TY  - JOUR

AB  - Bat casualties caused by opportunistic predation of entangled animals during surveys employing mist-nets are scarcely reported in the scientific literature. Consequently, predator induced mortality associated with this sampling method is probably underestimated. Here, we report a predation attempt of a silky short-tailed bat (Carollia brevicauda) by a tawny-bellied screech-owl (Megascops watsonii) while the bat was entangled in the mist-net. The event took place in the Central Brazilian Amazon and represents the first report of bat predation attempt by this owl species. Additionally, we searched the literature for published records of bat predation during mist-net surveys since 1990. Twelve publications, covering at least 15 bat species and 11 predators, have reported opportunistic predation on entangled animals. We consider that predation of entangled animals is likely underreported and we recommend than in order to reduce opportunistic predation of entangled animals, researchers should: a) periodically visit the mist-nets every 15 to 20 minutes, and b) avoid that mist-nets reach ground-level once an animal becomes trapped.

AU  - Gonçálvez, Catarina

AU  - López-Baucells, Adrià

AU  - Rocha, Ricardo

DA  - 2017

DO  - https://doi.org/10.14709/BarbJ.10.1.2017.07

J2  - Barb

KW  - mist-netting guidelines

Amazon

bat predation

diet

mist-nets

Strigidae

trophic interactions

L1  - internal-pdf://4054802536/Goncalvez_et_al_2017.pdf

LA  - English

M1  - 1

M3  - Journal article

PY  - 2017

ST  - Opportunistic predation of a silky short-tailed bat by a tawny-bellied screech-owl

T2  - Journal of Bat Research & Conservation

TI  - Opportunistic predation of a silky short-tailed bat (Carollia brevicauda) by a tawny-bellied screech-owl (Megascops watsonii), with a compilation of predation events upon bats entangled in mist-nets

VL  - 10

ID  - 15294

ER  -