| Abstract: |
'Bats in Your Backyard" is a project being managed by the SA Department for Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in
Clare. The project has been developed to collect baseline data on the presence and distribution of microbats, across the
Northern and Yorke Region. Data will be collected using harp trap and an Anabat detector. The Northern and Yorke Region of
South Australia covers the States' Mid North, southern Flinders Ranges and Yorke Peninsula, an area of some 9,800,000
hectares. There has been extensive clearance of vegetation across the Region, primarily for agricultural production. The
remaining native vegetation is generally comprised of relatively small patches, within a highly fragmented landscape. The
impact of habitat loss and modification on local microbat species is not well understood. The project was developed in 2006
with input of staff from DENR, the Northern and Yorke NRM Board, and SA Museum. The project will initially focus on the
determining the distribution of microbats across the Region and an examination of which habitats are being utilised. Once
baseline data has been collected, an assessment of the effects of habitat loss and fragmentation on the local microbat fauna
will be undertaken. There is strong community support for the project. Local community groups, community members, and
landholders will be involved in the collection of data. This will provide a strong base upon which conservation initiatives can
be developed The Bats in Your Backyard program aims to encourage landholders to promote and conserve native vegetation by
fostering an interest in bats, their habitat and the role that they play in the environment. This project involves a great
number of local volunteers monitoring bat species presence and activity levels. This is done by recording signals made by bats
with special detection equipment. This data is then used by DENR to gain a better understanding of bats in the region. |