Technologies in biology: bats
Exhibition
Opening on Monday, June 24, 2019 at 17:15 on the island of Lokrum in Benedictine monastery
Note:
- arrival at the opening of the exhibition must be confirmed by mail at info@lokrum.hr
- visitors can take a boat of the Public Institution Lokrum Reserve, which departs from the port at 17:00.
Nowadays scientists and experts explore nature with the help of various advanced technologies and reveal the unknown to us. This exhibition was realized under cooperation of the Public Institution Lokrum Reserve and the Technical Museum of Nikola Tesla with the aim of introducing people to the world of bats and technologies used for their research.
The island of Lokrum has been protected as a special reserve of forest vegetation more than 70 years ago due to the unique forest of holm oak populated by various different species. Travelers and researchers have visited Lokrum and recorded the encountered species. However, data on bats were poor until 2016 when researchers from Croatia and Great Britain joined their forces and discovered a total of 11 bat species which is quite a number for such a small island. Lokrum is a very important habitat for the colonies of two types of bats – Kolombatovic’s long-eared bat and a lesser horseshoe bat.
While communicating with each other, bats use sounds that human ear can hear, but the echolocation sounds bats make when flying are in most cases inaudible to humans. A device used to detect the presence of bats by converting their echolocation ultrasound signals to audible frequencies is called a bat detector. On the island of Lokrum, the researchers applied another method of studying bats and discovering their flight paths, their shelters, and activity periods. This method is called telemetry. During the research, a small radio transmitter is attached to the back of the bats which they discard for about 10 days. In this period, the researchers equipped with radio receivers and directional antennas can track bats and determine their position in nature. After that, the collected data is processed and the maps of their movements are made.
The film about Lokrum bat research with modern technologies such as the use of bat detectors and telemetry will be shown within the exhibition, and visitors will be able to hear their calls as recorded on a bat detector. All Lokrum visitors will have the opportunity to see this 14-minute film and get acquainted with the ways of exploring and preserving bats in this area.
Impresum
Technologies in biology: bats
Exhibition organizers
Public Institution Lokrum Reserve
Technical Museum Nikola Tesla
For organizers
Ivica Grilec, Public Institution Lokrum Reserve
Markita Franulić, Technical Museum Nikola Tesla
Authors of the exhibition and texts
Katarina Ivanišin–Kardum, Technical Museum Nikola Tesla
Marija Crnčević, Public Institution Lokrum Reserve
Daniela Hamidović, Croatian Biospeleological Society
Henry Schofield, Vincent Wildlife Trust, UK
Dina Rnjak, Geonatura d.o.o.
Expert associates
Neda Staklarević, Technical Museum Nikola Tesla
Anita Glover, Vincent Wildlife Trust, UK
Boris Krstinić, Petra Žvorc, Damjan Krstinić, Vida Zrnčić
Ozana Domijan, Public Institution Lokrum Reserve
Associates
Fire Protection Service, Nature Guard Service, Technique and Maintenance Department, Public Institution Lokrum Reserve
Art exhibition
Kruno Ivanišin, University of Zagreb Faculty of Architecture
Technical support
Igor Elez, Zvonimir Ambruš, Technical Museum Nikola Tesla
Design and illustrations
Narcisa Vukojević
Proofreading
Kate Stijačić
Translation
Martin Paul Mayhew
Photography
Boris Krstinić
Daniela Hamidović (photo of a lesser horseshoe bat)
Film and video material
Boris Krstinić
Audio material
Dina Rnjak, Daniela Hamidović
Public relations
Kristina Ćurčija, Public Institution Lokrum Reserve
Marijo Zrna, Technical Museum Nikola Tesla
The realization of the exhibition was supported by the funds of the City of Dubrovnik.