New Zealand Journal of Zoology abstracts
Habitat use and nocturnal activity of lesser short-tailed bats (Mystacina tuberculata) in comparison with long-tailed bats (Chalinolobus tuberculatus) in temperate rainforest
Colin F. J. O’Donnell
Jennifer E. Christie
Research, Development & Improvement
Department of Conservation
P.O. Box 13 049
Christchurch, New Zealand
codonnell@doc.govt.nz; jchristie@doc.govt.nz
Warren Simpson
Department of Conservation
P.O. Box 29
Te Anau, New Zealand
wzsimpson@doc.govt.nz
Abstract Habitat use and nocturnal activity patterns of the threatened lesser short-tailed bat (Mystacina tuberculata) were sampled during late spring and early summer using automatic bat detector units in temperate beech (Nothofagus)
rainforest in Fiordland, New Zealand. Detector units recorded the
number of bats passing per hour as an index of activity. Habitat use
patterns were compared with long-tailed bats (Chalinolobus tuberculatus)
sampled concurrently. Activity levels in lesser short-tailed bats
varied significantly among five habitat types and amongst hours of the
night. Of the total activity recorded, most passes (82.6% of n
= 657 bat passes) were in red beech forest >200 m from the
forest edge; 13.7% were in silver beech within 100 m of forest
edges, 2.6% were along roads through forest, 0.9% were on the
forest–grassland edge, and 0.2% were in the open grassland.
Lesser short-tailed bats were active throughout the night but
especially at dawn and dusk. There was no correlation between levels of
activity by lesser short-tailed bats and overnight minimum or dusk
temperatures. Patterns of habitat use and activity in long-tailed bats
were significantly different from those of lesser short-tailed bats. Of
the total activity recorded, most (56.0% of n = 2929 bat
passes) was along forest–grassland edges; 15.7% of passes were in
open grassland, 13.1% were along roads through forest, 11.0% were in
silver beech forest within 100 m of forest edges, and 4.2% within
red beech forest. The implications of these findings for conservation
and for improving survey techniques are discussed. For example, lack of
use of open and edge habitats by lesser short-tailed bats suggests they
would not adapt to highly fragmented and cleared forest habitats. The
two species of New Zealand bat used available habitats differently
while inhabiting the same sites. Therefore, a range of habitats,
including forest interior, forest edges and grasslands, are required to
sustain both species within reserves and management areas. Surveys for
lesser short-tailed bats should focus on mature forest stands
>200 m into the forest to maximise the chance of encountering
this species, whereas surveys for long-tailed bats would best focus on
forest edges.
Keywords Chiroptera; bats; Chalinolobus; Mystacina;
short-tailed bat; Vespertilionidae; Mystacinidae; habitat use;
rainforest; New Zealand; activity patterns; monitoring; echolocation;
conservation
Z06009; Received 20 December 2005; accepted 3 April 2006; Online publication date 19 April 2006
New Zealand Journal of Zoology, 2006, Vol. 33: 113–124
0301–4223/06/3302–0113 © The Royal Society of New Zealand 2006
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