Roosts used by the golden‐tipped bat Kerivoula papuensis (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae)

Abstract

Use of roosts by the golden-tipped bat Kerivoula papuensis was investigated principally in the Richmond Range National Park, north-eastern New South Wales and Mt Baldy State Forest in north-eastern Queensland, Australia. Roosts were located primarily using radiotelemetry; although others were found by light tagging, visual location and nest searching techniques. In the main study site in the Richmond Range a total of 54 K. papuensis diurnal roosts were located, 96.5% occurring in the suspended nests of the yellowthroated scrubwren Sericornis citreogularis (Pardalotidae) (93%) and the brown gerygone Gerygone mouki (Pardalotidae) (3.5%). At Mt Baldy, K. papuensis displayed greater variation in day roost selection, although 73% were in S. citreogularis nests. In both sites, day roosts were con®ned to the lower stratum of rainforest with a small proportion in eucalypt tall open forest with a rainforest subcanopy. Diurnal roosts were located at distances varying from 20 to 1200 m to the nearest major vegetation ecotone, ranging from along watercourses upslope to ridgelines. Diurnal roosts were predominantly occupied by single bats, with a maximum group size of eight individuals. All roosts in hanging nests were modi®ed by the presence of a basal hole. Strong circumstantial evidence was provided that K. papuensis modi®ed these roost structures in a manner allied to tent-making bats. A single maternity roost was located in the hollow of a rainforest canopy tree, Flindersia australis (Rutaceae).

Characteristics of tree hollows used by Australian birds and bats

“…Several species used artificial structures in addition to tree hollows (Tidemann and Flavel 1987;Lumsden et al 2002a). Schulz (2000) detected 67 diurnal roosts of the golden-tipped bat (Kerivoula papuensis) and only two were in tree hollows.…”

“…T = species listed by Federal government as Threatened. References: 1, Compton and Johnston (1983); 2, Tidemann and Flavel (1987); 3, Taylor and Savva (1988); 4, Lunney et al (1988); 5, Lunney et al (1995); 6, Hosken (1996); 7, Herr and Klomp (1999); 8, Law and Anderson (2000); 9, Schulz (2000); 10, Turbill et al (2003a); 11, Lumsden et al (2002a); 12, Campbell et al (2005); 13, Pennay and Freeman (2005) …”

“…Both species used tree hollows for maternity roosts whereas males and non-breeding females of lesser long-eared bats also used other sites. Schulz (2000) located a single maternity roost of the golden-tipped bat. This was in a hollow spout of a large rainforest tree (147 cm DBH).…”

“…The eastern long-eared bat used 16 trunk hollows in littoral rainforest in NSW (Lunney et al 1995). The golden-tipped bat typically relies on hanging bird's nests as roost sites although two roosts in hollows in rainforest trees have been identified (Schulz 2000). No study has provided any information on the abundance of hollowbearing trees potentially suitable to microbats in rainforest.…”

Insectivorous Bats and Silviculture: Balancing Timber Production and Bat Conservation

“…Riparian areas often support a different vegetation type, with rainforest being particularly common in Australia. The specialist golden-tipped bat, Kerivoula papuensis, preferentially roosts in the suspended nests of small birds within riparian rainforest and such areas are excluded from harvesting (Schulz 2000;Law and Chidel 2004).…”