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Subject: search.filters.subject.Chalinolobus tuberculatus

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    Use of Kinleith Forest by native New Zealand bats and effects of forestry : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Ecology at Massey University
    (Massey University, 2001) Moore, Geraldine Elaine
    New Zealand's vulnerable microbats, the long-tailed bat (Chalinolobus tuberculatus, Vespertilionidae) and short-tailed bat (Mystacina tuberculata, Mystacinidae), are typically tree-roosting and generally associated with indigenous forest. However, bats have been seen at the edge of Carter Holt Harvey Forests' central North Island Kinleith Forest, a 131,000 ha exotic forest predominantly in Pinus radiata. Requested by Carter Holt Harvey Forests, this study investigates bat presence and distribution in Kinleith Forest, forest use by long-tailed bats, and the effects of forestry practices on bats, with focus on tree felling operations. It is the first comprehensive study of native bats' use of exotic plantation forest in New Zealand. A broad-scale bat detector-based survey of 32 disparate sites, and comprising 720.5 km of driving transects over three routes, found long-tailed bats to be widespread in Kinleith Forest. In places activity was high, on some nights exceeding 60 bat passes/hour, or 100 passes/night, and at one site, averaging 46.0 passes/night (n = 189 bat detector-nights from throughout the year). Given the decline in this species elsewhere, it is significant that long-tailed bats are present in some areas from which they were known historically. Mapping of bat sites in relation to forest type indicates long-tailed bats may have a fairly continuous distribution in the central North Island. Results suggest that instead of approaching unsurveyed plantation forests with the expectation that long-tailed bats are absent, they should be assumed present until proven otherwise. Anecdotal evidence of short-tailed bats, and of Dactylanthus taylorii – a rare plant they naturally pollinate, indicates short-tailed bats could potentially be present in Kinleith Forest. Bat activity monitoring in adjacent forest interior and road habitats showed long-tailed bats commonly used roads in young (without canopy closure) and mature P. radiata forest, and podocarp broadleaf forest. Bats probably favoured roads for reasons of habitat structure, though roads may also play a role in navigation. This behaviour can be used to advantage when surveying for long-tailed bats in plantation forest. Survey work identified long-tailed bats to be present in all topographies and a range of habitats including harvested/unstocked land, young P. radiata forest, and mature (≥ 17 years) P. radiata, Eucalyptus spp., Pseudotsuga menziesii and Sequoia sempervirens forest, wetlands, and native forest remnants. Comparison of 46 "bat habitats" with habitat availability along 194 km of transects revealed long-tailed bats to select older pine forest and generally avoid unstocked land or younger forest. This pattern is supported by findings from monitoring work in young and mature pine forest. Older pine forest retains more heat, has a different understorey, and may offer more shelter than younger forest, potentially influencing insect prey abundance and bat activity. Bats' differential use of habitat may partially explain the lower number of bat encounters in the Wainui area than the Galaxy area. Six sites, including a wetland, older pine forest, and areas in or adjacent to native forest, had high bat activity. The relative importance of exotic plantation forest and native podocarp broadleaf forest reserve land to foraging long-tailed bats was investigated in a replicated bat detector-based study. Insect abundance and ambient temperature were also monitored. Bat activity and foraging activity were much greater in the plantation forest than the native forest, possibly because of the greater abundance of moths – important prey. Forest type was the best predictor of bat activity. Anecdotal accounts indicated several bat roosts to be in production trees (P. radiata), including old crop trees. One record was of a roost in a barely noticeable crevice in a 30-year-old pine, others were from areas of native forest, rocky crevices and a cave. Four accounts were of communal roosts. There is evidence that maternity roosts may occur in production forest. Most observations were made during the process of habitat modification and so roosts no longer exist. At least one possible communal roost was identified from bat activity data. A review of roosting ecology suggests that while highly mobile, long-tailed bats use many roosts in a small area, often roost near forest edges, are highly selective of roosts, and may face inter- and intra-specific competition for roosts. Long-tailed bats may be very sensitive to roost site disturbance and habitat fragmentation. Tree felling, an important part of forestry, could threaten long-tailed bats at an individual and a population level by causing injury or death, reducing available habitat, and isolating bat groups. However, tree felling could create foraging (e.g. edge) habitat and facilitate access for bats. Overall, effects are likely to depend on the scale of operations. Other forestry operations which could negatively affect long-tailed bats include site preparation, pesticide use, infrastructure works, transportation and quarrying. Pest mammal control operations and the conservation of cave, wetland and reserve areas potentially benefit long-tailed bats in Kinleith Forest. The complex habitat mosaic may be favourable to long-tailed bats. However, there are many questions yet to be answered. Sensitive management may be needed to ensure bat survival in Kinleith Forest. Long-tailed bats probably prey on a number of forestry pests including Helicoverpa armigera and may be an effective biocontrol agent. Artificial roost boxes could be used to encourage bats in this role and reduce the number of bats potentially harmed in tree felling operations.
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    The behaviour and ecology of long-tailed bats (Chalinolobus tuberculatus Gray) in the central North Island : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science at Massey University
    (Massey University, 1996) Gillingham, Nicholas James
    The morphology, breeding season, juvenile development, activity and roosting behaviour of a North Island forest population of long-tailed bats (Chalinolobus tuberculatus Gray) was investigated intensively over spring and summer 1994 - 95. The diet of a cave dwelling population was studied by analysing guano collected regularly over a one year period. Most body measurements taken were consistent with reported individuals caught at similar latitudes in other studies, while discrepancies in tail length, body length and wingspan may be the result in differences in measuring techniques. Females were significantly larger than males in forearm length, body length, left hind-limb length and wingspan. A higher proportion of adult females caught may reflect the higher activity and energy demands during pregnancy and lactation, but the higher proportion of juvenile males caught cannot be explained. Most females gave birth in mid-November. Weight gain amongst females was more consistent up to than after parturition. Parturition was earlier than in closely related Australian species at similar latitudes in Australia. The onset of nipple enlargement coincided with parturition and did not reduce in size until volant juveniles were captured in early January. This suggests that lactation lasted approximately eight weeks, longer than in Australian Chalinolobus species. Most females captured during breeding (87.8%) showed signs of pregnancy or lactation. Cartilage bands and the lack of bulging in the metacarpal-pharangeal joint, body size and colour were all used to indicate bat age. Juvenile bats became volant from early January onwards. The age when juveniles are capable of sustained flight is probably greater than in closely related species in Australia. Bat echolocation was recorded with an automatic bat detector and compared with weather, light intensity and potential insect prey abundance. Combinations of environmental variables best explained variation in bat activity. The number of passes during the night, the number of passes per hour and the number of passes in the first hour after sunset were all highest during pregnancy with reduced activity during lactation. The time of the first pass relative to sunset was earliest during September and February. Insect abundance was highest during lactation and when juveniles were volant. Diurnal bat activity generally followed a bimodal pattern with more activity in the first and last hour of darkness, however there were seasonal differences in this pattern. Bats were tracked to roost sites using small transmitters (1.7 g) and directional receivers. Female bats used communal roosts only during lactation, but used combinations of communal and solitary roosts during pregnancy and when juveniles became independent. Communally roosting bats preferred mature trees or limbs of trees that were recently dead. These trees provided cavities with small entrances (6 - 7 cm) that were situated from 5 to 30 m above the ground. The number of bats observed emerging from communal roosts ranged from 5 to 208 (mean = 86). It is unlikely the same group of bats remained together every night. Individual bats changed roosts every one to three days therefore they probably transported juvenile bats with them. Insect prey taxa were identified from long-tailed bat guano collected from a limestone cave roost over one year. It was concluded that bats feed mainly on Diptera, Lepidoptera and Coleoptera, while other orders are taken in smaller numbers. Quantitative data could not be used as an indication of seasonal changes in prey taken. There was no evidence of terrestrial insects in the faeces as reported for Australian Chalinolobus species. Estimated sizes of ingested prey items were smaller than the size range of available prey insects. Larger insects may be culled of identifiable body parts before ingestion.
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    The diet of the New Zealand long-tailed bat, Chalinolobus tuberculatus : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Masters in Zoology at Massey University, Manawatu, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2014) Gurau, Alix Larissa
    The long-tailed bat (Chalinolobus tuberculatus Forster, 1884) and the lesser short-tailed bat (Mystacina tuberculata Gray, 1883) are both endemic and the only extanct bat species in New Zealand (Alexander, 2001). The long-tailed bat and the short-tailed bat are considered threatened; they are listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals and the Department of Conservation (DOC) lists long-tailed bats as ‘nationally vulnerable’, and lesser short-tailed bats as ‘nationally endangered’ (O'Donnell, Christie, Hitchmough, Lloyd, & Parsons, 2010). Research conducted on long-tailed bats has focused on roosting choice and behaviour with limited investigation of their diet. This leaves big gaps in our knowledge and due to both species inhabiting exotic plantation forests there is also the possibility for the bats to be important insect pest control agents. Insect fragments were identified from New Zealand long-tailed bat faecal samples collected from under known roosts and harp traps in Kinleith Forest and Pureora Forest Park in the central North Island, New Zealand. In total 2247 fragments were mounted on slides (1335 from Pureora and 912 from Kinleith) and 15% of these were unidentifiable (346). Over both study sites, Diptera made up the largest percentage of the diet with 40%, Lepidoptera comprised 24%, Coleoptera 18%, Trichoptera 0.8%, and Hymenoptera 0.36%. Whole mites or mite remains comprised 0.8% of all fragments. Eleven fragments in total were found to be from Lepidoptera larvae which contradicts previous observations of long-tailed bats not eating terrestrial, non-winged insects. There were significant differences in the diet of the bats in native forest with the bats in exotic forest, showing long-tailed bats can be flexible in regards to the environment they live in whilst maintaining a normal diet. The diets of the same two populations of New Zealand long-tailed bat were assessed by using stable carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) isotope analysis of faeces. This is the first instance where stable isotope analysis has been used to investigate New Zealand bat diet. Faecal samples from a population of New Zealand long-tailed bats in a Fiordland forest and a population of New Zealand short-tailed bats from Pureora Forest Park were also analysed to use as a comparison. The δ13C (‰) and δ15N (‰) values of bat faeces were similar to those of Lepidoptera, Diptera, and Coleoptera implying these are the insects eaten most often. Only minor similarities were found between the δ13C (‰) and δ15N (‰) values of bat faeces and those of Trichoptera, Hymenoptera, and Hemiptera implying these insects are eaten less often. New Zealand long-tailed bats in Pureora Forest and Kinleith Forest have opportunistic, generalist diets. There were no significant differences in the diet of the bats in native forest with the bats in exotic forest showing bats inhabiting exotic plantation forests can maintain a good quality diet similar to bats inhabiting native forests. There were also no significant differences in the diet of Pureora Forest long-tailed bats and short-tailed bats which is strange considering the bats occupy different niches. In this study by combining physical search of faeces and stable isotope analysis, new information on the diet of the long-tailed bat was gained. After comparison, both techniques have their merits and that, if possible, it is best to utilise both when investigating diet.