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Publications on Bats (1990-1996)


Sinclair, E.A., Webb, N.J., Marchant, A.D. and Tidemann, C.R. (1996). Genetic variation in the Little Red Flying-fox, Pteropus scapulatus (Chiroptera: Pteropodidae): implications for management. Biological Conservation 76: 45-50.

Tidemann, C.R., Kitchener, D.J., Zann, R.A. and Thornton, I.W.B. (1990). Recolonisation of the Krakatau Islands and adjacent areas of West Java, Indonesia, by bats (Chiroptera) 1883-1986. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London Series B 328: 123-130.

Tidemann, C.R. (1993). Reproduction in the bats Vespadelus vulturnus, V. regulus and V. darlingtoni (Microchiroptera: Vespertilionidae) in coastal south-eastern Australia. Australian Journal of Zoology 41: 21-35.

Tidemann, C.R. (1993). The contentious flying-fox. Australian Natural History 24: 36-45.

Tidemann, C.R. and Loughland, R.A. (1993). A harp trap for large megachiropterans. Wildlife Research 20: 607-611.

Tidemann, C.R. (1994). Meat markets and chastity belts. Australian Natural History 26: 66-67.

Vardon, M.J. and Tidemann, C.R. (1995). Harvesting of Flying-foxes (Pteropus spp.) in Australia: Could it promote the conservation of endangered Pacific Island species? In: Conservation Through Sustainable Use of Wildlife. Grigg, G.C., Hale T. and Lunney, D. (eds), Centre for Conservation Biology, University of Queensland.

Volleth, M. and Tidemann, C.R. (1991). The origin of the Australian Vespertilioninae bats, as indicated by chromosomal studies. Zeitschrift fur Saugetierkunde 56: 321-330.

Webb, N.J. and Tidemann, C.R. (1995). Hybridisation between black (Pteropus alecto) and grey-headed (P. poliocephalus) flying-foxes (Megachiroptera: Pteropodidae). Australian Mammalogy 18: 19-26.

Webb, N.J. and Tidemann, C.R. (1996). Mobility of Australian flying-foxes, Pteropus spp. (Megachiroptera): evidence from genetic variation. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series B. 263: 497-502.

 

 

Recolonization of the Krakatau Islands and adjacent areas of West Java, Indonesia, by bats (Chiroptera) 1883-1986 *
By C.R. Tidemann, D.J. Kitchener, R.A. Zann and I.W.B. Thornton
 
Abstract
 

Since the cataclysmic eruption of 1883, 25 species of bats, of which 11 are pteropodids, have recolonized the Krakatau Islands and adjacent areas of West Java, Indonesia. Sixteen have been recorded on the Krakatau Islands.

Documentation of the recolonization process has been sporadic, and almost certainly incomplete, but it is apparent that pteropodids have been the first bat colonists of the Krakatau archipelago. On the main island of Rakata, and on the more recently formed island of Anak Krakatau, Cynopterus sphinx had established itself about 20-30 years after the cessation of major eruptive activity. Movements of pteropodids between the islands and the mainland are of clear importance in the reestablishment of vegetation.

Microchiropterans have been recent arrivals, probably recolonizing Rakata between 50-70 years after the 1883 eruption, but they were still absent from Anak in 1986.

* Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London Series B (1990) 328: 123-130.

 

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The origin of Australian Vespertilioninae bats, as indicated by chromosomal studies *
 
By Marianne Volleth and C.R. Tidemann
 
Abstract
 

Two species of Australian vespertilionids were karyologically studied, Falsistrellus tasmaniensis and Scotorepens balstoni. The Falsistrellus karyotype is composed of 44 chromosomes and, apart from some minor differences, is identical with those of other Australian Vespertilioninae described previously, Scotorepens balstoni displays a unique karyotype consisting of 30 chromosomes.

All Australian Vespertilioninae examined so far share an altered chromosome 11, which when compared with several vespertilionid genera has been shown to represent the derived state and to be a synapomorphic feature of the tribe Vespertilionini. Therefore, the genera Nyctophilus, Chalinolobus, Falsistrellus, Scotorepens and the Pipistrellus subgenus Vespadelus, which are restricted to Australia and New Guinea, belong to the Vespertilionini tribe. Because true members of the genus Pipistrellus do not belong to this tribe, the elevation of the subgenus Vespadelus to the generic level is proposed. The close phylogenetic relationships of the morphologically rather distinct genera, together with their limited distribution, point to a common origin of all Australian Vespertilioninae, followed by adaptive radiation.

* Zeitschrift fur Saugetierkunde (1991) 56: 321-330.

 

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Reproduction in the Bats Vespadelus vulturnus, V. regulus and V. darlingtoni (Microchiroptera: Vespertilionidae) in Coastal South-eastern Australia *
 
C.R. Tidemann
 
Abstract
 

The sequence of reproductive and associated events that occurs in Vespadelus vulturnus is similar to those that are common to hibernating vespertilionids and rhinolophids. Females become sexually mature in their first year, whereas males do not undergo their first spermatogenesis until their second year. Both sexes accumulate fat deposits in late summer and autumn, but females begin to do this earlier and accumulate more than males. These deposits are gradually depleted over the course of winter.

In autumn females produce a follicle of hibernation, the rupture of which is delayed until spring, when the resultant secondary oocyte is fertilised by sperm stored in the female reproductive tract. Females are monoestrous. Both ovaries are functional, although implantation occurs only in the right uterine horn.

Males also undergo an annual cycle. Plasma androgen concentration and seminiferous tubule diameter reach a pack in late summer, with subsequent release of spermatozoa, but the accessory sex glands do not reach maximum size until late autumn. Sperm are present in the epididymides of males more than one year of age for the duration of winter.

Male V. vulturnus arouse from torpor during winter more frequently than females. It is hypothesised that they do this in order to copulate, even though females store sperm and a copulatory plug forms in the vagina after insemination. The behaviour of the males can be explained by three factors: (1) some first-year females are not in oestrus at the beginning of winter, (2) some females with sperm stores depleted or absent are caught flying during winter and (3) in some females copulatory plugs are voided long before fertilisation occurs, thereby removing the barrier to subsequent insemination.

Vespadelus regulus and V. darlingtoni appear to have a reproductive cycle similar to that of V. vulturnus.

* Australian Journal of Zoology (1993) 41: 21-35.

 

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A harp trap for large megachiropterans *
 
C.R. Tidemann and R.A. Loughland
 
Abstract

 

A harp trap for capturing large megachiropterans is described. The trap is portable and can be transported on a vehicle roof rack. It can be set up in 3 hours by three people and dismantled in half that time. Three species have been captured, Pteropus poliocephalus (n = 2327), P. alecto (n = 1509) and P. scapulatus (n = 780), with virtually no injuries.

* Wildlife Research (1993) 20: 607-611.

 

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Harvesting of flying-foxes (Pteropus spp.) in Australia:
Could it promote the conservation of endangered Pacific island species *
 
Michael J. Vardon and Christopher R. Tidemann
 
Abstract
 

Flying-foxes are widespread in the Old World and have substantial ecological and economic importance. Habitat destruction, over-harvesting and other factors have led to the extinction or significant depletion of some species, particularly on islands. The control of trade in flying-foxes by the listing of Pteropus species on the Appendices to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) has had limited success. This is particularly evident in the Pacific, where most endangered species reside and where the demand for flying-foxes is greatest. Some Pteropus species remain abundant. This paper argues that a sustainable harvest program of two common Australian species (P. alecto and P. scapulatus) could reduce hunting pressure on flying-foxes in the Pacific islands and arrest the decline of flying-foxes there. A program set up to monitor the impact of such harvests would also allow the gathering of population data needed to refine the management of Australian flying-foxes, more than a hundred thousand of which are shot annually as orchard pests.

* Conservation Through Sustainable Use of Wildlife. Grigg, G.C., Hale, P.T. and Lunney, D. (eds), (1995). Centre for Conservation Biology, University of Queensland.

 

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Hybridisation between Black (Pteropus alecto) and Grey-headed (P. poliocephalus) flying-foxes (Megachiroptera: Pteropodidae) *
 
N.J. Webb and C.R. Tidemann
 
Abstract
 

The range of the black flying-fox (Pteropus alecto) in Australia overlaps with two morphologically very similar congenerics: the grey-headed flying-fox (P. poliocephalus) and the spectacled flying-fox (P. conspicillatus). Protein electrophoresis was used to examine cases of apparent hybridisation between P. alecto and these other species. Two loci with fixed allelic differences were identified between P. alecto and P. poliocephalus and were used to confirm three cases of interspecific hybridisation, one of which probably occurred in the wild, and one of backcrossing. Hybrid individuals possessed external characteristics that were intermediate between the parental species. Pteropus alecto and P. conspicillatus showed very little genetic differentiation and only one out of 23 scorable loci showed a fixed allelic difference. A reported interspecific hybrid, and two other flying-foxes, considered to be possible P. alecto/P. conspicillatus hybrids, failed to show the expected heterozygous condition at this locus. Further diagnostic loci need to be sought before a definite conclusion can be made concerning the hybrid status of these individuals.. The very close morphological similarity of P. alecto and P. conspicillatus, combined with their genetic similarity, suggests that more discriminating DNA based techniques would be necessary to fully describe the relationships between these closely related species.

* Australian Mammalogy (1995) 18: 19-26.

 

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Genetic variation in the Little Red Flying-fox, Pteropus scapulatus (Chiroptera: Pteropodidae): implications for management *
 
E.A. Sinclair, N.J. Webb, A.D. Marchant and C.R. Tidemann
 
Abstract

The little red flying-fox Pteropus scapulatus has a range exceeding 3.5 million km2 during its seasonal migration in Australia. Management of this species has been problematical because the range spans five states and Territories, each with its own system of managing wildlife. The results of an investigation of population structure by genetic analysis are presented.

Allozyme electrophoresis and Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analyses were used to determine genetic variation within and among six populations from widely separated locations on the continent. Both allozyme and DNA techniques demonstrated very little genetic structuring among the subpopulation samples. Analysis of molecular variance on the RAPD data showed only 5% of variance among populations, although this difference was shown to be significant. A value of 0.028 for Wright’s FST (a measure of the among-population component of variance in allele frequencies) suggested a similarly low degree of differentiation among subpopulations. The levels of gene flow detected by these genetic analyses indicate that P. scapulatus is effectively panmictic.

* Biological Conservation (1996) 76: 45-50.

 

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Mobility of Australian flying-foxes, Pteropus spp. (Megachiroptera): evidence from genetic variation *
 
N.J. Webb and C.R.. Tidemann
 
Abstract
 

Black (Pteropus alecto) and grey-headed (Pteropus poliocephalus) flying-foxes inhabit large ranges in coastal north and eastern Australia. P. poliocephalus is endemic to the region and is classified as vulnerable. The bats are known to migrate in response to flowering and fruiting of their food plants, but direct observation of movement patterns is difficult. Protein electrophoresis was used to investigate genetic subdivision among populations. High gene flow was inferred for both species with an estimated exchange of 15(P. alecto) and 28 (P. poliocephalus) individuals between populations per generation. Wright’s FST, an index of among population genetic variation, was low, 0.023 (P. alecto), 0.014 (P. poliocephalus), reflecting the homogenising action of movements across the species’ ranges. An FST value of 0.028 has been reported for a third Australian species, the little red flying-fox, P. scapulatus. The FST values for Australian flying-foxes are closer to those found for birds than the typically higher values for mammals and we conclude that these flying-foxes are essentially panmictic and for management purposes should be treated as migratory species.

* Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series B. (1996) 263: 497-502.

 

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