Temperature and Humidity for Bats monitoring – Current Status

Monitoring Flying Fox Habitat   Sensors have been installed at locations across Geelong’s Eastern Gardens to monitor the habitat and behaviour of the grey-headed flying fox. The sensors have been placed in five radiata pine trees to record temperature and humidity patterns across the gardens and between preferred roosting sites.   There is a significant population of grey-headed flying foxes in the gardens, yet total population numbers are rapidly declining, making this important native pollinator a vulnerable species. Loss of habitat and heat-stress are two factors attributed to this decline. Understanding how climate change is impacting their behaviour and roosting patterns over time will help to inform protection measures across the country.

灰头狐蝠栖息地监测
研究人员已在吉朗东部花园（Geelong’s Eastern Gardens）的多处点位部署传感器，以监测灰头狐蝠（grey-headed flying fox）的栖息地与行为模式。本次部署的传感器均设置于5棵辐射松（radiata pine）内，用于记录该园区内以及狐蝠偏好栖息位点之间的温度与湿度变化规律。
该园区内现存有规模可观的灰头狐蝠种群，但种群总数量正快速下降，使得这种本土重要传粉哺乳动物成为易危物种。栖息地丧失与热应激是导致该种群数量下滑的两大诱因。长期厘清气候变化如何影响其行为与栖息模式，将为全国范围内的狐蝠保护措施制定提供科学依据。