Forum

Bat Biology and Conservation Workshop

23^rd February, 2010

         Bats are among the most speciose yet poorly-studied groups of mammals. Some 120 species are known from the Indian subcontinent. Occupying diverse niches in both natural and human-modified ecosystems, bats perform important ecological functions as predators, pollinators, and seed dispersers, thereby providing valuableecosystem services. Although there is a fund of research into the biology of a few common species, India’s bat communities still remain un-described and the ecological and anthropogenic determinants of species distribution and abundance are mostly unknown.

         This one-day workshop, conducted by Prof. John Altringham and Dr Anita Glover, University of Leeds, UK, will provide an overview of many aspects of the biology and conservation of bats, and introduce students to a variety of field and lab-based techniques to study bat ecology and behaviour including methods to identify bats from echolocation calls, and the use of bat detectors in facilitating field studies.

         The workshop will be conducted at the National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bangalore.

Provisional programme:

         We invite students working in the fields of ecology, evolution and conservation to apply for participation in this workshop. To apply, please email us atcepfbats@ncbs.res.in with your CV, and a brief note on your research interests and how you think this workshop will be useful to you. We will begin reviewing applications on February 1st, 2010.

         Fifteen students will be selected for the workshop. Selection will be based on  each applicant’s academic background and plans. Food during the workshop will be covered by the workshop organizers. Travel costs (by second class train) will be covered for a limited number of participants. Please indicate in your application if you would like travel costs to be covered.

Coordinated by: Mahesh Sankaran (National Centre for Biological Sciences), M.D. Madhusudan  

                             and Divya Mudappa (Nature Conservation Foundation, Mysore)

Organized by: Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund, UK-India Education and  

                           Research  Initiative  with University of Leeds, Nature Conservation Foundation,