BAT Monitoring via novel Assays and smart Nano-electronics (BATMAN)

Value

£499,866

Partners and collaborators

University of Chester

Postgraduate students

Dr Mostafa Awaid

Description

BATMAN (BAT Monitoring via novel Assays and smart Nano-electronics), a Leverhulme Trust funded project, will apply a wealth of interdisciplinary expertise to develop unique solutions to monitor bat species in the wild. The UK-native lesser horseshoe bat (LHB; Rhinolophus hipposideros) was selected as the focal species for this project due to a current deficit in our understanding of this species’ behaviour, as well as its low body mass (5-9 g, making monitoring individual movements particularly challenging) and protected status in the UK. We will develop an ultralight, smart-composite, self-powered Wearable Smart Device (WSD) that can be deployed on this small-bodied bat, in addition to designing and validating physiological and behavioural methodology to quantify anthropogenic impacts at the local (roost) level. This work will occur in close collaboration with the Vincent Wildlife Trust, who regularly monitor a large number of LHB roost sites across the UK.

Project website

https://www.batmanlab.com/