Using mobile device built-in microphones to monitor bats: a new opportunity for large-scale participatory science initiatives

• DOI: 10.1007/s10531-024-02818-9
• Publication Date: 2024-03-18T06:02:00Z
• Authors: Fabrizio Gili; Sandro Bertolino; Antonio Rolando
• Keywords: Citizen Science; Human echolocation

Abstract Citizen science has become a crucial tool in biodiversity monitoring, often facilitated by the diffusion of mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets. High costs professional equipment limit large-scale particularly bat monitoring programmes based on acoustic surveys. Here we present potential using devices for allowing large-scale, volunteer-based programmes. We initially compared devices’ performance with detector recording low-frequency calls. then conducted citizen pilot study to test method’s feasibility real-world setting, echolocation social calls nine European species. found high similarity spectrogram quality (0.74 ± 0.09 Samsung, 0.90 0.01 Huawei, 0.86 Xiaomi, 0.69 Apple) average peak frequency (differences 0.2 0.5 kHz 0.1 0.7 1.0 0.8 between recorded detectors. The number per sampling session was also similar. However, differences sound effectiveness among device brands were found. iOS outperformed detectors at increasing distances. tested 35 models, all which effectively bats. This suggests that could be an accessible, no-cost monitoring. Incorporating into existing networks or creating new dedicated not only enhance data collection, but boost public knowledge awareness about bats, ultimately promoting informed decision-making better conservation strategies.