The Western Asia Bat Research Network (WAB-Net) project

Kendra Phelps; Zahran Al Abdulasalam; Nisreen Al-Hmoud; Shahzad Ali; Mu'men Alrwashdeh; Raşit Bilgin; Astghik Ghazaryan; Luke Hamel; Nijat Hasanov; Ioseb Natradze; George Papov; Ketevan Sidamonidze; Andrew Sparton; Lela Urushadze; Kevin Olival

doi:10.15468/ezy5th

The Western Asia Bat Research Network (WAB-Net) project

Citation

Phelps K, Al Abdulasalam Z, Al-Hmoud N, Ali S, Alrwashdeh M, Attaullah, Bilgin R, Ghazaryan A, Hamel L, Hasanov N, Natradze I, Papov G, Sidamonidze K, Sparton A, Urushadze L, Olival K (2024). The Western Asia Bat Research Network (WAB-Net) project. Version 1.4. EcoHealth Alliance. Occurrence dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/ezy5th accessed via GBIF.org on 2024-11-07.

Description

EcoHealth Alliance (EHA), a global non-profit organization dedicated to protecting wildlife and public health, formed the Western Asia Bat Research Network (WAB-Net, “wah-bee-net”) in collaboration with key regional stakeholders in Western Asia in 2017. The WAB-Net project was created to strengthen research capacity and knowledge of the diversity and distribution of bat species in an understudied region (Phelps et al., 2019). Over a four-year period (2018–2022), we documented 4,278 occurrence records for 41 bat species using a cross-sectional survey approach at 50 sites in seven Western Asian countries, specifically Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Jordan, Oman, Pakistan, and Türkiye.

Sampling Description

Study Extent

Bats were sampled at 50 sites in seven countries spanning Western Asia, specifically Armenia (n = 6 sites), Azerbaijan (n = 6), Georgia (n = 10), Jordan (n = 8), Oman (n = 5), Pakistan (n = 2), and Türkiye (n = 13).

Sampling

Bats were captured primarily using harp traps and/or mist nets set in flyways or at the entrance to caves or other structures in which bats were roosting. Trapping began approximately 30 minutes prior to sunset and, on average, continued for approximately 5 hours per trap night. Bats were held individually in cloth bags and released at the original site of capture. See ‘Step Description’ for details about data collected from each captured bat.

Quality Control

We followed project-specific standardized protocols to ensure consistency of data collection across both space (from one country to another) and over time (from one sampling year to another). These protocols are available at www.wabnet.org under the 'Resources' tab.

Method steps

Species identification was based on expert opinion, and when needed, we referred to the Illustrated Identification Key to the Bats of Europe (Dietz and von Helversen, 2004), Mammals of Jordan, 2nd Edition (Amr, 2012), and The Bats of Pakistan - The Least Known Creatures (Mohmood-ul-Hassan et al., 2009) as identification reference keys. In addition, species identification was later confirmed for a subset of individuals of each species per site from each country via barcoding the cytochrome b gene using previously published methods (Townsen et al., 2008).
We documented standard morphological measurements and demographic information for each captured individual. We measured forearm length (mm) using a dial caliper and body mass (g) using a spring scale, in addition, we measured ear length (mm), tail length (mm), hind foot length (mm), and head and body length (mm) when necessary to aid in species identification. We assessed age (juvenile/adult) based on visual inspection of ossification of the phalangeal epiphyses, sex (male/female) based on external genitalia, and reproductive condition (females: non-breeding, pregnant, lactating, post-lactating; males: non-scrotal, scrotal as determined by enlarged testes) (Racey, 2009).

Taxonomic Coverages

We captured 4,278 individual bats of 41 species belonging to nine families, which represents nearly half of all bat species distributed across the seven focal countries.

Chiroptera
common name: Bats rank: order
Emballonuridae
common name: Sheath-tailed Bats rank: family
Taphozous nudiventris
common name: Naked-rumped Tomb Bat rank: species
Taphozous perforatus
common name: Egyptian Tomb Bat rank: species
Hipposideridae
common name: Old World leaf-nosed Bats rank: family
Asellia arabica
common name: Arabian Trident Leaf-nosed Bat rank: species
Asellia tridens
common name: Geoffroy's Trident Leaf-nosed Bat rank: species
Miniopteridae
common name: Bent-winged Bats rank: family
Miniopterus pallidus
common name: Pallid Long-fingered Bat rank: species
Miniopterus schreibersii
common name: Schreibers' Long-fingered Bat rank: species
Nycteridae
common name: Slit-faced Bats rank: family
Nycteris thebaica
common name: Egyptian Slit-faced Bat rank: species
Pteropodidae
common name: Old World Fruit Bats rank: family
Rousettus aegyptiacus
common name: Egyptian Rousette rank: species
Rousettus leschenaultii
common name: Leschenault's Rousette rank: species
Rhinolophidae
common name: Horseshoe Bats rank: family
Rhinolophus blasii
common name: Blasius' Horseshoe Bat rank: species
Rhinolophus clivosus
common name: Geoffroy's Horseshoe Bat rank: species
Rhinolophus euryale
common name: Mediterranean Horseshoe Bat rank: species
Rhinolophus ferrumequinum
common name: Greater Horseshoe Bat rank: species
Rhinolophus hipposideros
common name: Lesser Horseshoe Bat rank: species
Rhinolophus lepidus
common name: Blyth's Horseshoe Bat rank: species
Rhinolophus mehelyi
common name: Mehely's Horseshoe Bat rank: species
Rhinonycteridae
common name: Trident Bats rank: family
Triaenops persicus
common name: Persian Trident Bat rank: species
Rhinopomatidae
common name: Mouse-tailed Bats rank: family
Rhinopoma cystops
common name: Arabian Mouse-tailed Bat rank: species
Rhinopoma microphyllum
common name: Greater Mouse-tailed Bat rank: species
Rhinopoma muscatellum
common name: Muscat Mouse-tailed Bat rank: species
Vespertilionidae
common name: Vespertilionidae rank: family
Barbastella caspica
common name: Caspian Barbastelle rank: species
Cnephaeus serotinus
common name: Eurasian Serotine rank: species
Hypsugo savii
common name: Savi's Pipistrelle rank: species
Myotis alcathoe
common name: Alcathoe Whiskered Myotis rank: species
Myotis blythii
common name: Lesser Myotis rank: species
Myotis capaccinii
common name: Long-fingered Myotis rank: species
Myotis daubentonii
common name: Daubenton's Myotis rank: species
Myotis davidii
common name: David's Myotis rank: species
Myotis emarginatus
common name: Geoffroy's Myotis rank: species
Myotis myotis
common name: Greater Myotis rank: species
Myotis nattereri
common name: Natterer's Bat rank: species
Myotis tschuliensis
common name: Tschuli Myotis rank: species
Pipistrellus javanicus
common name: Javan Pipistrelle rank: species
Pipistrellus kuhlii
common name: Kuhl's Pipistrelle rank: species
Pipistrellus nathusii
common name: Nathusius' Pipistrelle rank: species
Pipistrellus pipistrellus
common name: Common Pipistrelle rank: species
Pipistrellus pygmaeus
common name: Soprano Pipistrelle rank: species
Plecotus auritus
common name: Brown Long-eared Bat rank: species
Plecotus macrobullaris
common name: Alpine Long-eared Bat rank: species
Scotophilus heathii
common name: Greater Asian Yellow Bat rank: species
Scotophilus kuhlii
common name: Lesser Asian Yellow Bat rank: species

Geographic Coverages

We captured bats at 50 sites in seven Western Asian countries, specifically Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Jordan, Oman, Pakistan, and Türkiye.

Bibliographic Citations

Phelps, K.L., Hamel, L., Alhmoud, N., Ali, S., Bilgin, R., Sidamondize, K., Urushadze, L., Karesh, W., and Olival, K.J. (2019) Bat research networks and viral surveillance: gaps and opportunities in Western Asia. Viruses, 11(3): 240. - https://doi.org/10.3390/v11030240
Dietz, C., and von Helversen, O. (2004) Illustrated Identification Key to the Bats of Europe. Electronic publication. - https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228985859_Illustrated_identification_key_to_t he_bats_of_Europe
Amr, Z.A. (2012) Mammals of Jordan, 2nd Edition. Al Rai Press, Amman, 308 pg. -
Mahmood-ul-Hassan, M., Jones, G., and Dietz, C. (2009) The Bats of Pakistan – The Least Known Creatures. - https://www.researchgate.net/publication/266795253_The_Bats_of_Pakistan_-_The_Least_Known_Creatures
Townsen, J.S., Brower, A.V.Z., and Judd D.D. (2008) Identification of mosquito bloodmeals using mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I and cytochrome b gene sequences. Medical and Veterinary Entomology 22(4): 386-393. - https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2915.2008.00760.x
Racey, P.A. (2009) Reproductive assessment in bats. In: T.H. Kunz & S. Parsons (eds.) Ecological and Behavioural Methods for the Study of Bats, 2nd Edition. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, pp 249-264. - https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1096-3642.2011.00696.x

Contacts

Kendra Phelps
originator
position: Senior Scientist
EcoHealth Alliance
520 Eighth Avenue, Suite 1200
New York City
10018
New York
US
Telephone: +1 (212) 380-4486
email: phelps@ecohealthalliance.org
homepage: https://www.ecohealthalliance.org/personnel/dr-kendra-phelps
userId: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3120-4802

Zahran Al Abdulasalam
originator
position: Acting Director General of Office for Conservation of the Environment
Environment Authority
Muscat
OM
email: zahran.alabdulsalaam@ea.gov.om

Nisreen Al-Hmoud
originator
position: Director of Bio-Safety & Bio-Security Centre
Royal Scientific Society
70 Ahmad Al Tarawneh St Al Jubaiha
Amman
11941
JO
Telephone: (+962) 79 665 1251
email: Nesreen.Alhmoud@rss.jo
userId: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8155-3974

Shahzad Ali
originator
position: Associate Professor
Department of Wildlife and Ecology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences
Lahore
54000
Punjab
PK
Telephone: (+92) 3345170679
email: shahzad.ali@uvas.edu.pk
homepage: https://uvas.edu.pk/academics/faculties/faculty-fisheries/Wildlife-Ecology/Faculty/shehzad-ali.htm
userId: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4281-2659

Mu'men Alrwashdeh
originator
position: Manager of Health & Molecular Sciences Division
Royal Scientific Society
70 Ahmad Al Tarawneh St Al Jubaiha
Amman
11941
JO
Telephone: (+962) 78 658 2346
email: Mumen.Alrwashdeh@rss.jo
userId: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0090-5286

Attaullah
originator
position: Research Associate
Department of Wildlife and Ecology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences
Lahore
54000
Punjab
PK
Telephone: (+92) 3467891191
email: attaullah.saif@uvas.edu.pk

Raşit Bilgin
originator
position: Professor
Institute of Environmental Sciences, Boğaziçi University
Istanbul
34342
TR
email: rasit.bilgin@bogazici.edu.tr

Astghik Ghazaryan
originator
position: Associate Professor
Yerevan State University
A. Manoogian 1
Yerevan
0025
AM
Telephone: (+374) 94938316
email: astghik.ghazaryan@ysu.am
userId: https://orcid.org/0009-0005-2840-0019

Luke Hamel
originator
position: Program Coordinator and Research Assistant
EcoHealth Alliance
520 Eighth Avenue, Suite 1200
New York City
10018
New York
US
Telephone: +1 (212) 380-4476
email: hamel@ecohealthalliance.org

Nijat Hasanov
originator
position: Researcher
Institute of Zoology, Ministry of Science and Education
A. Abbaszadeh Str., 1128, block 504
Baku
1004
AZ
Telephone: (+994) 55 425 04 48
email: hasnijat1212@gmail.com
userId: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8339-855X

Ioseb Natradze
originator
position: Researcher
Institute of Zoology, Ilia State University
3/5 K. Cholkashvili Street
Tbilisi
0162
GE
Telephone: (+995) 32 222 0009
email: ioseb.natradze@iliauni.edu.ge
userId: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7582-7884

George Papov
originator
position: Associate Professor
Yerevan State University
A. Manoogian 1
Yerevan
0025
AM
Telephone: 0037494771162
email: george_papov@ysu.am
userId: https://orcid.org/0009-0005-2840-0019

Ketevan Sidamonidze
originator
position: Senior Specialist
National Center for Disease Control and Public Health
99, Kakheti Highway
Tbilisi
0198
GE
Telephone: (+995) 599 49 77 87
email: k.sidamonidze@ncdc.ge

Andrew Sparton
originator
position: Wildlife Consultant
Independent
Muscat
OM
email: jandrewspalton@gmail.com
userId: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0646-547X

Lela Urushadze
originator
position: Virologist
National Center for Disease Control and Public Health
99, Kakheti Highway
Tbilisi
0198
GE
Telephone: (+995) 599 24 54 34
email: lelincdc@gmail.com

Kevin Olival
originator
position: Vice President for Research
EcoHealth Alliance
520 Eighth Avenue, Suite 1200
New York City
10018
New York
US
email: olival@ecohealthalliance.org
homepage: https://www.ecohealthalliance.org/personnel/dr-kevin-olival
userId: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3211-1875

Kendra Phelps
metadata author
position: Senior Scientist
EcoHealth Alliance
520 Eighth Avenue, Suite 1200
New York City
10018
New York
US
Telephone: +1 (212) 380-4486
email: phelps@ecohealthalliance.org
homepage: https://www.ecohealthalliance.org/personnel/dr-kendra-phelps
userId: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3120-4802

David Bloom
programmer
position: VertNet Coordinator
VertNet
email: dbloom@vertnet.org
homepage: http://www.vertnet.org

John Wieczorek
programmer
position: Information Architect
VertNet
email: tuco@berkeley.edu
homepage: http://www.vertnet.org

Kendra Phelps
administrative point of contact
position: Senior Scientist
EcoHealth Alliance
520 Eighth Avenue, Suite 1200
New York City
10018
New York
US
Telephone: +1 (212) 380-4486
email: phelps@ecohealthalliance.org
homepage: https://www.ecohealthalliance.org/personnel/dr-kendra-phelps
userId: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3120-4802