Roost tree characteristics determine use by the white-striped freetail bat (Tadarida australis, Chiroptera: Molossidae) in suburban subtropical Brisbane, Australia

We examined factors affecting roost tree selection by the white-striped freetail bat Tadarida australis (Chiroptera: Molossidae), a large insectivorous bat in suburban Brisbane, Australia. We compared biophysical characteristics associated with 34 roost trees and 170 control trees of similar diamete...

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Main Authors: Rhodes, M., Wardell-Johnson, Grant
Format: Journal Article
Published: Blackwell Publishing Asia 2006
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/36245
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author Rhodes, M.
Wardell-Johnson, Grant
author_facet Rhodes, M.
Wardell-Johnson, Grant
author_sort Rhodes, M.
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description We examined factors affecting roost tree selection by the white-striped freetail bat Tadarida australis (Chiroptera: Molossidae), a large insectivorous bat in suburban Brisbane, Australia. We compared biophysical characteristics associated with 34 roost trees and 170 control trees of similar diameter, height and tree senescence characters. Roost trees used by the white-striped freetail bat had significantly higher numbers of hollows in the trunk and branches (P<0.003) and were more likely to contain a large trunk cavity with an internal diameter of >30 cm (P<0.001) than control trees. These trees also accommodated more species of hollow-using fauna (P = 0.005). When comparing roost trees with control trees of similar diameters and heights, roost trees were on average at a later stage of tree senescence (P <0.001). None of the roost trees were found in the large forest reserves fringing the Brisbane metropolitan area despite these areas being used for foraging by the white-striped freetail bat. Although all tree locations in this study were in modified landscapes, roost trees tended to be surrounded by groups of trees and undergrowth. Roost trees provide important habitat requirements for hollow-using fauna in suburban, rural and forested environments.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-362452017-09-13T15:55:53Z Roost tree characteristics determine use by the white-striped freetail bat (Tadarida australis, Chiroptera: Molossidae) in suburban subtropical Brisbane, Australia Rhodes, M. Wardell-Johnson, Grant Chalinolobus-Tuberculatus Long-Eared Bat Corymbia-Calophylla Trees Jarrah Eucalyptus-Marginata Tadarida australis hollow usage urbanization Attributes Affecting Patterns Rain-forest Nest sites South eastern Australia roost tree Nyctophilus-Geoffroyi Australia We examined factors affecting roost tree selection by the white-striped freetail bat Tadarida australis (Chiroptera: Molossidae), a large insectivorous bat in suburban Brisbane, Australia. We compared biophysical characteristics associated with 34 roost trees and 170 control trees of similar diameter, height and tree senescence characters. Roost trees used by the white-striped freetail bat had significantly higher numbers of hollows in the trunk and branches (P<0.003) and were more likely to contain a large trunk cavity with an internal diameter of >30 cm (P<0.001) than control trees. These trees also accommodated more species of hollow-using fauna (P = 0.005). When comparing roost trees with control trees of similar diameters and heights, roost trees were on average at a later stage of tree senescence (P <0.001). None of the roost trees were found in the large forest reserves fringing the Brisbane metropolitan area despite these areas being used for foraging by the white-striped freetail bat. Although all tree locations in this study were in modified landscapes, roost trees tended to be surrounded by groups of trees and undergrowth. Roost trees provide important habitat requirements for hollow-using fauna in suburban, rural and forested environments. 2006 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/36245 10.1111/j.1442-9993.2006.01587.x Blackwell Publishing Asia restricted
spellingShingle Chalinolobus-Tuberculatus
Long-Eared Bat
Corymbia-Calophylla Trees
Jarrah Eucalyptus-Marginata
Tadarida australis
hollow usage
urbanization
Attributes Affecting Patterns
Rain-forest
Nest sites
South eastern Australia
roost tree
Nyctophilus-Geoffroyi
Australia
Rhodes, M.
Wardell-Johnson, Grant
Roost tree characteristics determine use by the white-striped freetail bat (Tadarida australis, Chiroptera: Molossidae) in suburban subtropical Brisbane, Australia
title Roost tree characteristics determine use by the white-striped freetail bat (Tadarida australis, Chiroptera: Molossidae) in suburban subtropical Brisbane, Australia
title_full Roost tree characteristics determine use by the white-striped freetail bat (Tadarida australis, Chiroptera: Molossidae) in suburban subtropical Brisbane, Australia
title_fullStr Roost tree characteristics determine use by the white-striped freetail bat (Tadarida australis, Chiroptera: Molossidae) in suburban subtropical Brisbane, Australia
title_full_unstemmed Roost tree characteristics determine use by the white-striped freetail bat (Tadarida australis, Chiroptera: Molossidae) in suburban subtropical Brisbane, Australia
title_short Roost tree characteristics determine use by the white-striped freetail bat (Tadarida australis, Chiroptera: Molossidae) in suburban subtropical Brisbane, Australia
title_sort roost tree characteristics determine use by the white-striped freetail bat (tadarida australis, chiroptera: molossidae) in suburban subtropical brisbane, australia
topic Chalinolobus-Tuberculatus
Long-Eared Bat
Corymbia-Calophylla Trees
Jarrah Eucalyptus-Marginata
Tadarida australis
hollow usage
urbanization
Attributes Affecting Patterns
Rain-forest
Nest sites
South eastern Australia
roost tree
Nyctophilus-Geoffroyi
Australia
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/36245