often with help from fieldwork assistants or some colleagues.
I use generally 7 tools, described here and shown on the photo below.
1. The first tool is a scale, used to measure the weight of the bat (placed in a soft clothed bag). This feature gives a good idea about the age of the bat or if it has eaten. For examplen, my species weighs around 10g and can come back from foraging weighing 3-4g more.
2. The second tool is a calliper, used to measure the forearm length. This feature is often used as an help for species determination.
3. The third and fourth tools are a transponder needle mounted on a transponder injector. The needle contains the transponder that will be quickly injected under the bat skin of the bat. This is a sensitive operation but I trained and I process quickly. The transponder - with an individual identification number - will be injected once and will last for the whole life of the bat. Once the transponder is inserted, I check the number with a hand transponder-reader.
4. To sample DNA, I use a biopsy wingpunch. This tool consists of a 3mm-diameter metal ring mounted on a plastic pole. The DNA is sampled on the wing membrane, the "wingpunch" is then stored in a small tube of ethanol. The sampling on the wing membrane is optimal because this body part contains a lot of DNA and the healing really quick (around 2 weeks).
Another story starts after for exportation of the samples, extraction of the DNA and of course the analyses...
PS: All catching and sampling procedures are realised with permissions from the Panamean authorities.