New Zealand Journal of Zoology abstracts
The potential availability of roosting sites for lesser
short-tailed bats (Mystacina tuberculata) on Kapiti Island, New
Zealand: implications for a translocation
Jay Ruffell1,*
Jane Sedgeley2
Stuart Parsons1,†
1School of Biological Sciences
University of Auckland
Private Bag 9 -
Auckland 1142, New Zealand
2Research Development & Improvement
Department of Conservation
PO Box 13049
Christchurch 8141, New Zealand
*Present address: Bioresearches Group Ltd, 90 Anzac
Avenue, Auckland 1010, New Zealand.
†Corresponding author: s.parsons@auckland.ac.nz
Abstract Lesser short-tailed bats (Mystacina
tuberculata)
have recently been translocated to Kapiti Island in an attempt to form
a new population of this threatened species. However, the island’s
vegetation is regenerating, and there was doubt that the forests
provided enough large trees with cavities for bats to roost in. This
study measured the availability of tree-trunk cavities of the right
size for potential roost sites on Kapiti Island, and assessed if
habitat restoration would be required to increase the translocation’s
chance of success. First, trees with cavities accessible to us were
sampled in six of Kapiti Island’s forest types. Size variables known to
affect roost site selection by lesser short-tailed bats at the tree and
cavity level were measured. Trees were classified as containing
cavities that could potentially provide suitable roosts if their values
for all variables measured fell within the range of roosts used by
lesser short-tailed bats in natural populations. Roosts were classified
as suitably sized for solitary bats or for colonies, using measurements
from both types of roosts in natural populations. Second, the density
of these potential roost cavities was calculated. Cavities of a size
potentially suitable for colonies were found in four of the six forest
types at densities ranging from 3.2 ± 3.2 SE to 52.4
± 14.0 trees per ha. Density of potential solitary roosts was
much higher. Not all potential cavities will be suitable because they
may be damp, poorly insulated, or have an unsuitable microclimate.
Nevertheless, our estimates indicated that the two most extensive
forest types each contained thousands of potential cavities of a size
suitable for colonies of lesser short-tailed bats. In addition, there
were tens of thousands of cavities large enough to shelter solitary
bats. Roost habitat restoration appears unnecessary to assist
translocated Mystacina tuberculata on Kapiti Island.
Keywords cavities; habitat quality; Kapiti
Island; Mystacina
tuberculata; Mystacinidae; roosts; short-tailed bat; translocation
Z07034; Online publication date 1 August 2007; Received 12 July
2007; accepted 16 July 2007
New Zealand Journal of Zoology, 2007, Vol. 34: 219–226
0301–4223/07/3403–0219 © The Royal Society of New Zealand 2007
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