Microchiropteran fauna of Kroombit Tops, central Queensland, including a discussion on survey techniques

Abstract

A survey of the microchiropteran fauna of Kroombi Tops, central Queensland identified a total of twenty species. This Survey recorded nine additional species to previous surveys due to a greater survey effort, sampling in remote areas away from access roads and employing an additional survey technique, roost location. Three techniques were used: happing using harp trap and tripline methods: ultrasonic detection using hand-held, driving transect and remote sensing techniques; and roost location. No single survey technique recorded all 20 species of bats. A number of significant findings were made, including a southerly range extension of Semon's Leaf-nosed Bat Hippposideros semoni and a record of the Golden-tipped Bat Kerivoula papuensis in riparian vegetation in dry forest. A discussion on the value of employing a variety of techniques in a microchiropteran survey is presented.