Harp Trap Research Articles

Survey of bats on the south coast and ranges of the Shoalhaven region in New South Wales

ABSTRACT Surveys for echolocating bats were conducted primarily by harp trapping and echolocation detection in the Shoalhaven region on the south coast region of New South Wales from 1989 to 2021. A total of 399 sites were surveyed by harp trapping and 175 sites through echolocation call detection. Mist nets were used to catch bats at one site in 1989. The survey covered a range of vegetation communities at altitudes that ranged from near sea level to 770m asl. One hundred and seventy-four harp trap sites were within conservation reserves/state forests and the rest were on freehold land. Each site was trapped from 1 - 4 nights for a total of 666 harp trap nights. Sites surveyed electronically were sampled between 1- 2 nights for a total of 230 samples of either 30 minutes duration or an entire night. A total of 18 species were captured in harp traps during the survey. The Yellow-bellied Sheath-tailed Bat Saccolaimus flaviventris was observed once during spotlight surveys and detected electronically. The White-striped Free-tailed Bat Austronomus australis was heard echolocating at night and detected electronically. The Little Bent-wing Bat Miniopterus australis was only detected electronically. The highest capture rate was in Jerrawangala National Park where 38 animals consisting of five species were trapped in one trap on a single night. The highest species richness and density was found in tall open forests, especially those along the Illawarra escarpment. Analysis of abundances found that the Little Forest Bat Vespadelus vulturnus was the most common species accounting for 45% of animals trapped. Seven species currently listed under the Biodiversity Conservation Act (2016) were caught and another detected electronically. Those trapped were the Large-eared Pied Bat Chalinolobus dwyeri, Eastern Falsistrelle Falsistrellus tasmaniensis, Golden-tipped Bat Phoniscus papuensis, Eastern Bent-wing Bat Miniopterus orianae oceanensis, Eastern Coastal Free-tailed Bat Micronomus norfolkensis, Large-footed Myotis Myotis macropus and Greater Broad-nosed Bat Scoteanax rueppellii. In addition, the regionally rare Ride’s Free-tailed Bat Ozimops ridei was trapped. The survey provided the first live specimens of Eastern Forest Bat V. pumilus in the south coast region, a range extension of some 260km south of the previous accepted records in the Watagan Mountains. The capture of a Large-eared Pied Bat at Meroo NP represents a southern range extension for this species. Morphometric data are presented plus comments on species habitat preference.

Hidden Afrotropical Bat Diversity in Nigeria: Ten New Country Records from a Biodiversity Hotspot

Knowledge of Afrotropical bat diversity is hindered by hidden diversity because of inefficient sampling techniques, limited survey effort, and taxonomic description. With 90 bat species recorded, Nigeria supports almost a third of the bat diversity known to occur in Africa, yet the country remains relatively under-sampled. Southeastern Nigeria and southwestern Cameroon are predicted to be the largest of six bat diversity hotspots in Africa, with the Cameroonian side receiving more sampling effort. This area is also recognized to support hyperdiverse mammalian assemblages and endemic species. Notwithstanding, two major protected areas on the Nigerian part of this bat diversity hotspot were hitherto not sampled, raising the likelihood of discovering new country records in these conservation priority forests. We conducted an intensive survey using harp traps and mist nets in forests of Afi Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary and Cross River National Park (Okwangwo Division). We also recorded echolocation calls of captured individuals to create the first in-country call library. We captured 36 bat species of which 10 are new country records raising the number of bat species known from Nigeria to 100. Harp trap captures represented 99% of forest understory bats sampled with 15 out of 18 species caught exclusively in traps. Rarefaction curves of captures suggest near-complete sampling with harp traps but incomplete sampling with mist nets. Eight of the 10 new country records were captured exclusively in harp traps, demonstrating the value of contemporary techniques for frequently missed species — here referred to as methodological blind-spot diversity. We report the re-identification of two museum specimens that were previously identified as Rhinolophus hillorum (R. cf. hillorum) and Miniopterus inflatus (M. villiersi) thus, our captures of the true forms confirm the presence of both species in Nigeria for the first time. We also provide noteworthy taxonomic comments on other species. To improve the efficiency of future Afrotropical bat surveys we recommend the deployment of complementary trapping techniques in identified diversity hotspots, especially sites that have been under-sampled.

Bat Inventories at Caves and Mines on the Islands of Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao, and Proposed Conservation Actions

Bats play key ecological roles on the islands of Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao (ABC islands), Caribbean Netherlands; however, most bat species on these islands are either threatened or their conservation status is unknown. We investigated the use of roosts by cave-dwelling bats in this insular system to propose conservation measures aimed at their protection. We conducted bi-monthly species inventories of cave-dwelling bats in 13 of the best-known caves and mines used as day and maternity roosts on the ABC islands. Bats were captured with mist nets and a harp trap (only one cave) placed either inside or at the entrance of the roosts during the first hours (3 to 5 hrs) after sunset. For Aruba and Curaçao, bat monitoring comprised two years of sampling. In the case of Bonaire, depending on the cave, bat monitoring involved one, two or four years of sampling. We identified six species of cave-dwelling bats associated with these roosts, Mormoops megalophylla, Pteronotus davyi, Natalus tumidirostris, Myotis nesopolus, Glossophaga longirostris and Leptonycteris curasoae. All the examined caves and mines were occupied year-round. The two abandoned mines were inhabited exclusively by the nectar-feeding G. longirostris and L. curasoae, whereas caves containing hot chambers were occupied by up to five species of bats, including insect-feeding M. megalophylla, P. davyi, M. nesopolus and N. tumidirostris, and migratory L. curasoae. Nursery roosts occupied by insect-feeding bats were Quadirikiri on Aruba; Orizjan, Pos di watapana and Pos di Antoin on Bonaire; and Raton and Noordkant on Curaçao. Nectar-feeding bats used all the caves and mines examined as day roosts, nursery roosts or both. All the cave-dwelling bats studied had a single annual reproductive period. In the case of insectivorous bats, pregnancy and lactation occurred mainly between July and December, overlapping with the rainy season. For nectar-feeding bats, pregnancy and lactation took place between March and September, overlapping with the flowering and fruiting seasons of chiropterophilous cacti. Most of the examined bat roosts require protection due to one or more of the following conditions: (1) the presence of multiple species dependent on hot chambers, (2) their use as nursery roosts, and (3) the presence of large colonies of L. curasoae.

Checklist of small vertebrates at Sime Darby Tangkah Estate, Tangkah, Johor

Oil palm plantations might possess lower species composition compared to forest or riparian areas. Therefore, this assessment is carried out at Sime Darby Tangkah Estate to assess small vertebrates’ composition adjacent to Gunung Ledang National Park. This survey was carried out at two sites: Plot 05A and Plot 18A, from 22nd to 25th October 2019. A transect line of 400 meters was set up at each plot for active trappings, with a total of 20 cage traps, 20 Sherman traps, five mist nets, and one harp trap were deployed. All trapped animals were identified, measured, photographed and released after being examined. Observations were also carried out using Binoculars. Based on this survey in plot 05A, eight species from five families of mammals and seven species from four families of birds were recorded. While in plot 18A, a total of 12 species from six families of mammals and seven species from seven families of birds were documented. Moreover, a total of 17 species of birds was observed during the survey. Oil palm may function as one of the forest buffers, requiring further monitoring and enforcement to prevent poaching and hunting of these resources.

Comparison of terrestrial vertebrates between natural and teak plantation forest in Peninsular Malaysia: A case study in Perlis State Park and Mata Ayer Field Center, FRIM

Species compositions are influenced by the habitat types and methods used in a study. The objectives of this study are to document species diversity in teak plantation in Mata Ayer Research Station, FRIM and to compare differences in species diversity and composition between plantation and natural forest of Perlis State Park. Different types of traps and methods were used to survey four targeted groups of vertebrates (small mammal, bird, reptile and amphibian), including mist net, harp trap, collapsible trap, and active search. A total of 252 individuals were captured, representing 117 species of 53 families of vertebrates. Alpha diversity analysis shows that natural forest has higher species diversity than a teak plantation. Shannon-Weiner Index show higher result in natural forest (3.768) than teak plantation (3.439) while evenness of species distribution is higher in teak plantation (0.8419) than the natural forest (0.4755). Sorenson dissimilarity index indicates that 90.4% significant difference between sites thus; both sites have different species composition of vertebrates. Taxonomic distinctness however reflects different significant variation responses of both areas. Natural forest shows more species compared to plantation forest as it provides more food resources, suitable home and higher rate of reproduction while teak plantation shows a similar habitable environment with structural and conditions more similar to natural forest. So, both natural forest and plantation should be protected, manage and use suitable planning in order to sustain the biodiversity for future generation.

Bat diversity in three roosts in the Coast region of Oaxaca, México

In this paper, we analyze the richness, abundance, diversity and trophic guilds in a mine (La Mina) and two caves (El Apanguito and Cerro Huatulco) in the municipalities of Pluma Hidalgo and Santa María Huatulco, in the state of Oaxaca, México, a state with high species richness of bats nationwide. Fieldwork was conducted from July 2016 to June 2017. Using a harp trap, we captured 5,836 bats belonging to 14 species, 10 genera and five families. The greatest species richness was found in Cerro Huatulco (12 species), followed by La Mina (nine species) and El Apanguito (four species). Overall, the most abundant species were Pteronotus fulvus (40.59% of captures) and Pteronotus mesoamericanus (32.01%). Half of the species captured corresponded to the insectivore trophic guild. Results show that the three roosts, but particularly Cerro Huatulco and El Apanguito, maintain high species richness and abundances of individuals due to processes that favor colonies of thousands of individuals. We therefore argue that they represent priority roosts for the conservation of bats in the State of Oaxaca.

Reproduction and population dynamics of cave-dwelling bats in Costa of Oaxaca, México

Introduction: Reproduction is a critical phase for most living organisms and in bats the reproductive strategies exhibit considerable complexity and variability. Objective: To describe the reproductive patterns and population dynamics of seven bat species (Artibeus toltecus, Carollia perspicillata, Glossophaga soricina, Mormoops megalophylla, Pteronotus fulvus, Pteronotus mesoamericanus and Natalus mexicanus) that roost in one mine (La Mina) and two caves (El Apanguito and Cerro Huatulco) in the State of Oaxaca, in Southeastern México. Methods: Sampling was conducted monthly from July 2016 to June 2017. Bats were captured using a harp trap, which was placed at the entrance of the roosts. The captured bats were identified using taxonomic keys, marked with an aluminum ring, sex and age class were also determined. Reproductive activity was modeled through 63 GLMs for each species (504 in total). The best model was selected according to the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC). Results: A total of 5 836 bats were captured and marked, classified into 14 species, 10 genera, and five families. The most abundant species were: P. fulvus and P. mesoamericanus, representing 41 % and 32.3 % of the captures, respectively. The mormopids M. megalophylla, P. fulvus, P. mesoamericanus, together with N. mexicanus showed a restricted seasonal monoestrous pattern, while the phyllostomids A. toltecus, C. perspicillata, and G. soricina showed a seasonal bimodal polyoestry pattern. The monthly abundance of species fluctuated significantly (H= 13, df= 11, P= 0.044) in the three roosts throughout the entire study period and the best supported GLM that included the seven species showed that the six chosen variables (season, sex, roost, temperature, precipitation and humidity) were positively associated with reproductive activity. Conclusions: The reproductive activity of each species seems to be synchronized with the end of the dry season and the beginning of the rainy season, as well as influenced by factors such as temperature, humidity and roost site.

Checklist of Bats at Ulu Senagang, Keningau, Sabah

A bat survey was conducted at Crocker Range Substation Ulu Senagang, Keningau, Sabah, from February 19 to 23, 2018. Harp trap and mist nets were used to capture bats. The four trapping nights resulted in the capture of five species of bats belonging to three families namely, Pteropodidae, Emballonunidae and Vespertilionidae. Three species were captured from the old logged-over forest, whereas two species were captured in the modified landscape. Generally, the recorded bat species are classified as Least Concern by IUCN.

Lowland rainforest bat communities of Ulu Temburong National Park with two new records for Brunei Darussalam

Tropical rainforest ecosystems have high levels of both animal and plant biodiversity with many aspects of their ecology understudied. In particular, extensive research is still required to gather accurate estimates of distribution and abundance of forest-interior bat species in Borneo. Accurate abundance data and further knowledge of individual species’ ecology is vital for implementing effective conservation. Bats were captured using a harp trap, set up along established trails and around buildings, at Kuala Belalong Field Studies Centre, Ulu Temburong National Park, Brunei Darussalam between 14th-19th January 2018. Ulu Temburong National Park is comprised of pristine primary mixed dipterocarp lowland rainforest that has not been exposed to logging or fragmentation. A total of nine bat species were recorded, with two new records for Brunei, Miniopterus australis (Lesser bent-winged bat, N = 1) and Myotis horsfieldii (Horsfield’s myotis, N = 5). Furthermore, a coincidental sighting of a colony of Megaderma spasma roosting on the mangrove island Selirong, in Temburong District is reported here. The bat species captured and encountered in this small-scale study expand our understanding of bat communities in Temburong as well as indicate that current records for the area are far from complete. This affirms the need for further work in building up accurate abundance and diversity estimates, both for Ulu Temburong National Park and Brunei Darussalam.

POTENSI KELELAWAR PEMAKAN BUAH (CHIROPTERA: PTERIPODIDAE) SEBAGAI RESERVOIR LEPTOSPIRA DI PROVINSI JAWA TENGAH

Beside as seed dispersal and high valued plant pollinator, frugivorous bat (Pteripodidae) also has a role as reservoir of Leptospira. This study was aimed to survey the the prevalence of Leptospira among Pteripodidae in three regencies of Central Java Province namely Purworejo, Pati and Pekalongan, and their potential as reservoir of Leptospira. This study used four mist nets and a harp trap to collect bat at each site of each regency which has six sites. The caught bats were identified morphologically and followed by serological examination by Microscopic Aglutinasion Test (MAT). A total of 278 Pteripodidae was examined by MAT consisting of five genera with eight species. The result of MAT for Leptospira showed that there are no examined bats were positif (0%). It indicated there is no sufficient evidence that Pteripodidae as potential reservoir of Leptospira in Central Java.

Reproducción del falso vampiro lanudo Chrotopterus auritus (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) en un bosque tropical húmedo de la costa pacífica de Guatemala

Documentamos una hembra de Chrotopterus auritus en estado de lactancia con su cría presente en la parte ventral de su cuerpo. El espécimen fue capturado con una trampa de arpa en un bosque tropical húmedo de la costa del Pacífico de Guatemala, dentro de la reserva natural privada Finca Patrocinio, Quetzaltenango, Guatemala el 29 de mayo de 2017. Hay poca información sobre la biología de esta especie, especialmente en Guatemala, lo que refleja la importancia de nuevos estudios sobre el comportamiento silvestre de esta especie.

First record of the Vulnerable bat Furipterus horrens (Cuvier, 1828) (Chiroptera: Furipteridae) in the state of Paraná, southern Brazil

We report the first record of Furipterus horrens (Cuvier, 1828) in the state of Paraná, southern Brazil. A male specimen was captured using a harp trap in the entrance of a cave in the Parque Municipal Gruta do Bacaetava. The morphometric data and morphological characters of the specimen are within the known range documented for this species. This new record fills a gap in the known distribution of F. horrens and provides potentially valuable information that can beused to plan conservation measures.

DIVERSITY OF MICROCHIROPTERAN BATS IN FOREST FRAGMENTS AND RIPARIAN ZONES IN AN OIL PALM PLANTATION ESTATE

Oil palm is one of the world’s most rapidly increasing crops, and covers over 13 million ha in Southeast Asia. Sumatra has a relatively long history of commercial oil palm cultivation, and many plantations have replaced rain forest. Typically these monoculture plantations support much fewer species than do forest, however there is very little information available for bats. We sampled insectivorous bats in West Sumatra in a mature oil palm plantation where some forest cover was retained in forest fragments on hills and along rivers. Using a total of 180 harp trap nights we compared the bat community in three habitat types: forest patches, riparian zone and plantation area. In total we captured 1108 bats representing 21 species and 5 families, and the majority of these (in terms of species and abundance) were found in forest fragments. Oil palm plantation was found to be a poor habitat for bats – only four individuals of two species were captured. Riparian areas supported intermediate diversity, and might be important as wildlife corridors between forest fragments.

Aproximación preliminar a la estructura de una colonia de Natalus tumidirostris (Natalidae) durante la época de lluvia en la cueva Macaregua, Santander, Colombia

Introduction: We describe the population size and reproductive aspects of a colony of Natalus tumid- irostris during the rainy season of 2013, in the Macaregua cave (6o39’36.2 ‘’ N and 73o0.6’32.3 ‘’ W), Curiti, Santander, Colombia. Objective: Estimate the sex ratio, age categories, the reproductive status and population size of a colony of N. tumidirostris in this cave. Materials and methods: The capture of individuals was performed with a handmade harp trap, a modi ed mist net and manual capture. Results: We capture a total of 274 individuals of which were 14 recaptures. The sex ratio during the samplings was 7: 1 (June), 1: 1 (August) and 3: 1 (September). The structure of the colony was a form of inverted pyramid, and reports the presence of a nursery in April. As for the reproductive status of females, some were inactive (42%) and another 58% were preparing for reproductive events (proestrus). No reproductive activity was observed in males. The colony size varies in a range of 1941-3279 individuals. Conclusion: For the months of study no sexual segregation occurs, although there were variations in the sex ratio. The presence of a nursery and the description of the reproductive status of females indicate that the breeding season for this species occurs in the rst months of the year, between January and February. The inverted pyramid may indicate a decline in population size.

First records of the Northern Myotis (<em>Myotis septentrionalis</em>) from Labrador and summer distribution records and biology of Little Brown Bats (<em>Myotis lucifugus</em>) in southern Labrador

We conducted the first regional survey of bats in Labrador (Newfoundland and Labrador) to provide information on the distribution and biology of bats in this region. Our approach was to locate maternity roosts of Myotis lucifugus (Little Brown Bat) via word of mouth and then capture Little Brown Bats as they emerged from their day-roosts. We also surveyed for free-flying forest-dwelling bats using mist nets and a harp trap along forested trails and roads in southern Labrador. We captured 355 M. lucifugus at nine maternity roosts and one non-reproductive adult female M. lucifugus at a forested site. We captured two adult male Myotis septentrionalis (Northern Myotis) at two of the three forested sites (Gull Island and Grand Lake Road). These are the first confirmed records of this species from Labrador. Maternity roosts of M. lucifugus often had several hundred individuals. The proportion of female M. lucifugus captured at a roost that were either pregnant or lactating ranged from 35% to 96%; the estimated average date of parturition in 2012 was 10 July.

Dinámica poblacional, selección de sitios de percha y patrones reproductivos de algunos murciélagos cavernícolas en el oeste de México

Population dynamics, roost selection and reproductive patterns of some cave bats from Western of Mexico. Almost half of bat species that occur in Mexico use caves as permanent or temporal roosts. However, the ecological studies about cave bat communities are scarce. In this work we studied the population dynamics, roost selection and reproductive patterns of some bats present in El Salitre Cave, Colima, Mexico. We carried out monthly samplings between August 2003-March 2005 using a harp trap for bats capture, we took their biological data and marked some of them with plastic rings. We also explored the cave to locate bat colonies and register microclimatic conditions in each cave section. We captured a total of 16 409 bats of which 31% were Mormoops megalophylla, 24.5% Pteronotus personatus, 23% P. davyi, 8.2% P. parnellii, 5.8% Natalus mexicanus and 5.3% Glossophaga soricina. Macrotus waterhousii, G. morenoi, Desmodus rotundus, Balantiopteryx plicata, and Glyphonycteris sylvestris represented only 2.2% of the captures. Some bat species used the cave as a permanent day roost while others as a seasonal one, and their population size varied markedly along the year and between rainy and dry seasons. Most bat population peaks were linked with their reproductive periods. The Pteronotus species and N. mexicanus exhibited sexual segregation during the breeding season. The mormoopids and N. mexicanus occupied deeper parts of the cave with temperatures >25.8 degrees C and relative humidity >99%. The phyllostomids occupied intermediate sections where the ambient was less hot and humid, with temperatures of 23.2-28.3 degrees C and humidity of 74-89.9%. Some individuals of B. plicata and G. sylvestris were seen occasionally occupying one chamber near the entrance two, where temperature and humidity were of 23.2 degrees C and 84.2%, respectively. The mormoopids and N. mexicanus showed a pattern of seasonal monoestry, synchronized with rainy season. Glossophaga soricina had a pattern of bimodal seasonal poliestry, with one reproductive peak to early of dry season and another to last of this season. Macrotus waterhousii did not exhibit a seasonal pattern, with parturitions occurring throughout the year. Our results indicate a seasonal replacement between several species as well as seasonal movements to other caves. The data indicate that the carrying capacity of the cave is mainly determined by the availability of roosting sites. The selection of roosting sites is linked to the close relationship between microclimatic conditions and the species physiological characteristics. The reproduction of mormoopids and N. mexicanus was mostly influenced by rainfall which determinates food availability.

Chapter 5: Enhanced Sampling of Bat Assemblages: A Field Test on Mount Banahaw, Luzon

We used a combination of capture methods—harp traps, a tunnel trap, and mist nets—to sample the bat assemblage at two locations (disturbed lowland forest at 620 m and old-growth montane forest at 1450 m) on Mount Banahaw, Luzon Island, Philippines. We placed harp traps and mist nets on ridges and across trails and streams in ravines. The tunnel trap was placed over streams. Over 13 nights, we captured 300 individuals representing 23 species, including two possibly undescribed rhinolophid species. Seventy percent of all mist net captures were frugivores (family Pteropodidae), 95% of harp trap captures were members of the narrow-space insectivore ensemble (the families Rhinolophidae and Hipposideridae and the vespertilionid Kerivoula whiteheadi), and 89% of all bats captured in the tunnel trap were edge-and-gap insectivores, comprising vespertilionids, excluding the subfamily Kerivoulinae. In the lowland forest location, harp traps set along a ridge captured 10 times as many bats as an equal number of harp-trap-nights in a nearby valley. The rapid accumulation of individuals and species over only 13 nights, and effective sampling of insectivorous bats of the families Rhinolophidae, Hipposideridae, and Vespertilionidae, including several poorly known species, indicate that the methods used in this study may be used successfully to further our knowledge of tropical bat assemblages.

Bat diversity in Vietnamese limestone karst areas and the implications of forest degradation

Limestone karst ecosystems in Southeast Asia and Vietnam are important reservoirs for biodiversity and are currently experiencing habitat loss and degradation due to land use changes and increasing pressure from extractive and tourism industries. Recent reviews indicate that their biodiversity is poorly known and raise doubts about the extent to which karst can maintain its biodiversity in the face of ongoing degradation. We investigated this issue by examining the effects of forest degradation on bat species diversity, composition and abundance. Using mist nets and harp traps, we sampled bat assemblages in karst forests of differing integrity for a total of 240 net nights and 180 harp trap nights, capturing 694 bats representing 36 species and five families. Our results confirm that primary forests in Vietnamese karst are exceptionally important for bat diversity, supporting substantial proportions of the national fauna. Disturbed and heavily degraded karst forests also appear capable of supporting relatively high numbers of bat species at low abundances, but their ability to do so in the longer term is in doubt and requires further research. Our findings of bats in relict forests on karst hillsides and ridgetops provide justification for their protection and raise the possibility that these may provide corridors for the movement of forest-dwelling bats within anthropogenic landscapes. Since the majority of Vietnamese karst landscapes remain unprotected however, the future of their biodiversity remains uncertain.

The influence of riparian vegetation on the distribution and abundance of bats in an African savanna

Riparian habitats are known to be important for bats across the world, however this is largely unstudied in Africa. We investigated the community structure of bats in riparian areas and the surrounding savanna landscape in Swaziland's lowveld using mist nets and a harp trap. We found riparian sites overall had higher bat activity, diversity, species richness and abundance. One species (Epomophorus wahlbergi) accounted for 52.6% of captures. Seasonality had no effect on overall captures, nor did distance from nearest riparian habitat for savanna sites. Echolocation guilds were correlated with vegetation characteristics, with CF (constant frequency), FM (steep frequency-modulated) and FM-QCF (broadband FM) bats more frequently captured at sites with denser undergrowth than QCF (quasi-constant frequency or narrowband FM) bats; conversely, QCF bats were more frequently caught at sites with lower canopy cover than other bats. Our findings suggest that although bats discriminate between microhabitats, they do not respond to larger-scale habitat features in the way that other taxa, such as birds, are found to. In conclusion it appears that riparian areas are important foraging sites for bats within African savannas.

A comparison of the effectiveness of bat detectors and harp traps for surveying bats in an urban landscape

Obtaining adequate information for informed conservation-management decisions requires effective and cost-efficient survey techniques. We compared the effectiveness of bat detectors and harp traps for surveying bat assemblages within an urban landscape in Brisbane, Australia, with respect to number and composition of species. Nine sites within each of three habitat types (remnant bushland, parkland, and low-density residential – a total of 27 sites) were sampled twice each. The bat detectors recorded 3628 calls, from which 13 taxa were identified. The harp traps captured 17 individuals, from which five taxa were identified. All species captured by harp trap were also detected by bat detector, with the possible exception of N. bifax. Bat detectors recorded significantly more species per site than were captured by harp traps, both overall and within each of the three habitat types. And although a considerable amount of time and expense was required to identify the recorded echolocation calls to species, bat detectors were also the most cost-efficient sampling method. These results collectively show that bat detectors were the most effective and cost-efficient method for surveying the bat assemblage in this urban landscape.