It
specialises in the taxonomic study of mammals and birds
and
is currently running a series of collaborative research,
training and conservation projects in the Old World tropics,
particularly in Southeast Asia.
Its
study programmes and activities are supported by a range
of national and international grants and sponsorship. Recent
sponsors include: The
Royal Society (2006), the British Ecological Society (2006),
the Darwin
Initiative (2002 and 2005), and the Prince
of Songkla University, Thailand (2005-2007).
Other
sponsors since 2000 include the Foreign and Commonwealth
Office, The British Council, BP Conservation, Total Oil,
the 100% Fund of Flora and Fauna International, the Linnean
Society, the Royal Geographical Society, the Systematics
Association, Premier Oil, Orient Express Trains and Cruises,
Air Mandalay and Kent Bat Group.
Recent
events include: (1) co-organising with the Prince of
Songkla University (Thailand) and Texas Tech University,
USA the First
International South-East Asian Bat Conference.
This took place in Phuket from 7-10 May, 2007 and was attended
by 120 delegates (both staff and students) from 25 countries
in five continents. 89 presentations were made.
(2) the
training of university staff and postgraduate students
from Cambodia, Thailand, Lao PDR, Vietnam, and Myanmar in
bat taxonomy and echolocation. (3) organising workshops
in a range of locations in mainland SE Asia (April 2005-2007).
(4) participation in a bat taxonomy and echolocation workshop
in Swaziland. (5)
participation in the SAMD meeting in Bogor, Java [inputting
data on SE Asian bats on the IUCN database] (May, 2006).
(6) participation in the 5th Biennial Conference of the
Systematics Association, UK (August, 2005) and the 9th International
Mammalogical Congress, Japan (July-August, 2005)
Recent
publications include:
Paul
J.J. Bates, Stephen J. Rossiter, Augustinus Suyanto,
and Tigga Kingston. 2007. A new species of Hipposideros
(Chiroptera: Hipposideridae) from Sulawesi. Acta Chiropterologica,
9(1): 13-26.
Gábor
Csorba, Vu Dinh Thong, Paul J.J. Bates and Neil M.
Furey. 2007. Description of a new species of Murina
from Vietnam (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae: Murininae).
Museum of Texas Tech University, Occasional Papers No. 268
Bates,
P.J.J. Bates, F.H. Ratrimomanarivo, D.L. Harrison
and S.M. Goodman. 2006. A description of a new species of
Pipistrellus (Chiroptera Vespertilionidae) from Madagascar
with a review of related Vespertilionidae from the island.
Acta Chiropterologica, 8(2): 299-324.
Bumrungsri,
S., D.L. Harrison, C. Satasook, A. Prajukjitr, S.
Thong-Aree and P.J.J. Bates. 2006. A review of bat
research in Thailand with eight species records new for
the country. Acta Chiropteroligica, 8(2): 325-359.
Pereira,
M.J.R., H. Rebelo, E. Teeling, S.J. O'Brien, Tin Nwe, I.
Mackie, Si Si Hla Bu, Khin Maung Swe, Khin Mie Mie, and
P.J.J. Bates. 2006. Status of the world's smallest
mammal, the bumble-bee bat Craseonycteris thonglongyai,
in Myanmar. Oryx, 40(4) 456-463.
Thong,
V.D., S. Bumrungsri, D.L. Harrison, M.J. Pearch,
K.M. Helgen and P.J.J. Bates. 2006. New records of
Microchiroptera (Rhinolophidae and Kerivoulinae) from Vietnam
and Thailand. Acta Chiropterologica, 8(1): 83-94.
Teeling,
E.C., M.S. Springer, O. Madsen, P. Bates, S.J. O'Brien,
and W.J. Murphy. 2005. A molecular phylogeny for bats illuminates
biogeography and the fossil record. Science, 307 (5709):
580 - 584.
Bates,
P.J.J., Tin Nwe, Si Si Hla Bu, Khin Mie Mie, Nyo Nyo,
Aye Aye Khaing, Nu Nu Aye, Yin Yin Toke, Naing Naing Aung,
Mar Mar Thi and Iain Mackie. 2005. A review of the
genera Myotis, Ia, Pipistrellus, Hypsugo and Arielulus
(Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) from Myanmar (Burma), including
three species new to the country. Acta Chiropterologica,
7(2): 205-236.
Csorba,
G. and P.J.J. Bates. 2005. Description of a new species
of Murina from Cambodia (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae:
Murininae). Acta Chiropterologica, 7(1): 147-163.
Bates,
P.J.J et al. 2004. A new species of Kerivoula
(Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) from Myanmar (Burma). Acta
Chiropterologica, 6(2): 219-226.