NEOTROPICAL BAT ECOLOGY Session: Summer 1 - May 21st – June 2nd, 2012 Introduction: This course is designed to provide a detailed knowledge of Neotropical bats within an ecological framework. Extensive capturing of bats during nightly field excursions will supplement lecture material; provide opportunity for gaining extensive experience in capture techniques and identification of bats in hand, and lay the groundwork for individual research problems and projects. This is an intensive course hands on class that is designed to supplement a Mammalogy course. Course Syllabus: Bats are unique and diverse mammals that lend themselves to a variety of lecture topics in animal ecology. The new world tropics are home to an incredible diversity of bats and Nicaragua is home to over 100 species. Ometepe Island provides a perfect field site for those fascinated by bats. The class will stress capture techniques and field time allowing students to gain extensive bat-in-hand experience. Daily lectures will provide a knowledge base and ecological framework for students allowing for the development of independent projects. An Introductory Biology course is a prerequisite. The lecture topics are: 1.Taxonomic survey of Neotropical bats 2. Bat morphology 3. Roosting ecology 4. Reproductive Ecology 6. Life Histories of Bats 7. Echolocation and Sensory Systems 8. Communication 9. Sexual Selection and Sperm Competition 10. Ecology of Insectivous/Carnivorous/Sanguinivorous Bats. 11. Ecology of Nectar and Fruit Feeding Bats 12.Student Presentations Required book: Reid F. A. 2009. A Field guide to the Mammals of Central America & Southeast Mexico – 2nd Edition. Oxford University Press. New York. 346 pp. ISBN 978-0-19-534323-6. Additional Readings: 1. Kricher, J. 1997. A Neotropical Companion - 2nd Edition. Princeton University Press. Princeton, NJ. 451 pp. ISBN 0-691-0443 (If read before arriving at Ometepe your tropical experience will greatly enriched). Lectures will be based from the following books. Although not required students interested in detailed information to supplement lecture and explore additional topics are encourage to obtain: 2. Kunz T. H., and Fenton, B. F. editors. 2003 (paper 2006). Bat Ecology. 797 pp. The University of Chicago Press ISBN: 9780226462073 (paper) 3. Kunz T. H. 1998. Bat Biology and Conservation. 384 pp. Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Press; ISBN 978-1560988250 Book orders: The texts can be ordered online at most major book sellers Independent Projects: Students will form pairs and each pair will carry out an independent research project. Proposals will be developed in coordination with the instructors during the first week of the class. Results of projects will be presented before the class during the last day of class. Trips: The end of the class will include a visit to Masaya Volcano National Park where we will observe a large nightly emergence of bats from a cave and we will explore the local culture of the historic city of Granada.

NEOTROPICAL BAT ECOLOGY

Session: Summer 1 - May 21st – June 2nd, 2012

Introduction:

This course is designed to provide a detailed knowledge of Neotropical bats within an ecological framework. Extensive capturing of bats during nightly field excursions will supplement lecture material; provide opportunity for gaining extensive experience in capture techniques and identification of bats in hand, and lay the groundwork for individual research problems and projects. This is an intensive course hands on class that is designed to supplement a Mammalogy course.

Course Syllabus:

Bats are unique and diverse mammals that lend themselves to a variety of lecture topics in animal ecology. The new world tropics are home to an incredible diversity of bats and Nicaragua is home to over 100 species. Ometepe Island provides a perfect field site for those fascinated by bats. The class will stress capture techniques and field time allowing students to gain extensive bat-in-hand experience. Daily lectures will provide a knowledge base and ecological framework for students allowing for the development of independent projects. An Introductory Biology course is a prerequisite. The lecture topics are: 1.Taxonomic survey of Neotropical bats 2. Bat morphology 3. Roosting ecology 4. Reproductive Ecology 6. Life Histories of Bats 7. Echolocation and Sensory Systems 8. Communication 9. Sexual Selection and Sperm Competition 10. Ecology of Insectivous/Carnivorous/Sanguinivorous Bats. 11. Ecology of Nectar and Fruit Feeding Bats 12.Student Presentations

Required book:

Reid F. A. 2009. A Field guide to the Mammals of Central America & Southeast Mexico – 2nd Edition. Oxford University Press. New York. 346 pp. ISBN 978-0-19-534323-6.

Additional Readings:

1. Kricher, J. 1997. A Neotropical Companion - 2nd Edition. Princeton University Press. Princeton, NJ. 451 pp. ISBN 0-691-0443 (If read before arriving at Ometepe your tropical experience will greatly enriched).

Lectures will be based from the following books. Although not required students interested in detailed information to supplement lecture and explore additional topics are encourage to obtain:

2. Kunz T. H., and Fenton, B. F. editors. 2003 (paper 2006). Bat Ecology. 797 pp. The University of Chicago Press ISBN: 9780226462073 (paper)

3. Kunz T. H. 1998. Bat Biology and Conservation. 384 pp. Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Press; ISBN 978-1560988250

Book orders:

The texts can be ordered online at most major book sellers

Independent Projects:

Students will form pairs and each pair will carry out an independent research project. Proposals will be developed in coordination with the instructors during the first week of the class. Results of projects will be presented before the class during the last day of class.

Trips:

The end of the class will include a visit to Masaya Volcano National Park where we will observe a large nightly emergence of bats from a cave and we will explore the local culture of the historic city of Granada.