Aspects of the foraging and roosting ecology of the large-eared pied bat (Chalinolobus dwyeri) in the western Blue Mountains, with implications for conservation

Research on the large-eared pied bat (Chalinolobus dwyeri) reveals critical insights into its foraging and roosting behavior, which are essential for its conservation. The study found that females exhibit larger foraging ranges than males but show high fidelity to preferred areas, while males demonstrate less roost fidelity and tend to roost farther from their foraging grounds. Both sexes prefer west-facing cliff faces without large caverns, with a strong preference for habitats such as sharp grassland-forest borders in western valleys, moist drainage gullies, and mid-to-upper-canopy forest edges. These findings suggest that land management and conservation efforts should prioritize the preservation of these specific habitat features to support the bat's survival.

Williams, E. R., & Thomson, B. (2018). Aspects of the foraging and roosting ecology of the large-eared pied bat (Chalinolobus dwyeri) in the western Blue Mountains, with implications for conservation. Australian Mammalogy, 41(2), 212–219. https://doi.org/10.1071/am17064