Bat colony size reduction coincides with clear-fell harvest operations and high rates of roost loss in plantation forest

Kerry Borkin; Colin O’Donnell; Stuart Parsons

doi:10.1007/s10531-011-0144-7

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Bat colony size reduction coincides with clear-fell harvest operations and high rates of roost loss in plantation forest

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Bat colony size reduction coincides with clear-fell harvest operations and high rates of roost loss in plantation forest

Kerry Borkin, Colin O’Donnell and Stuart Parsons

Biodiversity and Conservation, Vol.20(14), pp.3537-3548

2011

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-011-0144-7

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Abstract

Evolutionary Biology

Chalinolobus tuberculatus

Clear-fell harvest

Colony

Life Sciences

Logging

Plant Sciences

Production forest

Roost loss

Tree Biology

Clear-fell harvest of forest concerns many wildlife biologists because of loss of vital resources such as roosts or nests, and effects on population viability. However, actual impact has not been quantified. Using New Zealand long-tailed bats (Chalinolobus tuberculatus) as a model species we investigated impacts of clear-fell logging on bats in plantation forest. C. tuberculatus roost within the oldest stands in plantation forest so it was likely roost availability would decrease as harvest operations occurred. We predicted that post-harvest: (1) roosting range sizes would be smaller, (2) fewer roosts would be used, and (3) colony size would be smaller. We captured and radiotracked C. tuberculatus to day-roosts in Kinleith Forest, an exotic plantation forest, over three southern hemisphere summers (Season 1 October 2006–March 2007; Season 2 November 2007–March 2008; and Season 3 November 2008–March 2009). Individual roosting ranges (100% MCPs) post harvest were smaller than those in areas that had not been harvested, and declined in area during the 3 years. Following harvest, bats used fewer roosts than those in areas that had not been harvested. Over 3 years 20.7% of known roosts were lost: 14.5% due to forestry operations and 6.2% due to natural tree fall. Median colony size was 4.0 bats (IQR = 2.0–8.0) and declined during the study, probably because of locally high levels of roost loss. Post harvest colonies were smaller than colonies in areas that had not been harvested. Together, these results suggest the impact of clear-fell harvest on long-tailed bat populations is negative.

Details

Title: Bat colony size reduction coincides with clear-fell harvest operations and high rates of roost loss in plantation forest
Authors: Kerry Borkin (Author) - University of Auckland
Colin O’Donnell (Author) - Department of Conservation (New Zealand, Christchurch) - DOC
Stuart Parsons (Author) - University of Auckland
Publication details: Biodiversity and Conservation, Vol.20(14), pp.3537-3548
Publisher: Springer Netherlands
DOI: 10.1007/s10531-011-0144-7
ISSN: 1572-9710
Organisation Unit: School of Science, Technology and Engineering; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99576108802621
Output Type: Journal article

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