Roost site selection by southern forest bat Vespadelus regulus and Gould's long-eared bat Nyctophilus gouldi in logged jarrah forests; south-western Australia

Published source details Webala P.W., Craig M.D., Law B.S., Wayne A.F. & Bradley J.S. (2010) Roost site selection by southern forest bat Vespadelus regulus and Gould's long-eared bat Nyctophilus gouldi in logged jarrah forests; south-western Australia. Forest Ecology and Management, 260, 1780-1790.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Use shelterwood cutting instead of clearcutting Action Link

Use shelterwood cutting instead of clearcutting

A replicated, site comparison study in 2009 of 21 radio-tracked bats in jarrah Eucalyptus marginata forest in south-western Australia (Webala et al 2010) found that shelterwood harvested forests had more Gould’s long-eared bat Nyctophilus gouldi and southern forest bat Vespadelus regulus roosts than gap release forests. More Gould’s long-eared bat roosts were in remnant trees in shelterwood forests (10 roosts, 37%) than in gap release forests (one roost, 3%). The remainder of tracked Gould’s long-eared bats roosted in mature forest (eight roosts, 30%) and riparian buffers (eight roosts, 30%). Only one southern forest bat roost was found in shelterwoods, and none in gap release forests. Most southern forest bat roosts were in mature unlogged forest (15 roosts, 71%) and riparian buffers (five roosts, 24%). Shelterwood forest had retention levels of 40–60%. Gap release forest had 95% of the mature overstory removed. Riparian buffers and mature forest areas had been undisturbed for >30 years. Eleven Gould’s long-eared bats and 10 southern forest bats were caught with harp traps at two water holes and radio-tracked for 3–8 days in February–March 2009.

(Summarised by: Anna Berthinussen)