Suchergebnisse

The endemic orange leaf-nosed bat,
Rhinonicteris aurantius, is a relict both in a
phylogenetic and a geographic sense. Prior to this study, two colonies in
disused mines and seven other records of single animals were known from the
disjunct Pilbara population of Western Australia. Cave roosts were located in
the region for the first time, five new roosts were found in disused mines and
the species was recorded in five new localities. Cave roosts were discovered
in sandstone bedding. Free-flying R. aurantius were
located in a diverse range of landscapes composed of banded iron formation,
Cleaverville Formation geology and granite. Mines utilised as roosts were
structurally complex and in some cases breached the watertable. This study
revealed that while the species is widespread throughout the region, it is
restricted to certain landform units, the number of suitable roosts within
landform units is limited and the population appears to be subdivided within
the region. Dispersal and connectivity within the population may be dependent
on the availability of roosts in intervening areas, which may be a function of
the availability of groundwater to subterranean formations for the control of
roost microclimate. Currently, the known breeding range is one gorge at Barlee
Range Nature Reserve and one mine at Bamboo Creek.