학술논문
Estimating flying-fox mortality associated with abandonments of pups and extreme heat events during the austral summer of 2019–20
Document Type
Article
Author
Mo, Matthew; Roache, Mike; Davies, Janine; Hopper, Judith; Pitty, Hugh; Foster, Natalie; Guy, Sandra; Parry-Jones, Kerryn; Francis, Geoff; Koosmen, Audrey; Colefax, Leah; Costello, Chelsea; Stokes, Josie; Curran, Sarah; Smith, Michael; Daly, Garry; Simmons, Carla-Maree; Hansen, Rhonda; Prophet, Desley; Judge, Sara; Major, Fiona; Hogarth, Tamsyn; McGarry, Carole-Ann; Pope, Lawrence; Brend, Stephen; Coxon, Drew; Baker, Kimberly; Kaye, Kylie; Collins, Linda; Wallis, Michelle; Brown, Rachel; Roberts, Lisa; Taylor, Susan; Pearson, Tim; Bishop, Tania; Dunne, Pauline; Coutts-McClelland, Kylie; Oliver, Lorraine; Dawe, Chris; Welbergen, Justin A.
Source
Pacific Conservation Biology; 2021, Vol. 28 Issue: 2 p124-139, 16p
Subject
Language
ISSN
10382097; 22044604
Abstract
Mass mortalities in flying-foxes occur in summers that reach extremely hot temperatures. In this study, we examine the spatiotemporal distributions of mortality from pup abandonments and extreme heat events in Australian flying-fox camps during the 2019–20 summer. We recorded data on flying-fox mortality in known affected camps and applied a standard method to estimate the number of deaths. Pup mortalities from abandonments were recorded in 10 camps in New South Wales. A minimum estimate of 2612 flying-foxes died in pup abandonments, the majority of which occurred in one camp in Bomaderry. Die-offs from extreme heat events were recorded in 40 camps associated with eight separate heat events in south-eastern Australia. A minimum estimate of 72175 flying-foxes died during these heat events, which all occurred within the range of the threatened grey-headed flying-fox (Pteropus poliocephalus ). Further, 409 and 2251 live flying-foxes were taken into care from pup abandonments and heat events respectively. The minimum mortality estimated represents the highest recorded mortality of Australian flying-foxes within a single summer. This highlights a need to restore vegetation in flying-fox foraging areas and camps, address anthropogenic climate change and gather more empirical data to inform heat stress interventions to minimise flying-fox mortalities.