Journal article
Roost selection by the north Queensland long-eared bat Nyctophilus bifax in littoral rainforest in the Iluka World Heritage Area, New South Wales
Australian Journal of Ecology, Vol.20(4), pp.532-537
Accepted for publication February 1995
1995
Abstract
The aim of this study was to describe the roosts of Nyctophilus bifax in littoral rainforest in Iluka Nature Reserve on the north coast of New South Wales. Radio-telemetry was used to track 17 bats in November 1988 (lactation season) and 11 in May 1989 (mating season) to 87 roosts in 49 trees within the littoral rainforest. The bats frequently changed roosts, which were clustered within a small area. During November, lactating females moved twins between diurnal roosts and some carried twins while foraging. Twins represented a load of up to 95% of their mother's bodyweight. Bats roosted communally in foliage and tree hollows, beneath peeling bark, among epiphytes, and between strangler figs and host trees. Hollows were used more frequently when bats were lactating, while the use of foliage roosts was greater during the mating season. Roosts were concentrated in four tree species, although a wide range of other tree species was used. Roost trees used in November were taller (17m) than those used in May (8. 2 m), and reflect selection of Syzygium leuhmannii and Acmena hemilampra, both trees of the forest interior. The converse applied for selection of Cupaniopsis anacardioides, a small tree of the littoral zone, in May. These results identify the need for conserving a diversity of roosts for this species of bat.
Details
- Title
- Roost selection by the north Queensland long-eared bat Nyctophilus bifax in littoral rainforest in the Iluka World Heritage Area, New South Wales
- Authors/Creators
- DANIEL Lunney - Parks and Wildlife ServiceJOHN Barker - Parks and Wildlife ServiceTANYA Leary - Parks and Wildlife ServiceDAVID Priddel - Parks and Wildlife ServiceROBERT Wheeler - Parks and Wildlife ServicePAUL O'CONNOR - Parks and Wildlife ServiceBRADLEY Law - Parks and Wildlife Service
- Publication Details
- Australian Journal of Ecology, Vol.20(4), pp.532-537
- Publisher
- Blackwell Publishing Ltd
- Edition
- Accepted for publication February 1995
- Number of pages
- 6
- Identifiers
- 991005579400307891
- Murdoch Affiliation
- Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Ecosystems
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
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- Citation topics
- 3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology
- 3.35 Zoology & Animal Ecology
- 3.35.1587 Chiroptera
- Web Of Science research areas
- Ecology
- ESI research areas
- Environment/Ecology