Understanding how bats coordinate echolocation and flight in cluttered environments requires methodological approaches that bridge field observation and controlled laboratory analysis. Here we present an integrated research framework developed through collaborative fieldwork in Brunei Darussalam, combining enhanced capture techniques with a sophisticated flight tunnel analysis system. Our approach employs a modular ultrasonic lure capable operator-directed frequency adjustment (20-100kHz), with call parameters matched to species identified by the operator in the field, achieving an approximately 2-fold higher capture rate compared to passive trapping methods in preliminary trials. Captured bats were analyzed in a 12m flight tunnel equipped with 50 synchronized high-speed cameras and 32 ultrasonic microphones, enabling simultaneous kinematic and acoustic data collection. Over 11 weeks, we captured 43 individuals across standardized forest trapping from the families Rhinolophidae, Hipposideridae, and Vespertilionidae with an additional 24 Hipposideros cervinus captured at a cave roost site. The parallel analysis pipelines developed for kinematic reconstruction and acoustic processing demonstrate how field-derived call signatures can inform both capture strategies and subsequent behavioral analysis. This integrated methodology addresses key challenges in studying echolocation-guided flight and provides a framework applicable to diverse bat species and research contexts.
Lorence et al. (Tue,) studied this question.