| Survey/Project Number: | 368 Total No. of Sites: 0 |
| Survey/Project Name: | Bat usage of forest blocks, fragments of wetland and pine forest habitat |
| Abstract: | Specific objectives of this research project include: - to survey the distribution and abundance of insectivorous bats using pine plantations, and the remnant native vegetation and isolated swampland within and adjacent to them; - to conduct insect sampling to investigate prey availability, diversity and abundance in pine plantations, adjacent remnant vegetation and swampland systems within the pine matrix; - to develop an echolocation call library from all bat species trapped for use in identifying free flying bats recorded by ultrasonic detection - to understand and determine the value or significance of pine plantations, adjacent remnant native vegetation and isolated swamplands in the pine matrix as habitat for insectivorous bats - to determine management strategies necessary to conserve and sustain bat communities within a fragmented landscape dominated by pine plantations in the south-east of SA Fieldwork will be conducted from 2004-2010, and primarily undertaken in three Forests (Matrix of Pine Plantations and Native Forest Reserves) in the south-east of South Australia including: 1) Mount Gambier Forest 2) Mount Burr / Glencoe Forest 3) Penola Forest |
| Start Date: | 28/09/2004 End Date: 28/09/2010 |
| Survey Type: | Fauna only |
| Study Area Description: | *** No study area description recorded |
| Objectives | |||
| Vegetation: | Data collection is underway, however format is unknown - need to contact Bronwyn Stratman from Deakin Uni 8738 8029 (or Mark Bachmann). It is likely that the data will be digital, and will be in a form that could be entered on to the Surevy Database. | ||
| Fauna: | To survey bat species present, harp traps will be erected along defined forest tracks, within plantations and remnant vegetation, and adjacent or within swampland sites. Bats will be collected twice nightly with all morphological data including weight, forearm length, sex, age and reproduction condition recorded. On release, Anabat detectors and cyalumes (light tags) will be used to obtain species specific reference calls, for use in identifying free flying bats recorded during nightly detection. Cyalume light tags (mini-sized fishing lights - weight 0.1gram) are attached to bats to enable echolocation reference calls to be obtained. These small capsules will be attached to the body fur of the bat using a thin, single layer of Skinbond surgical cement, with the bat released immediately at the point of capture. The procedure does not remove any fur from the bat, and has no known adverse affects. To gain an index of bat and species activity in pine plantations, remnant native vegetation and isolated swamplands Anabat detectors will be placed on forest tracks, within plantations and remnant native vegetation and adjacent to swampland. These will be positioned at a 60deg angle to maximise detection of high flying bats. All categories of sites will be sampled simultaneously for use in statistical analysis. Sampling forest categories will be replicated, with 8-10 sites surveyed within each category, depending on the variance between sites, for four consecutive nights. Analysis of calls obtained at all sites will be undertaken using AnaScheme software by determining echolocation call parameters from species-specific reference calls recorded from captured bats. Feeding buzzes recorded through Anabat detection will be used to gain an index of foraging activity at all sites. To determine the abundance and diversity of insect prey in pine plantations, remnant native vegetation and isolated swampland, light traps will be employed at all sites in conjunction with bat detectors | ||
| Methodology | |||
| Vegetation: | *** No vegetation methodology recorded | ||
| Fauna: | *** No vertebrate methodology recorded | ||
| Data Distribution Rules: | Public Dataset |
| Project Basis: | Fauna : Fauna species/population Study (ie trapping records over time period for species study). NOTE:NON Std Svy methodology may have been used. |
| Information Authority: | Department for Environment and Heritage (BDBSA:South East) - Mt Gambier Office - Regional Ecologist |