Evidence of homing following translocation of long‐tailed bats (Chalinolobus tuberculatus) at Grand Canyon Cave, New Zealand

Abstract

Homing behaviour in the New Zealand long-tailed bat (Chalinolobus tuberculatus), a temperate insectivorous species, was investigated at Grand Canyon Cave, central North Island. A pilot study of nine adult male bats was conducted to determine whether use of the cave was regular enough for a homing study. Eight bats returned to the cave over the 3-week monitoring period, six on the night following release. Nine additional bats carrying radio transmitters were then released at three sites (three at each site) c. 5, 10 and 20 km due east of the cave; sites estimated to be located within, on the border of, and outside the population's known familiar area respectively. All but one of these nine bats were subsequently detected at the cave. Results suggest that adult long-tailed bats are able to return home following displacement both inside and outside their familiar area. Implications of these findings for translocations of bats and the possession of a potential long-distance navigation system by this species are discussed.

Assessment of the short-term success of a translocation of lesser short-tailed bats Mystacina tuberculata

“…data) or died soon after release. Results also contrast with other translocations and displacement homing experiments, where bats dispersed from their release sites (Davis 1966, Gunier & Elder 1971, Guilbert et al 2007. It is uncertain which of the release techniques (juvenile release, prerelease captivity and post-release supplementary resource provision) resulted in the different outcome, since they have been shown to independently contribute to decreased dispersal or increased survival elsewhere (e.g.…”

“…data), although they may have died soon after release. Similarly, experiments testing the navigational ability of a number of bat species by translocating them outside their home ranges have shown that they frequently return to their source populations (Davis 1966, Gunier & Elder 1971, Guilbert et al 2007.…”

Social implications of a colony collapse in a highly structured vertebrate species (long‐tailed bat, Chalinolobus tuberculatus)

“…data, cited in Ruffell et al ., ). Bats, including long‐tailed bats, have the ability to home over long distances, decreasing the chance of founders establishing at a release site (Guilbert et al ., ). Furthermore, specific roosting requirements and probability of disease transmission may hinder establishment of bat populations following translocation relative to other taxa (Sedgeley & O'Donnell, ; Ruffell et al ., ).…”

Biomimetic detection of dynamic signatures in foliage echoes

“…For small distances, less than 8 mile, research has suggested that auditory cues (echolocation) are the primary mechanism for homing in bats [20]. Another recent study has shown that long-tailed bats (Chalinolobus tuberculatus) were successfully able to home to their cave after being released at distances from 5 km up to 20 km [21]. Bats have also been suggested to be capable of creating spatial maps in their memory of areas that are larger than their limited operating range of individual echolocation calls [22].…”