Roost selection in concrete culverts by the large-footed myotis (Myotis macropus) is limited by the availability of microhabitat

Article


Gorecki, Vanessa, Rhodes, Monika and Parsons, Stuart. 2020. "Roost selection in concrete culverts by the large-footed myotis (Myotis macropus) is limited by the availability of microhabitat." Australian Journal of Zoology. 67 (6), pp. 281-289. https://doi.org/10.1071/ZO20033
Article Title

Roost selection in concrete culverts by the large-footed myotis (Myotis macropus) is limited by the availability of microhabitat

ERA Journal ID2835
Article CategoryArticle
AuthorsGorecki, Vanessa, Rhodes, Monika and Parsons, Stuart
Journal TitleAustralian Journal of Zoology
Journal Citation67 (6), pp. 281-289
Number of Pages9
Year2020
PublisherCSIRO Publishing
Place of PublicationAustralia
ISSN0004-959X
1446-5698
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1071/ZO20033
Web Address (URL)https://www.publish.csiro.au/zo/ZO20033
Abstract

The large-footed myotis (Myotis macropus) is a specialist trawling bat with flexible roosting behaviour, being able to switch between caves, tree hollows and artificial roosts such as bridges, tunnels and culverts. However, little is known about how this species selects culvert roost sites in urban landscapes where hollows may be limited or absent. We surveyed 57 concrete culverts and found 21 M. macropus roosts comprising day and maternity roost sites; 305 bats were captured. Colony sizes averaged 20.6 ± 17.7 (range = 4–49) for maternity roosts and 2.0 ± 0.8 (range = 1–3) for day roosts. Roost culverts differed significantly from available culverts predominantly in terms of availability of microhabitat (lift holes and crevices). Roost culverts had lift holes that had greater cavity dimensions than available culverts and crevices were found only at roost culverts. Culverts containing microhabitat were a limited resource in this urban landscape and so increasing their availability may provide more urban roost sites for this specialist species.

KeywordsArtificial roosts; Bat; Colony; Urban
Contains Sensitive ContentDoes not contain sensitive content
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020310308. Terrestrial ecology
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Byline AffiliationsQueensland University of Technology
Goolwa, Australia
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