The Action Plan for Australian Bats
Environment Australia, 1999
ISBN 0 642 2546 363
Recovery outlines and taxon summaries (continued)
Taxon summary: Little Pied Bat
Family: Vespertilionidae
Scientific Name: Chalinolobus picatus (Gould, 1852)
Common Name: Little Pied Bat
Conservation status: Lower Risk (near threatened)
Past range and abundance
No historical data on abundance is available.
Present range and abundance
Coastal and south-eastern Queensland from the Greenvale region (north of Ingham) to the Maryborough–Childers–Miriam Vale area, extending across south-western Queensland, western New South Wales and far north-eastern South Australia. Despite a commonly held view that the species has an inland distribution, there are a number of records from south-eastern Queensland within 50 km of the coast (Cordalba State Forest and Eurimbula National Park), and a recent record from a sea cave north of Townsville.
No evidence exists that the range has contracted. This species was originally thought to be an obligate cave-dwelling species and therefore rare due to the scattered and infrequent occurrence of suitable roosting and maternity sites across its range. However, colonies are now known from tree hollows and disused buildings (particularly those with open timber frames). Surveys have indicated that in arid and semi-arid environments the species may be locally common near permanent or semi-permanent water.
Habitat
Occurs most frequently in dry, open woodland communities throughout its range but has also been recorded in dry sclerophyll forests and Araucarian notophyll vine forests in south-east Queensland. Dry sclerophyll forests inhabited in south-east and central coastal Queensland include types dominated by Corymbia citriodora, Eucalyptus moluccana, E. tereticornis and ironbark species. In the central and western Darling Downs area of Queensland it has been predominantly recorded from Callitris/Allocasuarina dominated forests with scattered eucalypt emergents such as E. dealbata and E. fibrosa. In the more arid parts of its range in Queensland, New South Wales and South Australia it has been recorded from mulga (Acacia aneura) woodlands, from patches of Eucalyptus largiflorens woodlands (New South Wales) and riverine E. camaldulensis dominated communities.
Current threats
In south-east Queensland there is only one documented record from a National Park and this species has predominantly been recorded from timber production forests within State forest lands. It is therefore likely that the continuing loss of hollow-bearing trees in production forests will impact on the species, particularly in heavily utilized forests such as those in the Maryborough region, where relatively few hollow-bearing trees are present. The possible development of a woodchip industry in south-east Queensland may increase the likely impact of forestry practices on the species. In other areas of Queensland such as in the Childers area, clearing due to expansion of sugar cane plantations is a current threat. All Queensland State forest localities are also subject to various levels of grazing pressure from leaseholders and frequent fire regimes, which may impact on the species.
Across the rest of its range the species may be under threat from large scale clearing of native vegetation for grazing or agriculture. Loss of mature roost trees in inland areas, particularly in riverine environments, and removal of old buildings or damage to them, may result in loss of roost sites in some areas.
Recommended actions
- Further survey work is required to establish the true conservation status of the species, particularly in inland areas and in production forests of south-east and central Queensland and north-western New South Wales.
- Critical habitat requirements require further intensive study in order to formulate appropriate conservation management regimes. This is required particularly in relation to hollow requirements for roosting and nursery purposes in production forest areas (south-east and central Queensland and possibly north-western New South Wales).
- Protection and maintenance of known roosts.
Bibliography
Aitken, P. 1975. Two new bat records from South Australia with a field key and checklist to the bats of the state. South Australian Naturalist 50, 9–15.
Ayers D., Nash S. and Baggett K. 1966. Threatened Species of Western N.S.W. NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Hurstville.
Dickman C.R., Pressey R.L., Lim L. and Parnaby H.E. 1993. Mammals of particular conservation concern in the Western Division of N.S.W. Biological Conservation 65, 219–248.
Ellis M. and Henle K. 1988. The mammals of Kinchega National Park, western N.S.W. Australian Zoologist 25, 1–5.
Prevett P. 1996. Anabat ultrasonic sound detection and traditional methods of microbat survey in the Scotia County of far western N.S.W. Australian Mammal Society Newsletter. November 1996.
Richards G. 1979. New information on the little pied bat Chalinolobus picatus. Australian Bat Research News 14, 7–8.
Richards G.C. 1983. Little Pied Bat Chalinolobus picatus. P. 342 in R. Strahan (Ed.) The Mammals of Australia. Reed Books, Chatswood, NSW.
Richards G.C. 1995. Little Pied Bat Chalinolobus picatus. pp. 517–518 in R. Strahan (Ed.) The Mammals of Australia. Reed Books, Chatswood, NSW.
Schulz M., de Oliveira M.C. and Eyre T. 1994. Notes on the Little Pied Bat Chalinolobus picatus in central Queensland. Queensland Naturalist 33, 35–38.
Schulz M., Hannah D., Eyre T. and Hogan L. 1998. Significant bat results from Comprehensive Regional Assessment fauna surveys in south-eastern Queensland biogeographic region. 8th Australasian Bat Conference Abstracts, Australasian Bat Society, Rockhampton.
Schulz M. and Hannah D. In prep. The Little Pied Bat Chalinolobus picatus and the Large-eared Pied Bat C. dwyeri in south-eastern Queensland.
Tidemann C.R. 1988. A survey of the mammal fauna of the Willandra Lakes World Heritage region, New South Wales. Australian Zoologist 24, 197–204.
Van Deusen H.M. and Koopman K.F. 1971. Results of the Archbold Expeditions. No. 95. The genus Chalinolobus (Chiroptera, Vespertilionidae). Taxonomic reviews of Chalinolobus picatus, C. nigrogriseus and C. rogersi. American Museum Novitates 2468, 1–30.
Young R.A., Ford G.I., McConnell P. and Mathieson M. 1996. A review of information of the Little Pied Bat Chalinolobus picatus. 7th Australasian Bat Conference Abstracts. Australasian Bat Society, Naracoorte SA.
Authors for the species
Bruce Thomson
Martin Schulz
Chris Clague
Murray Ellis
Allan Young