New Zealand Journal of Zoology abstracts
Roost site selection and roosting behaviour in lesser short-tailed bats
(Mystacina tuberculata) in comparison with long-tailed bats (Chalinolobus
tuberculatus) in Nothofagus forest, Fiordland
Jane A. Sedgeley
Department of Zoology
University of Otago
P.O. Box 56, Dunedin
and
Department of Conservation
P.O. Box 743
Invercargill
Address for correspondence: Department of Conservation, Southern Regional
Science Centre,
P.O. Box 13 049 Christchurch, New Zealand.
Email: mohua@xtra.co.nz or jsedgeley@doc.govt.nz
Abstract I studied the roosting ecology of the lesser
short-tailed bat (Mystacina tuberculata) during the summer months
of 1997-2000 in lowland Nothofagus rainforest, Fiordland, New Zealand.
Structural characteristics of communal day-roost trees and cavities were
compared with those of randomly available trees and cavities, and those used
by a sympatric population of long-tailed bats (Chalinolobus tuberculatus).
I radio-tracked 29 M. tuberculata to 20 communal roost cavities located
in 16 trees. Twelve of 21 characteristics measured differed significantly
between roost and random sites. M. tuberculata selected roosts in
more open parts of the forest, in some of the largest red beech (Nothofagus
fusca) trees and cavities available. Characteristics of trees used by
the two bat species were similar. Both species roosted in large diameter,
old age red beech. However, 11 of the 12 roost cavity characteristics varied
significantly between bat species. Roost cavities used by M. tuberculata
were significantly lower to the ground, had more entrances, and had larger
entrance and internal dimensions than C. tuberculatus roosts. Nevertheless,
roosts of both species were well insulated and exhibited stable internal
temperatures. M. tuberculata roosting groups were dominated by females
and young, and group size averaged 310 ± 88.1 bats (n = 40).
Roosts were occupied for an average of 5.6 ± 6.9 days (n =
23). Group size was significantly larger than in C. tuberculatus,
and roost residency time significantly longer. Differences in roost use and
roosting behaviour between the two species should be considered when undertaking
conservation management actions such as identifying trees for retention through
logging cycles, or designating reserves.
Keywords bats; Mystacina tuberculata; Chalinolobus
tuberculatus; tree roosting; roost-site selection; Nothofagus;
temperate rainforest; New Zealand; conservation
Z02024 Received 22 August 2002; accepted 31 January 2003; Online publication
date 8 September 2003
New Zealand Journal of Zoology, 2003, Vol. 30: 227-241
0301-4223/03/3003-0227 $7.00/0 © The Royal Society of New Zealand
2003
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