Dr. Beth Mott’s recent survey of Illawarra microbats has shed light on how these incredibly small animals are curbing flying fox populations, with some pretty amazing discoveries made. Through her field work, Dr. Mott was able to trap more than 350 bat-eating animals of 11 species. National parks scientists recently found a rare microbat, as small as a 20-cent piece, feeding around suburban housing estates. This discovery highlights the adaptability of these small mammals to the habitat destruction caused by urban development.
As the world’s smallest bats, microbats (which weigh no more than 40 grams) act as nature’s pest control and are essential for a balanced ecosystem. Yet these brilliant creatures are under existential threat from the destruction of their natural habitats. Dr. Mott’s best guess is that there are about 10,000 Southern Myotis now living in Australia. In her stunning images, Seldon highlights the need to protect these tiny winged wonders and the habitats they help flourish.
Habitat Loss and Its Impact on Microbats
Yet these microbats and many other plant and animal species that call the Illawarra Escarpment home are now at grave risk. Yet, nearly 80 percent of the original woodland has been developed, leaving just 20 percent remaining. This loss has a huge impact on the habitats that microbats need to survive.
“We’ve lost about 80 percent of the woodland and there’s about 20 percent of it left and it stretches from Corrimal all the way down to Bawley Point,” – Dr. Mott.
Dr. Mott safely captures and studies these bats with a harp trap. This fishing net-like device has multiple mono-filament fishing lines held taut over a rectangular frame, with a cotton collection bag easily removable. That’s why as an entomologist, Wiggins carries out her surveys after dark. Each time interval, usually two hours, she resets the traps to safely and efficiently take measurements and release the bats back into their home-range.
“We generally check the traps every two hours, all throughout the night, measure the bats and then let them go straight away so they can get back home,” – Dr. Mott.
Dr. Mott was startled by what she found.
“But to see them moving into the urban spaces is something really special,” – Dr. Mott.
The Importance of Microbats in Ecosystems
Our unwinged friends, microbats, are nature’s pest control agents and provide huge economic benefits to humans by keeping insect populations in check. They play a role in managing pests that can interfere with our enjoyment of the outdoors while contributing to more balanced ecosystems.
“They allow us to have a better time, like not getting eaten by mozzies when you’re out at the barbie,” – Dr. Mott.
Dr. Mott emphasizes that the ongoing protection and restoration of microbat landscapes is vital for their survival. She suggests a number of steps to make cities better places for these fluttering friends. For instance, she advises choosing trees with shedding bark that provide lots of roosting sites.
“Planting trees that have really flaky bark can be fantastic because that will allow lots of roosting bats to find a place to sleep,” – Dr. Mott.
Additionally, she lobbies for the revival of waterways and reducing light pollution to make the area friendlier to microbats.
“So making sure we restore water courses to make sure that they’re healthy and be careful that we use less impactful lights at night,” – Dr. Mott.
Future Directions for Microbat Conservation
Dr. Mott is excited to leverage her survey findings to advocate for better urban planning efforts. She just wants to make sure that the needs of microbats—and other wildlife—are considered. By raising awareness about the importance of these small mammals, she hopes to encourage more sustainable practices in urban development.
Dr. Mott is dedicated to her craft, sometimes working in cold and wet conditions during her nighttime surveys. For all these challenges, she is still full of enthusiasm for the experience of being able to help contribute to microbat conservation efforts.
“This woodland [the Illawarra Escarpment] is certainly not in the same footprint that it used to exist in,” – Dr. Mott.
