Vertical variation in flight activity of the lesser short-tailed bat in podocarp and beech forests, Central North Island, New Zealand

Scrimgeour, Jessica; Molles, Laura E.; Waas, Joseph R.

Vertical variation in flight activity of the lesser short-tailed bat in podocarp and beech forests, Central North Island, New Zealand

dc.contributor.author	Scrimgeour, Jessica
dc.contributor.author	Molles, Laura E.
dc.contributor.author	Waas, Joseph R.
dc.date.accessioned	2013-07-10T03:07:36Z
dc.date.available	2013-07-10T03:07:36Z
dc.date.issued	2013
dc.description.abstract	Designing robust monitoring programmes for cryptic species is particularly difficult. Not detecting a species does not necessarily mean that it is absent from the sampling area. A conclusion of absence made in error can lead to misguided inferences about distribution, colonisation and local extinction estimates, which in turn affects where and how conservation actions are undertaken. It is therefore important to investigate monitoring techniques that reduce the non-detection rate of cryptic species. As habitat complexity plays an important role in the activity of bats within a forest, it was hypothesised that the amount of vegetative ‘clutter’ present at different heights within two different forest types affected the flight activity of lesser short-tailed bats (Mystacina tuberculata). This could affect detection of the species within different forest structures. To compare bat activity at three heights – top (22.0–25.0 m), middle (10.0–12.0 m) and bottom (1.5–2.0 m) – within a podocarp and a beech forest we used automatic bat monitors during January to March 2005. The number of bat passes was recorded at each height at two study areas within each forest and compared between forest types. The forest structure was described using the Recce method and vegetative cover estimated within the three height tiers sampled for bat activity. Within both forest types, the middle-level bat detectors logged the greatest amount of activity. However, differences between the forest types were most pronounced closer to the ground, where a high amount of activity was detected within the beech forest, and very little within the podocarp forest. This suggests that flight activity of lesser short-tailed bats may be affected by the level of vegetative clutter found at different heights within a forest. When designing monitoring programmes for lesser short-tailed bats, it is recommended that consideration be given to the forest structure and how this may affect detection of bat activity.	en_NZ
dc.format.mimetype	application/pdf
dc.identifier.citation	Scrimgeour, J., Molles, L., Waas, J. R. (2013). Vertical variation in flight activity of the lesser short-tailed bat in podocarp and beech forests, Central North Island, New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Ecology, 37(2), published online 1 May 2013.	en_NZ
dc.identifier.uri	https://hdl.handle.net/10289/7766
dc.language.iso	en	en_NZ
dc.publisher	New Zealand Ecological Society	en_NZ
dc.relation.isPartOf	New Zealand Journal of Ecology	en_NZ
dc.relation.uri	http://www.newzealandecology.org.nz/nzje/new_issues/NZJEcol37_2_ScrimgeourIP.pdf	en_NZ
dc.rights	This article has been published in the journal: New Zealand Journal of Ecology. © 2013 New Zealand Ecological Society. Used with permission.	en_NZ
dc.subject	automatic bat monitors	en_NZ
dc.subject	bat activity	en_NZ
dc.subject	bat flight	en_NZ
dc.subject	clutter	en_NZ
dc.subject	forest structure	en_NZ
dc.subject	monitoring	en_NZ
dc.subject	Mystacina tuberculata	en_NZ
dc.subject	vertical stratification	en_NZ
dc.title	Vertical variation in flight activity of the lesser short-tailed bat in podocarp and beech forests, Central North Island, New Zealand	en_NZ
dc.type	Journal Article	en_NZ
pubs.begin-page	1	en_NZ
pubs.elements-id	38769
pubs.end-page	6	en_NZ
pubs.issue	2	en_NZ
pubs.volume	37	en_NZ