New Zealand Journal of Zoology abstracts
Evidence of homing following translocation of long-tailed bats (Chalinolobus
tuberculatus) at Grand Canyon Cave, New Zealand
J. M. Guilbert1
M. M. Walker1
S. Greif2
S. Parsons1*
1School of Biological Sciences
University of Auckland
Private Bag 9 -
Auckland 1142, New Zealand
2Animal Physiology
University of Tuebingen
Auf der Morgenstelle 28,
72076 Tuebingen, Germany
*Corresponding author: s.parsons@auckland.ac.nz.
Abstract Homing behaviour in the New
Zealand long-tailed bat (Chalinolobus
tuberculatus), a temperate insectivorous species, was
investigated at Grand Canyon Cave, central North Island. A pilot study
of nine adult male bats was conducted to determine whether use of the
cave was regular enough for a homing study. Eight bats returned to the
cave over the 3-week monitoring period, six on the night following
release. Nine additional bats carrying radio transmitters were then
released at three sites (three at each site) c. 5, 10 and 20 km due
east of the cave; sites estimated to be located within, on the border
of, and outside the population’s known familiar area respectively. All
but one of these nine bats were subsequently detected at the cave.
Results suggest that adult long-tailed bats are able to return home
following displacement both inside and outside their familiar area.
Implications of these findings for translocations of bats and the
possession of a potential long-distance navigation system by this
species are discussed.
Keywords Chalinolobus tuberculatus;
homing;
navigation; New Zealand; translocation failure
Z07036; Online publication date 8 August 2007; Received 13 July
2007; accepted 16 July 2007
New Zealand Journal of Zoology, 2007, Vol. 34: 239–246
0301–4223/07/3403–0239 © The Royal Society of New Zealand 2007
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