Brief description
This dataset is a collection of echolocation calls recorded from the United Kingdom. Users should note that some audio files may contain calls from multiple species, and in certain cases, only one of the present species has been identified.
The collection includes bat call files in .zc and .wav formats, encompassing both identified and unidentified calls. Each call file contains embedded information, such as collection date, GPS location, species identification (where available), and contributor details, which is extracted and used to create searchable filter options in TERN Ecoacoustic Recordings. This enables users to efficiently search for, explore, and download call files based on specific criteria through the dashboard.
Lineage
Bat echolocation calls were recorded using a variety of ultrasonic detectors capable of capturing high-frequency calls. As this dataset was collected over decades, equipment models and survey methods varied, but all recordings followed the general approach of deploying bat detectors in the field to capture active bat calls. The brand and type of instrument used to record individual files is indicated within a specific metadata field and and can be viewed and/or selected using the Filters/Instrument menu on the Bat Dashboard. The majority of calls have been recorded with Titley Electronic bat detectors but this change as recording from other manufacturers are submitted to the data base.
Notes
CreditWe at TERN acknowledge the Traditional Owners and Custodians throughout Australia, New Zealand and all nations. We honour their profound connections to land, water, biodiversity and culture and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.
This work was jointly funded by the Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network (TERN), an Australian Government National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS) project, New South Wales Government Department of Environment and Conservation, and Parks and Wildlife Commission of the Northern Territory.
The Global Bat Acoustic Data Collection has two goals:
- To demonstrate the feasibility and value of long-term acoustic monitoring of echolocating bats.
- To develop an open-access online repository of bat calls and analytical techniques that captures the within and between-species diversity in call structure worldwide, in order to improve our capacity to identify bat species based on their echolocation calls.
Data Quality Assessment Scope
local :
dataset
<p>The following steps were taken to minimise the error rate associated with call identification:</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">All identified calls included the following metadata fields:<br />
a) "Identified by" – the name of the individual who identified the call<br />
b) "ID method" – the method used to identify the call, such as observation of the call file ("Manual Call ID"), observation of the bat when the recording was made ("Visual"), identification of the bat in hand after capture ("Capture"), the name of any Auto-ID software used to classify species (“Auto Call ID”). Other fields, such as "DNA" would also be possible.<br />
c) "Record context" – the default for this is most likely 'free flying', but possible entries include "Release", "Enclosure", "In bag", "Cave entrance", etc. This field separates interpretation of call function from call location.</p>
<p>The logic for these fields is that information on who collected the data, who identified the calls, how they identified them, and where the calls were recorded can together be used to determine the validity of individual identifications (more details can be found in <a href="https://ternaus.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/TERNSup/pages/2821554221/Ecoacoustic+Calls+Submission+Instructions">Ecoacoustic Calls Submission Instructions</a>).</p>
Created: 2017-08-14
Issued: 2026-04-15
Modified: 2026-04-15
Data time period: 2005-05-09
text: United Kingdom.
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Point-of-truth metadata URL- URI : geonetwork.tern.org.au/geonetwork/srv/eng/catalog.search#/metadata/44aff254-4913-4139-b36f-cb0fb5f139c6
- global : 44aff254-4913-4139-b36f-cb0fb5f139c6
