Lubee Research Program

Bat Research Lubee maximizes the opportunities provided by its living animal collection to facilitate research that leads to a greater understanding of the unique biology and ecology of fruit and nectar bats and improved conservation management of wild and captive populations.

When Lubee was founded, little information existed on the life history of megachiropteran bats in the wild or in captivity. For over a decade, Lubee has supported research that has significantly expanded our knowledge of the reproductive biology, physiology, behavior, nutrition, phylogeny and ecology of megachiropterans and smaller nectar feeding bats.

A comprehensive view can be gained by visiting the Publications list. Many of the research studies supported by Lubee that involve science in situ are described on our Conservation page.

Lubee is the only facility in North American with breeding colonies of the following species: Large flying fox (Pteropus vampyrus), Grey-headed flying fox (Pteropus poliocephalus), Variable flying fox (Pteropus hypomelanus), Little golden-mantled flying fox (Pteropus pumilus), Lubee has bred all of these species successfully, and surplus animals are loaned to AZA accredited zoos for exhibition and education.

The captive bat collection at Lubee provides a unique opportunity to study Pteropodid bats in a controlled setting. If you are interested in conducting a research project with the bats housed at our Bat Center – please visit our Bat Center page to view information about our facilities and services.

Research Projects

Physiologic stress and immune function in Pteropus bats
Researchers: Jonathon Epstein DVM PhD student, Consortium for Conservation Medicine, Dr Peter Daszak, The Wildlife Trust, Dr Katie Pelican, University of Minnesota, Dr Allyson Walsh, Lubee Bat Conservancy.
Comparative systems biology of Type-I Interferons response in bats
Researchers: Dr Tomas Keplar, Dr Elizabeth Ramsburg, Duke University Medical Center.
How smart are Flying Foxes?
Researchers: Dr Clive Wynne, Nathan Hall, Department of Phychology, University of Florida.
Ocular parameters in a captive colony of fruit bats
Researchers: Sarah Blackwood DVM, University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine.
Aeromechanics of highly manoevrable bats
Researchers: Dr Sharon Swartz Department of Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, Brown University & Dr Kenneth Breuer Division of Engineering, Brown University.
Bat genome: Pteropus vampyrus
Researchers: Dr Lynne Nazareth, Human Genome Sequencing Center, Houston & Dr Marcia Lara, MIT/The Broad Institute Center for Genome Research.
Studies towards the development of an artificial insemination protocol in flying foxes
Researchers: Debbie Melville PhD student University of Queensland, Dr Linda penfold, White Oaks Conservation Center.
Phylogeography and population genetics of Pteropus vampyrus, P. hypomelanus and P. giganteus.
PhD Student: Kevin J. Olival, Columbia University, NY.
Social differences: Reproductive Physiology and Behavior in the social Malayan flying fox and solitary golden-mantled flying fox.
Researchers: DeeAnn M. Reeder, Eric P. Widmaier, and Thomas H. Kunz. Department of Biology, Boston University.