The golden tip for better breeding: evidence for polyoestry in the golden-tipped bat (Phoniscus papuensis)
George Madani A * , Chris Turbill
B and Brad Law C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A PO Box 3113, Hill Top, Sydney, NSW 2575, Australia.
B Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Ringgold Standard Institution, Western Sydney University, Richmond, NSW 2753, Australia.
C Forest Science Unit, NSW Primary Industries, Parramatta, NSW 2124, Australia.
Australian Mammalogy 45(3) 369-374 https://doi.org/10.1071/AM22032
Submitted: 2 November 2022 Accepted: 26 January 2023 Published: 13 February 2023
© 2023 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing on behalf of the Australian Mammal Society.
Abstract
As a worldwide taxon inhabiting a diverse range of habitats and environmental conditions, bats also demonstrate some of the greatest variation in reproductive strategies of any mammalian order. Whilst monoestry is the predominant mating pattern of bats within the temperate zone, polyoestry and variants of this mode are more prevalent at tropical latitudes. As a tropical species occurring in a temperate climate in the southern extent of its range, the reproductive phenology of the golden-tipped bat (Phoniscus papuensis) is poorly understood. Here we present the first evidence of polyoestry in this species, an uncommon reproductive trait in Australian bats. The influence of weather and increase in prey density (orb-weaving spiders) are suggested as potential drivers for what appears to be a positive facultative breeding response to a pulse of resources. This observation demonstrates that there is still much to learn about the basic natural history and reproductive strategies of Australian bats.
Keywords: Kerivoulinae, mating system, microchiroptera, rainforest, reproduction, reproductive strategy, tropical, Vespertilionidae.
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