Rym Nouioua

1. Introduction

As part of my doctoral research on birds, bats and related ecosystem services in a European land use context, I conducted several seasonal research stays in Calci, Italy. With my profound experience working with bats, I chose to focus my PhD on birds and bats as both groups have a high ecological impact, particularly in terms of pest control and their broader contribution to ecosystem services. The Prof. Bingel Scholarship by the DAAD-Stiftung funded one year of seasonal fieldwork from March 16, 2024, to January 31, 2025. This stay was part of the ECO-OLIVES project, which investigates the functional role of bats in Mediterranean olive groves. The research aimed to assess how different land management practices influence bat activity and biodiversity.

Beyond academic work, the research stay allowed me to engage in interdisciplinary collaboration, experience cultural exchanges, and explore new methodological approaches to field ecology.

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Fieldwork Preparations

2. Research Activities & Methodology

In 2024, the fieldwork continued with a focus on bioacoustic monitoring of birds and bats, as well as habitat assessment across 12 organically managed olive groves with varying levels of land-use intensity. Enclosure experiments had been established in 2023. The methodology included:

- Acoustic Monitoring: Bat activity was recorded using full-spectrum ultrasonic detectors (Batlogger M, Elekon AG; Song Meter Mini Bat, Wildlife Acoustics). Both devices capture high-resolution audio in the ultrasonic range up to 250 kHz, allowing for the detection and species-level analysis of echolocation calls. Recordings were stored in WAV format for post-processing and species identification. The equipment is weather-resistant and suitable for autonomous deployment in field conditions.

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Fieldwork at night

- Mist Netting & Species Identification: Further I conducted controlled mist-netting sessions to validate species presence and collected faecal samples for the analysis of pest consumption by bats.

- Habitat Surveys: Included measuring structural complexity and proximity to semi-natural habitats to assess bat and bird activity correlations. Data analysis was performed using Kaleidoscope Pro, with statistical modelling in R. The research contributes to a better understanding of the role of birds and bats in pest control and how olive grove management can enhance biodiversity.

3. Key Findings & Preliminary Results

The data collected during this research stay will form the continuous basis of at least two peer-reviewed publications focusing on bat and bird diversity in Mediterranean olive groves. Additionally, the results will be integrated into my doctoral dissertation. Over 18 terabytes of acoustic data were recorded during the autumn and spring seasons of both years within 12 ecologically managed olive groves. Pre-analysis suggests the presence of around 27 bat species in the study area, out of 32 bat species known in Italy. The dataset has been fully processed and includes over 80,000 bat passes, which will be manually verified for precises species identification. Preliminary results (graphic) are based on Kaleidoscope Pro Auto identification. During the spring 2024 bat mist-netting session, we identified 21 individuals of 6 different species and were able to collect 7 fecal samples for further analysis.

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Plecotus austriacus

4. Personal & Cultural Experiences

Beyond research, my stay in Italy provided valuable cultural and academic exchanges. Fieldwork in rural Tuscany offered firsthand insights into Mediterranean landscapes and conservation challenges under organic land-use regimes. The field team consisted of Dr. Bea Maas (coordination and supervision), Tara Hanf-Dressler (PhD student, focus on birds), me (PhD student, focus on bats and bioacoustics), and Andrea Piccini (MSc student, entomology). We were also joined by intern Maela Marlet, who assisted with bat mist-netting.

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Local Stakeholder Workshop

A particularly enriching aspect of the experience was the regular interaction with local farmers. These conversations offered practical perspectives on olive cultivation, pest management, and land-use history, which significantly deepened my understanding of the socio-ecological context of food production. Trust-based relationships with farmers were essential both for gaining site access and for meaningfully linking scientific research to everyday agricultural realities.

I presented preliminary results at a workshop organized by the University of Pisa and joined two national scientific networks, SCB Italy and the Gruppo Italiano Ricerca Chirotteri (GIRC), to strengthen long-term academic exchange. I remain in close contact with several colleagues and friends from the host country, with plans for ongoing collaboration in future field seasons and data analysis.

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Installing a camera

Time for personal activities was limited due to the intensity of the fieldwork. However, I had the opportunity to visit the small but nice museum of the Certosa di Calci and spend time in the city of Pisa. Since I was born and raised in Italy, the cultural setting was already familiar. However, one of the most memorable aspects was driving through the Tuscan countryside with our trusty field Fiat Panda and living in a small farmhouse basement, a simple but atmospheric base for long field days. The stay surely allowed me to continue to reconnect with the region, the language, the food and to cultivate long-standing friendships in a meaningful way.

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Pipistrellus kuhlii

5. Outlook & Next Steps

Future steps include:

- Further bioacoustical analysis for species identification, as well as further statistical analysis of habitat-use patterns, seasonal activity, and the multitrophic interactions with birds and insects, and the provision of ecosystem services for olive groves.

- Strengthening collaborations with agricultural and conservation stakeholders to apply research findings in practice.

The funded research year was an invaluable opportunity that not only advanced my research but also provided essential financial support, allowing me to focus on scientific fieldwork, data collection, and collaboration without additional economic concerns.

6. Acknowledgments

I am grateful to the Prof. Bingel Scholarship by the DAAD-Stiftung for supporting this research stay, as well as to my supervisors Dr. Bea Maas (University of Vienna), Prof. Dr. Stefan Dullinger (University of Vienna) and Prof. Dr. Marko Rohlfs (University of Bremen) for their guidance. Special thanks to local collaborators in Calci, Italy, for facilitating the fieldwork.