Factors affecting Grey‐headed Flying‐fox (Pteropus poliocephalus: Pteropodidae) foraging in the Melbourne metropolitan area, Australia

Abstract

Factors affecting the foraging of mobile native fauna in highly fragmented urban landscapes have seldom been quantified at large spatial scales. We investigated factors affecting foraging by Grey-headed Flyingfoxes ( Pteropus poliocephalus ; 'flying-foxes') in the greater Melbourne metropolitan area. Flying-foxes established a continuously occupied colony site in the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne in 1986, and the size of the colony has subsequently increased greatly. We used a stratified-random sampling design to examine the importance of six variables on the detection of foraging flying-foxes: (i) distance from the colony site (0-10, 10-20 and 20-30 km); (ii) distance from the Yarra River (0-5 and 5-20 km); (iii) the relative tree density of the municipality; (iv) whether the site was a park or street; (v) whether there was a relatively high or low density of trees at the site; and (vi) whether food was or was not detected at the site. We surveyed 240 sites within a 30-km radius of the colony site for foraging flying-foxes in both May and October 2002. The probability of detecting a foraging flying-fox declined with increasing distance from the colony site, but increased with increasing tree cover, and was higher for parks compared with streets and when food was present. Flying-foxes were observed foraging in a number of plant genera that have no species that naturally occur in the Melbourne area. Flying-foxes in Melbourne thus forage on planted resources that are widely distributed within a fragmented landscape, and are an example of a positive response by a native species to the process of urbanization.

Altered Ecologies: Fire, climate and human influence on terrestrial landscapes: Terra Australis 32

“…It is among the best known of the Australian flying foxes. Eby (1991), Parry-Jones and Augee (1991), Tidemann and Nelson (2004), McDonald-Madden et al (2005), Parris and Hazell (2005), and Williams et al (2006) documented aspects of P. poliocephalus ecology. Eby (1991) and Parry-Jones and Augee (2001) focused on movements between colony sites and feeding areas, while Tidemann and Nelson (2004) demonstrated long-distance movements between colonies.…”

Changing resource landscapes and spillover of henipaviruses

“…In addition, intensity of HeV excretion from P. alecto is associated with low rainfall levels in preceding months, which is known to negatively affect the flowering and nectar intensity of primary eucalypt diet plants . When preferred foods are unavailable, P. alecto and other pteropodids feed on alternative food sources, including native and exotic fruits that may have low nutritional or energetic value, poor digestibility, and harmful secondary metabolites . However, any inference from these studies relies on urine collected under bat colonies, which only measures shedding of virus.…”

“…Similarly, native floral resources for flying foxes may provide greater volumes and more concentrated nectar than introduced species, and native vegetation provides superior habitat for other pollinators . Research also demonstrates that food shortages force bats to utilize alternative and unusual food sources that may have low nutritional value . Use of exotic species outside their natural diet is often cited as evidence of diet preference or high nutritional value of those species (e.g., Refs.…”

Last Glacial Maximum habitat change and its effects on the grey-headed flying fox (Pteropus poliocephalus Temminck 1825)

“…It is among the best known of the Australian flying foxes. , Parry-Jones and Augee (1991, 1992, 2001), Tidemann and Nelson (2004), McDonald-Madden et al (2005), Parris and Hazell (2005), and Williams et al (2006) documented aspects of P. poliocephalus ecology. and Parry-Jones and Augee (2001) focused on movements between colony sites and feeding areas, while Tidemann and Nelson (2004) demonstrated long-distance movements between colonies.…”