Premium
Structure and environmental relationships of insectivorous bat assemblages in tropical Australian savannas
Author(s) -
MILNE D. J.,
ARMSTRONG M.,
FISHER A.,
FLORES T.,
PAVEY C. R.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
austral ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.688
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1442-9993
pISSN - 1442-9985
DOI - 10.1111/j.1442-9993.2005.01535.x
Subject(s) - ecology , woodland , geography , habitat , insectivore , riparian zone , range (aeronautics) , vegetation (pathology) , biology , medicine , materials science , pathology , composite material
Patterns in the composition of assemblages of microbat species sampled during the late dry season (the ‘build‐up’) in north Australian savannas were assessed against a range of environmental factors as well as four a priori defined habitat types (riparian, escarpments, coastal and woodlands). Distinct species assemblages were most strongly associated with topographic and climatic variables. There were also limited associations with vegetation structure, fire and local roost potential but no associations with insects or water availability. Total species diversity at sample sites was associated with distance to rivers and rainfall. In general, species assemblages were not clearly defined and the number of significant environmental associations was relatively few. We compare these associations with those reported for bat assemblages elsewhere in Australia.