Drone surveys cause less disturbance than ground-based surveys in endangered spectacled flying-foxes (Pteropus conspicillatus)
Norris, Emmeline Bernadette Barrett (2025) Drone surveys cause less disturbance than ground-based surveys in endangered spectacled flying-foxes (Pteropus conspicillatus). Australian Mammalogy, 47 (1). AM25010.
|
PDF (Published Version)
- Published Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial No Derivatives. Download (6MB) | Preview |
Abstract
Robust population estimates are critical for detecting biodiversity declines. Thermal drones offer a promising alternative to invasive, imprecise ground-based techniques for monitoring endangered spectacled flying-foxes (Pteropus conspicillatus). This study evaluated spectacled flying-fox behavioural responses to drones to address concerns that they will disturb roosting colonies. At two studied roosts, drones elicited minimal disturbance, whereas ground-based surveys triggered alarm and escape responses, particularly among unhabituated flying-foxes. These findings highlight thermal drones as a non-invasive tool for monitoring spectacled flying-foxes. Further research is needed to evaluate their accuracy and precision compared with ground counts.
| Item ID: | 88143 |
|---|---|
| Item Type: | Article (Research - C1) |
| ISSN: | 1836-7402 |
| Keywords: | animal behaviour, Chiroptera, conservation, Old World fruit bats, Pteropodidae, RPAS, thermal infrared, UAV, wildlife monitoring |
| Copyright Information: | © 2025 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing on behalf of the Australian Mammal Society. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND) |
| Date Deposited: | 26 Mar 2026 00:04 |
| FoR Codes: | 31 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 3103 Ecology > 310308 Terrestrial ecology @ 100% |
| SEO Codes: | 18 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT > 1806 Terrestrial systems and management > 180606 Terrestrial biodiversity @ 100% |
| Downloads: |
Total: 1 Last 12 Months: 1 |
| More Statistics |
Actions (Repository Staff Only)
 |
Item Control Page |