RT Journal Article
T1 Global review and guidelines to avoid opportunistic predation of birds and bats in mist nets
A1 de Moura, Guilherme Wince
A1 Mustin Carvalho, Karen
A1 Pinto, Fernando Antonio Silva
A1 Sineiro, Sylvia Coelho Alves
A1 Xavier, Bruna da Silva
A1 Costa, Luciana Moraes
A1 Esbérard, Carlos Eduardo Lustosa
A1 Barufatti, Alexeia
A1 Carvalho, William Douglas
AB Mist nets are one of the most widely used techniques in the study of birds and bats worldwide. However, a number of risks are involved, including opportunistic predation. Given this potential cost, here we: (1) review the global literature to understand the factors that might contribute to predation risk for birds and bats captured in mist nets; (2) review existing guidelines for best practice use of mist nets; and (3) based on our reviews, recommend new guidelines for the use of mist nets to minimize the risk of opportunistic predation. Based on keyword in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and French, and using Google Scholar, Scopus, SciElo, and Web of Science, we found 48 articles reporting opportunistic predation. In the included articles, 178 predation events, involving 52 predator and 84 prey species, were reported. In most of the reports, the mist nets were placed at ground level, the bats and birds were preyed on from the shelf closest to the ground, the mist-net checks occurred at intervals of 1 h or 30 min and the most common predators were arboreal and scansorial species (primates and marsupials). Despite the occurrences of predation in 13 countries, guidelines for best practice mist-net use were found in only three, despite extensive searches and contact with key people in each country. Based on the existing guidelines and our results, we recommend that mist nets be fixed with the lowest shelf at least 50 cm above ground level and be checked at 15-min intervals; when predators are observed near mist nets, the nets either be constantly observed, closed, or relocated; suppressed the vegetation around the mist nets; captured animals be removed from the mist nets as soon as possible, and more than one researcher/technician should be in the field at all times.
PB John Wiley & Sons
SN 2045-7758
YR 2023
FD 2023-07-31
LK https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/121844
UL https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/121844
LA eng
NO de Moura, G. W., Mustin, K., Pinto, F. A. S., Sineiro, S. C. A., Xavier, B. d. S., Costa, L. M., Esbérard, C. E. L., Barufatti, A., & Carvalho, W. D. (2023). Global review and guidelines to avoid opportunistic predation of birds and bats in mist nets [Review of Global review and guidelines to avoid opportunistic predation of birds and bats in mist nets]. Ecology and Evolution, 13(8). John Wiley and Sons Ltd. https://doi.org/10.1002/ECE3.10390
NO Funding information: Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico, Grant/Award Number: 301061/2007-6; Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior, Grant/Award Number: 001; Spanish Ministry of Universities, Grant/ Award Number: CA3/RSUE/2021-00197
NO Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (Brasil)
NO Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (Brasil)
NO Ministerio de Universidades (España)
DS Docta Complutense
RD 27 jun 2025