs. Hypsugo savii activity was also mostly recorded at reservoir points. However, the highest number of endangered and rare species was recorded at an intact stream habitat. This result emphasizes the relevance of riparian habitats for bats, especially for the most endangered species. The relationship between dam availability, riparian quality and bat diversity suggested that the changes in the streams promoted by damming could affect both bat species richness and activity levels, leading to changes in the overall composition of the bat community. In conclusion, this study found that small reservoirs have a significant influence on bat activity. However, dams appear to primarily benefit the most common species, while the endangered species were associated with riparian habitats. Therefore, for conservation proposes of the local bat community, riparian areas appear to be more important than reservoirs. Thus, this study provides a better understanding of the impact of small dams on bats contributing to the future management and conservation of bat species.
Brazil is a megadiverse country with more than 180 bat species. However, most inventories have be... more Brazil is a megadiverse country with more than 180 bat species. However, most inventories have been mostly made using mist-net sampling and roost search and due to the lack of bioacoustics studies, the bat fauna is certainly subrepresented and biased. The knowledge on distribution and ecology of Brazilian bats is mainly within the Phyllostomidae. Reliable data on bat echolocation calls is the key to improve the knowledge on the distribution patterns and foraging ecology of the remaining eight bat families present in the country. Our work aims to (i) integrate information on echolocation calls of non-phyllostomids occurring in Brazil; (ii) detect regional changes in the acoustic profile of those species; (iii) identify gaps in knowledge both in terms of species and regions sampled; and (iv) to point out which species are acoustically recognizable in a reliable way. Finally, we present a key to supporting the acoustic identification of non-phyllostomids in Brazil. We compiled publications on echolocation calls of Neotropical bat species occurring in Brazil and summarized qualitative and quantitative information of acoustic parameters used in call descriptions. We considered 93 non-phyllostomid bat species to occur in Brazil of which 65 have been acoustically described but for 28 we found no published information. Information on echolocation calls was retrieved from 47 publications and acquired in 17 countries. The use of bioacoustics can be a fundamental tool to expand the knowledge on Brazilian bats and improve their conservation.
We present the first record of Strebla proxima Wenzel, 1976 (Diptera: Streblidae) in Brazil. Our ... more We present the first record of Strebla proxima Wenzel, 1976 (Diptera: Streblidae) in Brazil. Our record in Pará state is 2,200 km SE from the nearest record and ends a 41-year hiatus with no records since the original description of the species in Venezuela. The collected specimens (1 male and 1 female) were found parasitizing a female of Peropteryx kappleri Peters, 1867 (Chiroptera: Emballonuridae). Host specificity and the reasons for such a temporal gap between records are discussed.
Resumo: A análise de chamados de ecolocalização é, há muito tempo, utilizada como ferramenta impr... more Resumo: A análise de chamados de ecolocalização é, há muito tempo, utilizada como ferramenta imprescindível no estudo dos quirópteros na Europa, América do Norte e Oceania, por isso tem o potencial de preencher grandes lacunas de informação sobre a riqueza de espécies e atividade de morcegos no Brasil. Existem no mercado vários softwares que identificam automaticamente os chamados produzidos pelos morcegos, prometendo facilidade e rapidez na identificação dos numerosos arquivos gerados durante a gravação. Utilizando uma seleção de 71 arquivos com vocalizações de 43 espécies (9 famílias) de morcegos brasileiros previamente identificadas, testamos dois softwares comerciais de identificação automatizada com classificadores disponíveis para a região Neotropical: Kaleidoscope Pro (Wildlife Acoustics, USA) e SonoChiro® 3.0 (Biotope, France). A análise dos resultados apontou que este método pode levar a erros grosseiros derivados do uso indiscriminado e acrítico por pessoal não qualificado. O nível de acurácia (% de identificações corretas) dos softwares é bastante baixo, assim como o nível de concordância entre os softwares. Também testámos duas versões do Kaleidoscope Pro: a mais recente identificou mais gravações, mas com um menor nível de acurácia, identificando erroneamente gravações que a versão anterior identificou corretamente. Nossos resultados enfatizam que, antes de sua ampla utilização na identificação acústica de morcegos no Brasil, estes softwares automatizados precisarão de muitos testes de melhoria e validação. Concluímos apresentando algumas sugestões de melhores práticas para evitar erros e para permitir que a ecolocalização se torne uma ferramenta fundamental para o avanço do conhecimento sobre os morcegos brasileiros.
Abstract: A precautionary note on the automated identification of bat echolocation calls in Brazil. The analysis of echolocation calls has long been used as an essential tool in the study of bats in Europe, North America and Oceania and, therefore has the potential to fill large gaps in information on species richness and bats activity in Brazil. There are in the market several software that automatically identify the calls produced by bats, promising ease and speed in identifying the numerous files generated during recording. Using a selection of 71 files with vocalizations of 43 species (and 9 families) of previously identified Brazilian bats, we tested two commercial automated identification software with classifiers available for the Neotropical region: Kaleidoscope Pro (Wildlife Acoustics, USA) and SonoChiro 3.0 (Biotope, France). The examination of the results showed that this method can lead to rough errors derived from the indiscriminate and uncritical use by unqualified staff. The level of accuracy (% of correct identifications) of both software is very low, just as the level of agreement between them. We also tested two versions of the Kaleidoscope Pro: the latest one identified more recordings but with a lower level of accuracy, mistakenly identifying recordings that the previous version has correctly identified. Our results emphasize that, before their wide use in acoustic identification of bats in Brazil, automated software will need much improvement and validation tests. We conclude by presenting some suggestions of best practices to avoid errors and to make bat call identification an important tool for the advancement of knowledge on Brazilian bats. Hintze, F. et al.: Alerta para identificação automática de chamados de morcegos
Freshwater systems have been profoundly changed by the construction of dams, and the influence of... more Freshwater systems have been profoundly changed by the construction of dams, and the influence of dams on bat activity is poorly understood. In this study, we analyzed the effects of small dams along mountain streams on local bat communities. This work was carried out in five small streams located in the NE of Portugal using bioacoustic surveys during the summer of 2011. The present study confirms that, in the northeast areas of Portugal, the majority of bat species use artificial bodies of water for either drinking or foraging, but species differed in terms of their activity levels over the reservoirs when compared with intact stream habitats. As predicted, small dams in the study area were important centers of overall bat activity relative to other sampling areas. At the same time, feeding activity was also higher in the flooded areas. We also found that Pipistrellus pipistrellus, Myotis daubentonii, Pipistrellus kuhlii, Pipistrellus pygmaeus/Miniopterus schreibersii, Tadarida teniotis and Nyctalus leisleri/Eptesicus serotinus benefited from the presence of dam reservoirs. Hypsugo savii activity was also mostly recorded at reservoir points. However, the highest number of endangered and rare species was recorded at an intact stream habitat. This result emphasizes the relevance of riparian habitats for bats, especially for the most endangered species. The relationship between dam availability, riparian quality and bat diversity suggested that the changes in the streams promoted by damming could affect both bat species richness and activity levels, leading to changes in the overall composition of the bat community. In conclusion, this study found that small reservoirs have a significant influence on bat activity. However, dams appear to primarily benefit the most common species, while the endangered species were associated with riparian habitats. Therefore, for conservation proposes of the local bat community, riparian areas appear to be more important than reservoirs. Thus, this study provides a better understanding of the impact of small dams on bats contributing to the future management and conservation of bat species.
Seventeen species of emballonurid bats are known in Brazil, but their distribution is often deter... more Seventeen species of emballonurid bats are known in Brazil, but their distribution is often determined by patchy records. However, due to almost species-specific calls, echolocation can help to refine the distribution of emballonurids. Here we use acoustic samplings to assess and complement the list of emballonurids of Reserva Biológica Saltinho, an important Atlantic Forest remnant in Pernambuco state, Northeastern Brazil. We positively matched calls of Saccopteryx bilineata (Temminck, 1838) that was foraging along forest edges. However, a series of calls significantly different from those emitted by S. bilineata indicate the presence of a second Saccopteryx sonotype in the area. The lower frequencies in this sonotype presumably came from a larger species, indicating the possible existence of an undescribed cryptic species of Saccopteryx. We also detected Centronycteris maximiliani (Fischer, 1829), recorded 35 years after its first record in Pernambuco, and an undetermined species of Peropteryx Peters, 1867. Our data proved that echolocation is a very useful technique for inventorying poorly known and hard-to-capture emballonurid species, with the potential to reveal the cryptic richness.
Myotis lavali Moratelli, Peracchi, Dias, and Oliveira, 2011 is a vespertilionid bat commonly call... more Myotis lavali Moratelli, Peracchi, Dias, and Oliveira, 2011 is a vespertilionid bat commonly called LaVal’s myotis. It is a small- to medium-sized bat with long silky fur; dorsal fur strongly bicolored, with medium-brown bases and light-brown tips. It occurs from Northeastern Brazil to Paraguay and northern Argentina, and its distribution is associated with the South American diagonal of dry formations (Caatinga, Cerrado, Chaco, and Pantanal biomes), with peripheral records in the adjacent Atlantic Forest. Myotis lavali is listed as “Least Concern” (LC) by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources.
Seventeen species of emballonurid bats are known in Brazil, but their distribution is often deter... more Seventeen species of emballonurid bats are known in Brazil, but their distribution is often determined by patchy records. However, due to almost species-specific calls, echolocation can help to refine the distribution of emballonurids. Here we use acoustic samplings to assess and complement the list of emballonurids of Reserva Biológica Saltinho, an important Atlantic Forest remnant in Pernambuco state, Northeastern Brazil. We positively matched calls of Saccopteryx bilineata (Temminck, 1838) that was foraging along forest edges. However, a series of calls significantly different from those emitted by S. bilineata indicate the presence of a second Saccopteryx sonotype in the area. The lower frequencies in this sonotype presumably came from a larger species, indicating the possible existence of an undescribed cryptic species of Saccopteryx. We also detected Centronycteris maximiliani (Fischer, 1829), recorded 35 years after its first record in Pernambuco, and an undetermined species ...
ABSTRACT: We present the first record of Strebla proxima Wenzel, 1976 (Diptera: Streblidae) in Br... more ABSTRACT: We present the first record of Strebla proxima Wenzel, 1976 (Diptera: Streblidae) in Brazil. Our record in Pará state is 2,200 km SE from the nearest record and ends a 41-year hiatus with no records since the original description of the species in Venezuela. The collected specimens (1 male and 1 female) were found parasitizing a female of Peropteryx kappleri Peters, 1867 (Chiroptera: Emballonuridae). Host specificity and the reasons for such a temporal gap between records are discussed.
The big crested mastiff bat, Promops centralis, occurs in Central and South America, but knowledg... more The big crested mastiff bat, Promops centralis, occurs in Central and South America, but knowledge of its ecology is limited due to its open space hunting strategy, making captures extremely challenging. Notwithstanding, members of the species produce echolocation calls that are easy to identify. After recording calls of P. centralis 1,500 km away from its known range in Brazil, we hypothesized that the distribution range of this species was probably greatly underestimated. To improve the accuracy of P. centralis' real distribution, we employed acoustic surveys throughout parts of Brazil, conducted after a bibliographic review to gather additional records, and used MaxEnt to model the species' potential distribution. We have found that P. centralis has a much wider distribution in South America than previously thought, adding more than 3.8 million km2 to its former known area. We also describe an unusual vocalization pattern of P. centralis, with individuals emitting at leas...
Species distribution modelling (SDM) gained importance on biodiversity distribution and conservat... more Species distribution modelling (SDM) gained importance on biodiversity distribution and conservation studies worldwide, including prioritizing areas for public policies and international treaties. Useful for large-scale approaches and species distribution estimates, it is a plus considering that a minor fraction of the planet is adequately sampled. However, minimizing errors is challenging, but essential, considering the uses and consequences of such models. In situ validation of the SDM outputs should be a key-step—in some cases, urgent. Bioacoustics can be used to validate and refine those outputs, especially if the focal species’ vocalizations are conspicuous and species-specific. This is the case of echolocating bats. Here, we used extensive acoustic monitoring (>120 validation points over an area of >758,000 km2, and producing >300,000 sound files) to validate MaxEnt outputs for six neotropical bat species in a poorly-sampled region of Brazil. Based on in situ validati...
Freshwater systems have been profoundly changed by the construction of dams, and the influence of... more Freshwater systems have been profoundly changed by the construction of dams, and the influence of dams on bat activity is poorly understood. In this study, we analyzed the effects of small dams along mountain streams on local bat communities. This work was carried out in five small streams located in the NE of Portugal using bioacoustic surveys during the summer of 2011. The present study confirms that, in the northeast areas of Portugal, the majority of bat species use artificial bodies of water for either drinking or foraging, but species differed in terms of their activity levels over the reservoirs when compared with intact stream habitats. As predicted, small dams in the study area were important centers of overall bat activity relative to other sampling areas. At the same time, feeding activity was also higher in the flooded areas. We also found that Pipistrellus pipistrellus, Myotis daubentonii, Pipistrellus kuhlii, Pipistrellus pygmaeus/Miniopterus schreibersii, Tadarida teniotis and Nyctalus leisleri/Eptesicus serotinus benefited from the presence of dam reservoirs. Hypsugo savii activity was also mostly recorded at reservoir points. However, the highest number of endangered and rare species was recorded at an intact stream habitat. This result emphasizes the relevance of riparian habitats for bats, especially for the most endangered species. The relationship between dam availability, riparian quality and bat diversity suggested that the changes in the streams promoted by damming could affect both bat species richness and activity levels, leading to changes in the overall composition of the bat community. In conclusion, this study found that small reservoirs have a significant influence on bat activity. However, dams appear to primarily benefit the most common species, while the endangered species were associated with riparian habitats. Therefore, for conservation proposes of the local bat community, riparian areas appear to be more important than reservoirs. Thus, this study provides a better understanding of the impact of small dams on bats contributing to the future management and conservation of bat species.
Brazil is a megadiverse country with more than 180 bat species. However, most inventories have be... more Brazil is a megadiverse country with more than 180 bat species. However, most inventories have been mostly made using mist-net sampling and roost search and due to the lack of bioacoustics studies, the bat fauna is certainly subrepresented and biased. The knowledge on distribution and ecology of Brazilian bats is mainly within the Phyllostomidae. Reliable data on bat echolocation calls is the key to improve the knowledge on the distribution patterns and foraging ecology of the remaining eight bat families present in the country. Our work aims to (i) integrate information on echolocation calls of non-phyllostomids occurring in Brazil; (ii) detect regional changes in the acoustic profile of those species; (iii) identify gaps in knowledge both in terms of species and regions sampled; and (iv) to point out which species are acoustically recognizable in a reliable way. Finally, we present a key to supporting the acoustic identification of non-phyllostomids in Brazil. We compiled publications on echolocation calls of Neotropical bat species occurring in Brazil and summarized qualitative and quantitative information of acoustic parameters used in call descriptions. We considered 93 non-phyllostomid bat species to occur in Brazil of which 65 have been acoustically described but for 28 we found no published information. Information on echolocation calls was retrieved from 47 publications and acquired in 17 countries. The use of bioacoustics can be a fundamental tool to expand the knowledge on Brazilian bats and improve their conservation.
We present the first record of Strebla proxima Wenzel, 1976 (Diptera: Streblidae) in Brazil. Our ... more We present the first record of Strebla proxima Wenzel, 1976 (Diptera: Streblidae) in Brazil. Our record in Pará state is 2,200 km SE from the nearest record and ends a 41-year hiatus with no records since the original description of the species in Venezuela. The collected specimens (1 male and 1 female) were found parasitizing a female of Peropteryx kappleri Peters, 1867 (Chiroptera: Emballonuridae). Host specificity and the reasons for such a temporal gap between records are discussed.
Resumo: A análise de chamados de ecolocalização é, há muito tempo, utilizada como ferramenta impr... more Resumo: A análise de chamados de ecolocalização é, há muito tempo, utilizada como ferramenta imprescindível no estudo dos quirópteros na Europa, América do Norte e Oceania, por isso tem o potencial de preencher grandes lacunas de informação sobre a riqueza de espécies e atividade de morcegos no Brasil. Existem no mercado vários softwares que identificam automaticamente os chamados produzidos pelos morcegos, prometendo facilidade e rapidez na identificação dos numerosos arquivos gerados durante a gravação. Utilizando uma seleção de 71 arquivos com vocalizações de 43 espécies (9 famílias) de morcegos brasileiros previamente identificadas, testamos dois softwares comerciais de identificação automatizada com classificadores disponíveis para a região Neotropical: Kaleidoscope Pro (Wildlife Acoustics, USA) e SonoChiro® 3.0 (Biotope, France). A análise dos resultados apontou que este método pode levar a erros grosseiros derivados do uso indiscriminado e acrítico por pessoal não qualificado. O nível de acurácia (% de identificações corretas) dos softwares é bastante baixo, assim como o nível de concordância entre os softwares. Também testámos duas versões do Kaleidoscope Pro: a mais recente identificou mais gravações, mas com um menor nível de acurácia, identificando erroneamente gravações que a versão anterior identificou corretamente. Nossos resultados enfatizam que, antes de sua ampla utilização na identificação acústica de morcegos no Brasil, estes softwares automatizados precisarão de muitos testes de melhoria e validação. Concluímos apresentando algumas sugestões de melhores práticas para evitar erros e para permitir que a ecolocalização se torne uma ferramenta fundamental para o avanço do conhecimento sobre os morcegos brasileiros.
Abstract: A precautionary note on the automated identification of bat echolocation calls in Brazil. The analysis of echolocation calls has long been used as an essential tool in the study of bats in Europe, North America and Oceania and, therefore has the potential to fill large gaps in information on species richness and bats activity in Brazil. There are in the market several software that automatically identify the calls produced by bats, promising ease and speed in identifying the numerous files generated during recording. Using a selection of 71 files with vocalizations of 43 species (and 9 families) of previously identified Brazilian bats, we tested two commercial automated identification software with classifiers available for the Neotropical region: Kaleidoscope Pro (Wildlife Acoustics, USA) and SonoChiro 3.0 (Biotope, France). The examination of the results showed that this method can lead to rough errors derived from the indiscriminate and uncritical use by unqualified staff. The level of accuracy (% of correct identifications) of both software is very low, just as the level of agreement between them. We also tested two versions of the Kaleidoscope Pro: the latest one identified more recordings but with a lower level of accuracy, mistakenly identifying recordings that the previous version has correctly identified. Our results emphasize that, before their wide use in acoustic identification of bats in Brazil, automated software will need much improvement and validation tests. We conclude by presenting some suggestions of best practices to avoid errors and to make bat call identification an important tool for the advancement of knowledge on Brazilian bats. Hintze, F. et al.: Alerta para identificação automática de chamados de morcegos
Freshwater systems have been profoundly changed by the construction of dams, and the influence of... more Freshwater systems have been profoundly changed by the construction of dams, and the influence of dams on bat activity is poorly understood. In this study, we analyzed the effects of small dams along mountain streams on local bat communities. This work was carried out in five small streams located in the NE of Portugal using bioacoustic surveys during the summer of 2011. The present study confirms that, in the northeast areas of Portugal, the majority of bat species use artificial bodies of water for either drinking or foraging, but species differed in terms of their activity levels over the reservoirs when compared with intact stream habitats. As predicted, small dams in the study area were important centers of overall bat activity relative to other sampling areas. At the same time, feeding activity was also higher in the flooded areas. We also found that Pipistrellus pipistrellus, Myotis daubentonii, Pipistrellus kuhlii, Pipistrellus pygmaeus/Miniopterus schreibersii, Tadarida teniotis and Nyctalus leisleri/Eptesicus serotinus benefited from the presence of dam reservoirs. Hypsugo savii activity was also mostly recorded at reservoir points. However, the highest number of endangered and rare species was recorded at an intact stream habitat. This result emphasizes the relevance of riparian habitats for bats, especially for the most endangered species. The relationship between dam availability, riparian quality and bat diversity suggested that the changes in the streams promoted by damming could affect both bat species richness and activity levels, leading to changes in the overall composition of the bat community. In conclusion, this study found that small reservoirs have a significant influence on bat activity. However, dams appear to primarily benefit the most common species, while the endangered species were associated with riparian habitats. Therefore, for conservation proposes of the local bat community, riparian areas appear to be more important than reservoirs. Thus, this study provides a better understanding of the impact of small dams on bats contributing to the future management and conservation of bat species.
Seventeen species of emballonurid bats are known in Brazil, but their distribution is often deter... more Seventeen species of emballonurid bats are known in Brazil, but their distribution is often determined by patchy records. However, due to almost species-specific calls, echolocation can help to refine the distribution of emballonurids. Here we use acoustic samplings to assess and complement the list of emballonurids of Reserva Biológica Saltinho, an important Atlantic Forest remnant in Pernambuco state, Northeastern Brazil. We positively matched calls of Saccopteryx bilineata (Temminck, 1838) that was foraging along forest edges. However, a series of calls significantly different from those emitted by S. bilineata indicate the presence of a second Saccopteryx sonotype in the area. The lower frequencies in this sonotype presumably came from a larger species, indicating the possible existence of an undescribed cryptic species of Saccopteryx. We also detected Centronycteris maximiliani (Fischer, 1829), recorded 35 years after its first record in Pernambuco, and an undetermined species of Peropteryx Peters, 1867. Our data proved that echolocation is a very useful technique for inventorying poorly known and hard-to-capture emballonurid species, with the potential to reveal the cryptic richness.
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Papers by Frederico Hintze
Abstract: A precautionary note on the automated identification of bat echolocation calls in Brazil. The analysis of echolocation calls has long been used as an essential tool in the study of bats in Europe, North America and Oceania and, therefore has the potential to fill large gaps in information on species richness and bats activity in Brazil. There are in the market several software that automatically identify the calls produced by bats, promising ease and speed in identifying the numerous files generated during recording. Using a selection of 71 files with vocalizations of 43 species (and 9 families) of previously identified Brazilian bats, we tested two commercial automated identification software with classifiers available for the Neotropical region: Kaleidoscope Pro (Wildlife Acoustics, USA) and SonoChiro 3.0 (Biotope, France). The examination of the results showed that this method can lead to rough errors derived from the indiscriminate and uncritical use by unqualified staff. The level of accuracy (% of correct identifications) of both software is very low, just as the level of agreement between them. We also tested two versions of the Kaleidoscope Pro: the latest one identified more recordings but with a lower level of accuracy, mistakenly identifying recordings that the previous version has correctly identified. Our results emphasize that, before their wide use in acoustic identification of bats in Brazil, automated software will need much improvement and validation tests. We conclude by presenting some suggestions of best practices to avoid errors and to make bat call identification an important tool for the advancement of knowledge on Brazilian bats. Hintze, F. et al.: Alerta para identificação automática de chamados de morcegos
Abstract: A precautionary note on the automated identification of bat echolocation calls in Brazil. The analysis of echolocation calls has long been used as an essential tool in the study of bats in Europe, North America and Oceania and, therefore has the potential to fill large gaps in information on species richness and bats activity in Brazil. There are in the market several software that automatically identify the calls produced by bats, promising ease and speed in identifying the numerous files generated during recording. Using a selection of 71 files with vocalizations of 43 species (and 9 families) of previously identified Brazilian bats, we tested two commercial automated identification software with classifiers available for the Neotropical region: Kaleidoscope Pro (Wildlife Acoustics, USA) and SonoChiro 3.0 (Biotope, France). The examination of the results showed that this method can lead to rough errors derived from the indiscriminate and uncritical use by unqualified staff. The level of accuracy (% of correct identifications) of both software is very low, just as the level of agreement between them. We also tested two versions of the Kaleidoscope Pro: the latest one identified more recordings but with a lower level of accuracy, mistakenly identifying recordings that the previous version has correctly identified. Our results emphasize that, before their wide use in acoustic identification of bats in Brazil, automated software will need much improvement and validation tests. We conclude by presenting some suggestions of best practices to avoid errors and to make bat call identification an important tool for the advancement of knowledge on Brazilian bats. Hintze, F. et al.: Alerta para identificação automática de chamados de morcegos