About the lab

• Our research

  Bats make up approximately 20% of Norway's terrestrial fauna where all 11 bat species are protected. However, there are significant knowledge gaps on bat populations and general ecology in Norway which inhibits management and conservation.
  
  We use a broad range of methods including acoustic monitoring, mist netting, bat box monitoring, radio telemetry, genetic metabarcoding, as well as state of the art statistical tools and a diverse network of collaborators to approach research aims. Currently, on the Noctur project, we will use bat boxes and Motus receiver stations to capture, radio tag and track the movements of migrating bats along the southwest coast in Norway. You can read more about The Motus Wildlife Tracking System here. In this project, we also collect bat acoustic data to monitor bat activity as well as population dynamics at wind farms and along the coast. Additionally, we quantify the presence of insects to understand predator-prey dynamics using camera traps as well as with other methods.
  
  We work closely with expert researchers in how quantitative analysis can be used to explain and model mammalian communities and behavior. Together we create spatial prediction models that can be used to predict future consequences for these populations.
  
  In addition to scientific publications, we also carry out other forms of knowledge dissemination to the public, researchers, management, the consulting, and energy industries. We engage frequently with these aims through public outreach events, seminars, courses, and conferences.

  

• Researchers

  

  Mari Fjelldal

  Post Doctor

  Benedikte Øyen

  Master's student

  Sara Frida Linnéa Kristoffersson

  Master's student

  Ylva Heyn Friberg

  Master's student

Research and results

• Projects

  Click on the links to read more about our projects.

  Impacts of wind turbines on nocturnal flying wildlife - Noctur

  Migratory bat activity in coastal Southwest Norway
• Scientific publications

  Meierhofer, M. B., Tena, E., Lilley, T. M., Dechmann, D. K., Voigt, C. C., Troitsky, T. S., ... & Weller, T. J. (2024). Re‐weighing the 5% tagging recommendation: assessing the potential impacts of tags on the behaviour and body condition of bats. Mammal Review. https://doi.org/10.1111/mam.12369

  Choiński, M., Zegarek, M., Hałat, Z., Borowik, T., Kohles, J., Dietzer, M., ... & Ruczyński, I. (2023, September). Insect detection on high-resolution images using deep learning. In International Conference on Computer Information Systems and Industrial Management (pp. 225-239). Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland.

  Froidevaux, J. S., Toshkova, N., Barbaro, L., Benítez-López, A., Kerbiriou, C., Le Viol, I., ... & Razgour, O. (2023). A species-level trait dataset of bats in Europe and beyond. Scientific data, 10(1), 253.

  McKay, R. A., Johns, S. E., Bischof, R., Matthews, F., van der Kooij, J., Yoh, N., & Eldegard, K. (2023). Wind energy development can lead to guild‐specific habitat loss in boreal forest bats. Wildlife Biology, e01168.

  Sørås, R., Fjelldal, M. A., Bech, C., van der Kooij, J., Eldegard, K., & Stawski, C. (2023). High latitude northern bats (Eptesicus nilssonii) reveal adaptations to both high and low ambient temperatures. Journal of Experimental Biology, 226(21).

  Sørås, R., Fjelldal, M. A., Bech, C., van der Kooij, J., Skåra, K. H., Eldegard, K., & Stawski, C. (2022). State dependence of arousal from torpor in brown long-eared bats (Plecotus auritus). Journal of Comparative Physiology B, 192(6), 815-827.

  Sørås, R., Mckay, A. I., Van Der Kooij, J., & Eldegard, K. (2020). Recaptured Myotis brandtii carried glue-on radio-tag for 10 months: does time from tagging to shedding depend in timing of annual moulting. Journal of Bat Research and Conservation, 13, 60-65.

• Posters

  Reed April McKay, Ylva H. Friberg, Sara Kristoffersson, Benedikte Øyen, Fiona Mathews, Jeroen van der Kooij, Richard Bischof, Pierre Dupont, Ronny Steen, Bjarne Oddane, Geir A. Sonerud, Hans Ole Ørka & Katrine Eldegard (2023). Impacts of wind turbines on flying nocturnal wildlife. BatLife Sweden Conference, Jönköping, Sweden, 2023.

  Reed McKay, Maris Pärn, Mara Zebele, Ylva Friberg, Sara Kristoersson,
  Benedikte Øyen, Fiona Mathews, Jeroen van der Kooij, Katrine Eldegard (2024). Resident and migratory bats and wind energy development in Southwest Norway. BatLife Sweden Conference, Helsingborg, Sweden, 2024.

• Technical reports

  McKay, R.A.; Mathews, F. Eldegard, K. ‘Bats and Wind Turbines Onshore and Offshore. Norwegian national guidelines for monitoring surveys, assessments, and mitigation.’ The Norwegian Environment Agency. Submitted: September 2023. Unpublished.

  McKay, R.A.; van der Kooij, J.; Mathews, F.; Eldegard, K. ‘Bats and wind energy infrastructure in Norway. Recommended pre- and post-construction monitoring protocol guidelines.' The Norwegian Environment Agency. Submitted: December 2020. Unpublished.

• Master's theses

  Fairchild, J. 2023. Identifying Valuable Habitat Types for Pipistrellus bat species in Norwegian Boreal Forests. Master thesis, Norwegian University of Life Sciences.

  Johns, S. E. 2021. Bats, Insects and Weather: Spatial - Temporal Trends on a Boreal Forest Wind Facility in Norway. Master of Ecology, Norwegian University of Life Sciences.

  Sætre, V. 2022. Monitoring bat-insect relationships in boreal forest habitats. Master thesis, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås.

  Thomle, M. K. 2023. Non-Invasive Monitoring of Insectivorous Bats and Insects in Boreal Forest Habitats. Master thesis, Norwegian University of Life Sciences.