The introduction to this special issue of the Journal on Bat Research in Australasia (Part 2) provides an overview of the papers in the issue.

The permanent exclusion of flying-foxes from camps (camp dispersal) near human settlements is a management tool commonly used to mitigate human–wildlife conflict. Our aim was to review the costs and outcomes of 48 camp dispersals in Australia and improve the information base on which camp management decisions are made. We conclude that camp dispersal is a high-risk, high-cost tool for mitigating human–wildlife conflict, in situ management strategies and tools should be developed, and evidence-based information on management options should be made available to stakeholders via a nationally curated resource library.
Photo by Matthew Mo.

The variation in fur properties of flying-foxes can help us understand why there are differences in survival rates among different species, sexes, and ages during extreme heat events. We found that there were distinct differences in the length, depth, and solar reflectance of fur among different species and demographics, which can cause differences in the experienced heat load. Thus, understanding exactly how interactions between fur properties affect heat transfer can help us explain the higher mortality of some species and demographics.
Photo by Himali Ratnayake.

Bats that roost in tree hollows are dependent on sufficient hollows being available to support their behavioural pattern of shifting roost site regularly. Two common and widespread species, the lesser long-eared bat and Gould’s wattled bat, showed complex patterns of roost use that varied between and within species. To support populations of bats in rural landscapes of south-eastern Australia, relatively large numbers of hollow-bearing trees in close proximity are required, incorporating a range of hollow types, particularly those preferred for breeding.
Photo by Lindy Lumsden.

Mature forest availability and spatial arrangement shape how bats use the landscape. Radio-tracking different species during the maternity season revealed the importance of retaining mature forest at multiple spatial scales. These findings provide insight into the type, amount and spatial arrangement of mature forest used by different bat species in a timber production landscape. By understanding the effectiveness of forest retention measures, on-ground forest management can be improved in the future.
Photo by Lisa Cawthen.

Derelict mines can provide habitat for cave-roosting bats but are often grated to prevent human access, with little known about the long-term responses of bats. We assessed the long-term effects of grating on bats and found that although there was rapid habituation to grated mines, altered flight behaviour was present decades after grating and there was little use of these sites by threatened species. This suggests that alternative management of derelict mines is required to conserve threatened bat roosting habitat.
Photo by Leroy Gonsalves.

Seasonal population changes of Miniopterus orianae oceanensis at one of the three large New South Wales maternity colonies (Church Cave) were studied from December to March every year for 12 years when adult females were resident at a maternity site. Five key periods were identified: (1) adult arrival, (2) adult peak, (3) juvenile independence, (4) adult-juvenile peak, and (5) autumn migration. The average duration of the adult peak period was 38 days. All other periods lasted ~14 days.
Photo by Alex Pike (DPIE).

The bare-rumped sheath-tailed bat is listed as a threatened species under Australian national environmental legislation. However, it has been difficult to identify from echolocation calls, and surveys are still helping to define its distribution in Australia’s remote north. Based on an intensive field survey and acoustic analysis of reference echolocation calls, we present a summary of characters and criteria that can assist with detection and subsequent identification.
Photo by Mikey Kudo.

In the Murray–Darling Basin, knowledge gaps exist on populations of insectivorous bat species. We implemented the most intensive insectivorous bat survey ever undertaken of the South Australian part of the system with the help of citizen scientists, and doubled the number of bat species records within just two years. The records are available through the Atlas of Living Australia, are informing government policy, and prompted management actions benefiting bats on private lands.
Photo by Terry Reardon and Steve Bourne.