The eastern horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus megaphyllus, in south-east Queensland, Australia: colony demography and dynamics, activity levels, seasonal weight changes, and capture-recapture analyses

In: Wildlife research, Band 28, Heft 4, S. 425

Abstract

During this study, 634 eastern hoseshoe bats,
Rhinolophus megaphyllus, were captured at three colonies
in south-east Queensland, with most data coming from two colonies (Anjuramba
mine and Ravensbourne cave). Colony size, sex ratios, age structure, and
colony function varied between colonies and with season.
Capture–recapture data of banded bats was used to monitor movement
patterns, seasonal weight changes, colony-size estimates at Anjuramba (JOLLY
model), and the recapture frequency according to sex and age. The JOLLY
estimator of the population size over-estimated the actual population at
Anjuramba on most occasions but paralleled changes in population size. Of the
319 bats banded, 21.9% were recaptured, with only one recovery
involving a movement between roosts. Adult males have a high roost-site
fidelity and are more sedentary than adult females. The recapture rate and
recapture frequency for adult males was significantly higher than for adult
females. R. megaphyllus is active throughout the year
but may enter torpor for short periods, with more females than males observed
in torpor. There was no significant association between torpor and season.
Longevity records of 7 years and 1 month were recorded for a sub-adult female
and 7 years and 7 months for a juvenile female.