The effectiveness of the Bat Classify software
Different Myotis bat species have similar calls, which are often
difficult to separate from - and may overlap with - the calls of otherMyotis species (Barataud 2015). A confidence level of 80 % was
selected for the automated identification of species using the Bat
Classify software. Below the 80 % confidence level, the Bat Classify
software frequently gave more than one possible identification for the
calls, whereas above the 80 % level, too few call sequences were
identified to allow a substantial sample size for statistical analysis.
Even at this confidence level, many Myotis call sequences were
not ascribed to an individual species. Indeed, only 27 % of calls that
were manually identified as Myotis type calls were assigned by
the automated software to a particular Myotis species at the 80
% confidence level or above. In contrast, for a more readily
identifiable species, 96 % of manually identifiable lesser horseshoe
bat Rhinolophus hipposideros calls were assigned by the software
to this species at the 80 % confidence level or above.