As part of the field inventory, mapping and data processing of the bat species present in the Autonomous Region of the Azores, as well as the development of the regional action plan for the species Nyctalus azoreum, acoustic sampling is underway, as defined in Action C7 of the LIFE IP AZORES NATURA project.

This methodology is being applied at 218 sampling points, spread across all the Azorean islands, with all the points being sampled practically simultaneously. According to the team responsible for the study, this approach has significant advantages over sampling distributed over time.

The homogeneity of the sampling conditions at the different points selected allows for a more accurate and robust assessment of the real influence of the specific characteristics of each site – such as the type of habitat and the prevailing weather conditions – on the presence and activity of the various bat species in the Azores.

This simultaneous sampling strategy thus aims to provide a more detailed and effective understanding of the ecology of species and the factors that influence their distribution in the Region, making it possible to more accurately identify the bat species present in the Azores.