• Taxonomic Initiative for Southeast Asian bat studies
  (Thailand, Cambodia, Lao PDR and Vietnam).
  

Taxonomic Initiative for Southeast Asian bat studies
(Thailand, Cambodia, Lao PDR and Vietnam)

This was a three year collaborative project (April, 2005-March, 2008) between the Harrison Institute and four host country institutions: the Prince of Songkla University, Thailand; Royal University of Phnom Penh, Cambodia; National University of Laos, Lao PDR and the Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources, Vietnam. A full report will shortly be posted on this website.

Dr Sara Bumrungsri (left) of the Prince of Songkla University,
Thailand with some of his students.

Project aims

• To promote the conservation of bat biodiversity, including species that are globally threatened, in mainland Southeast Asia
• To increase capacity in (bat) taxonomy and biodiversity study techniques in host country institutions
• To develop collaborative links between taxonomists (and associated scientists) in mainland SE Asia and internationally

Summary of project achievements

• Eleven students from Thailand, Cambodia, Lao PDR and Vietnam were trained (in the host countries and UK) in aspects of bat taxonomy and ecology (BSc/ MSc/ PhD)
• Eleven collaborative scientific papers were written, six already published, one accepted and four submitted; for full list see below; pdf files available on request from drpaulbates@btinternet.com
• The First International Southeast Asian Bat Conference was hosted in Phuket, Thailand in May, 2007, see http://www.sc.psu.ac.th/bats/
• A series of bat workshops were held in all four participating countries
• The the first comprehensive bat website for mainland Southeast Asia, www.sc.psu.ac.th/batdb (currently being completed) was written
• Data was provided for the South-East Asian Mammal Database (SAMD) http://www.ieaitaly.org/samd review in Bogor, Java in April/May, 2006
• Six TV documentaries on aspects of bat diversity, conservation and ecology were made in Thailand and Vietnam
• Two species of bat new to science were described - Titania's woolly bat Kerivoula titania Bates et al., 2007 and Murina tiensa Csorba et al., 2007
• A number of post-Darwin studies are already in progress, or are in the planning stage, ensuring that the host-country teams can remain committed to ideals and vision of the Darwin project

Rationale of project

• The project will assist the host countries implement the obligations of the CBD (Convention on Biological Diversity), particularly those associated with Articles, 7, 12, 13, 17 and 18 and the Global Taxonomy Initiative
• Provide a role model for similar projects in other taxonomic groups

Mr Vu Dinh Thong (centre) of the Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources, Vietnam with Neil Furey, FFI, Vietnam (left); Dr Khin Mie Mie, Yangon University, Myanmar (centre left) and Dr Iain Mackie, Harrison Institute (right).

Country co-ordinators/contact points/Darwin postgraduates

Project leader

• Dr Paul Bates, Harrison Institute, Bowerwood House, 15 St Botolph's Road, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN13 3AQ, UK, drpaulbates@btinternet.com

Thailand

• Dr (Mr) Sara Bumrungsri, Director of Bat Research Unit, Department of Biology, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkla, Thailand 90112, sara.psu@hotmail.com
• Assoc Prof. Chutamas Satasook, Dean of Science and Director of the Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Natural History Museum, Prince of Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkla, Thailand 90112, chutamas.p@psu.ac.th
• Mr Pipat Soisook, Bat Research Unit, Department of Biology, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkla, Thailand 90112, pipat66@gmail.com
• Ms Ariya Dejtaradol, Bat Research Unit, Department of Biology, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkla, Thailand 90112, sciariya@gmail.com

Cambodia

• Mr Ith Saveng, Department of Environmental Science, Royal University of Phnom Penh, 4th Floor, Blvd of Conf. Of Russia, Phnom Penh, ithsaveng@yahoo.com
• Mr Vuthy Vu, Department of Environmental Science, Royal University of Phnom Penh, 4th Floor, Blvd of Conf. Of Russia, Phnom Penh, v.vuthy@yahoo.com
• Mr Callum McCulloch, Programme co-ordinator, University Capacity Building Programme, FFI, P.O. Box 1380, #8B, Street 398, Boeung Keng Kang I, Charmkamorn, Phnom Penh, callum_mcculloch@yahoo.com.au
• Rath Sethik, Department of Environmental Science, RUPP and FFI University Capacity Building Project, P.O. Box 1380, #8B, Street 398, Boeung Keng Kang I, Charmkamorn, Phnom Penh, rathsethik@yahoo.com

Lao PDR

• Professor Bounthob Praxaysombath, Head of Biology, Faculty of Science, National University of Laos, P.O. Box 7322, Vientiane, bounthob@yahoo.fr
• Mr Phouthone Kingsada, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, National University of Laos, P.O. Box 7322, Vientiane, phouthone_kingsada@hotmail.com
• Mr Bounsavane Dounangboubpha, Centre for Environmental and Developmental Studies, Faculty of Science, National University of Laos, P.O. Box 7322, Vientiane, bounsavanhd@yahoo.com
• Ms Phansamai Phommexay, Department of Ecotourism, Faculty of Forestry, National University of Laos, P.O. Box 7322, Vientiane, phansamai99@yahoo.com

Vietnam

• Mr Vu Dinh Thong, Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources (IEBR), Nghia Do, Cau Giay, Hanoi, thong1605@yahoo.com
• Mr Neil Furey, School of Biological Sciences, Aberdeen University, Tillydrone Avenue, Aberdeen, AB24 2TZ, n.furey@abdn.ac.uk

The leaf-nosed bat, Hipposideros lylei,
one of 155 bat species that will feature in this taxonomic project..

Publications from the project (pdf versions, for study purposes, available on request)

Bates, P., M. Struebig, B. Hayes, N. Furey, Khin Mya Mya, V.D. Thong, P.D. Tien, C. Francis and G. Csorba. 2007. A new species of Kerivoula (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) from Southeast Asia. Acta Chiropterologica, 9(2): 323-337.

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.

Csorba, G., V.D. Thong, P.J.J. Bates and N.M. Furey. 2007. Description of a new species of Murina from Vietnam (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae: Murininae). Museum of Texas Tech University, Occasional Papers No. 268: 1-9.

Soisook, P. , S. Bumrungsri, A. Dejtaradol, C. Francis, G. Csorba, A. Guillen-Servent and P. Bates. 2007. First records of Kerivoula kachinensis (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) from Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Thailand. Acta Chiropterologica, 9(2): 339-345.

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.

Thong, V.D., V.T. Tu, P.D. Tien, C-W. Chu, Juliana, P. Bates, and N. Furey. 2007. Echolocation call frequency of Marshall's Horseshoe Bat Rhinolophus marshalli from Cat Ba National Park and its current status in Vietnam. Proceedings of the 2nd National Scientific Conference on Ecology and Biological Resources, Hanoi: 274-277.

In press

Soisook, P., S. Bumrungsri, C. Satasook, V.D. Thong, Si Si Hla Bu, D. Harrison and P. Bates. A taxonomic review of Rhinolophus stheno and R. malayanus (Chiroptera: Rhinolophidae) from continental South-East Asia: an evaluation of echolocation call frequency in discriminating between cryptic species. Submitted to Acta Chiropterologica

Vu Dinh Thong, Pham Duc Tien, Vuong Tan Tu, and Neil Furey The bat fauna of Cat Ba Biosphere Reserve (in Vietnamese). Vietnamese Journal of Biology

Submitted

Douangboubpha, B., S. Bumrungsri, C. Satasook, Si Si Hla Bu, D. Harrison and P. Bates. A taxonomic review of Hipposideros halophyllus, H. ater, and H. cineraceus (Chiroptera: Hipposideridae) in Thailand and Myanmar. Submitted to Acta Chiropterologica

Puechmaille, S., P. Soisook, M.Yokubol, P. Piyapan, M. A.Gouilh, Khin Mie Mie, I. Mackie, S. Bumrungsri, A. Dejtaradol , Tin Nwe, Si Si Hla Bu, C. Satasook, P. Bates and E.C. Teeling. Population size, distribution, threats and conservation status of two endangered bat species: Craseonycteris thonglongyai and Hipposideros turpis. Submitted to Endangered Species Research

Tu, V.T., N. Furey, and V.D. Thong. Vietnamese bat echolocation: a tool for conservation research and management. Submitted to Vietnamese Journal of Biology