The most critical conservation problems facing the Christmas Island Pipistrelle are from unidentified threatening process(es) resulting in decline and range contraction, and from habitat loss. Actions taken to remedy these problems are likely to have positive benefits on a range of endemic rainforest fauna and flora species. Some of the actions outlined in this Plan are identified in the Christmas Island National Park Plan of Management (Commonwealth of Australia 2002), the strategic nature conservation document for the island, as broader actions necessary for the maintenance of fauna biodiversity on the island. Similarly, in this Plan some of the actions recommended correspond with those identified in other recovery (e.g. Abbott’s Booby and Christmas Island Hawk-Owl) and action plans (e.g. Garnett & Crowley 2000). Consequently, opportunities exist for sharing resources and a co-ordinated strategy to implement Recovery Plans for all threatened Christmas Island fauna requires investigation.
Action 8 is supporting the ongoing management for the control of the Yellow Crazy Ant supercolonies as outlined in draft Yellow Crazy Ant Action Plan and the Christmas Island National Park Management Plan. Therefore, this action requires no additional funding from the Christmas Island Pipistrelle Recovery Plan. However, it is essential that adequate funding be provided for this work from other sources, with the current Plan used to assist in the procurement of the necessary funding.
A number of Actions are ongoing (e.g. Action 10) and may be considered as core duties of Parks Australia North.
The majority of funding outlined in the Duration and Costs section is aimed at identifying the threatening processes resulting in the decline and range contraction of the Christmas Island Pipistrelle. Research into this bat and reasons for its decline and westward range contraction have been identified as of high priority in the Christmas Island National Park Management Plan (Commonwealth of Australia 2002). This research, particularly that proposed for the Common Wolf Snake, may also identify threatening processes that are responsible for the decline and range contraction of the Blue-tailed Skink Cryptoblepharus egeriae, Forest Skink Emoia nativitatis and Christmas Island Gecko Lepidactylus listeri.
A large number of actions identified in this Recovery Plan are aimed at identifying currently unknown threatening processes. Many of these actions can be investigated simultaneously in the same field sampling periods, thereby representing a considerable saving in costs. Actions that can be conducted concurrently are denoted by the symbols A, B and C in the Duration and Costs Section. These funding estimates have incorporated Parks Australia North providing vehicles and accommodation to the researchers while on the island.
Effective management of the Christmas Island Pipistrelle will be ongoing and encompass both management practices covered as core Parks Australia North duties, and specialist actions that will only be identified following the outcome of actions identified in this Recovery Plan. Costs associated with the management of currently unidentified threatening processes have not been included in this Plan, and can only be determined once the threatening processes have been identified.
Duration and Costs
Actions that can be conducted concurrently are denoted by the symbols A (dry season sampling), B (wet season sampling) and C (Wolf Snake investigation), with the costing for A and B provided at the end of the table.
Recovery Action Year of Implementation Total
Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5
Action 1: Assess population and distributiontrends. 1a Investigate westward range contraction1b Impact of YCA on activity levels1c Establish & maintain pipistrelle database1d Establish and conduct monitoring program AAPAN 5,000+ PAN --PAN 1,000+ PAN --PAN 1,000+ PAN --PAN 1,000+ PAN AAPAN 1,000+ PAN AA 9,000
Action 2: Determine roosting requirements.2a Determine seasonal and distributional roosting requirements2b Impact of YCA on roost requirements A+B* A - - - - - - A+B* A A+B A
2c Trial artificial roosts Dependent of findings of Action 2 & 3
Action 3: Determine the impact of the CWS on roosts, and if found to impact on pipistrelles, develop appropriate management actions.3a Establish & maintain CWS database3b Conduct survey for CWS in central section of island 3c Assess climbing ability of CWS and the potential risk to roosting pipistrelles PAN26,000 (=C*)C* PAN- - PAN- - PAN- - PAN- - C C
3d Devise & implement appropriate management actions C* Dependent of findings of Actions 3b & 3c C
Action 4: Determine the impact of the Nankeen Kestrel, and if found to prey on pipistrelles, develop management actions to reduce impact.4a Establish & maintain Nankeen Kestrel database4b Assess Nankeen Kestrel as a predator PAN 5,000 +A+B PAN - PAN - PAN - PAN - 5,000+A+B
4c Potential Nankeen Kestrel control Dependent on findings of Action 4b
Action 5: Identify primary foraging sites away from ecotones and roads.5a Identify foraging areas away from artificial edges A+B* - - - A+B* A+B
Action 6: Investigate dietary specialisation.6a Investigate diet in the wet and dry seasons6b Investigate degree of dietary specialisation 10,000+A+B10,000+A+B - - - - - - - - 10,000+A+B10,000+A+B
Action 8: Continue active management for the control of YCA supercolonies.8a Ongoing monitoring and remedial actions as required8b Roost areas intensively monitored on a regular basis To be sourced from other budgets by the Yellow Crazy Ant Steering Committee and PANPAN
Action 9: Increased protection of known and potential habitat outside the National Park.9a Protect known important foraging areas9b Potential impact of future development proposals Component of PAN core dutiesComponent of PAN core duties
Action 10: Assess impact of phosphate stockpile removal on the species.10a Impacts of phosphate stockpile removal Component of PAN core duties
Action 11: Guidelines to reduce vehicle-related mortality11a Establish guidelines to reduce mortality risk11b Minimise impact of night-time traffic between IRPC and the Settlement Component of PAN core duties in consultation with the CRA and relevant affected interests (eg. AFP, CIS)Component of PAN core duties in consultation with the CRA, DIMIA, DoFA, CIS and AFP
Action 12: Review the conservation status12a Review the conservation status To be assessed under EPBC Act
A. Dry season component 56,500 - - - 56,500 113,000
B. Wet season component 47,500 - - - 47,500 95,000
TOTAL COST 168,000 1,000 1,000 1,000 105,000 276,000
plus additional funds dependent on identification of key threatening process
YCA = Yellow Crazy Ant; CWS = Common Wolf Snake; IRPC = Immigration Reception and Processing Centre; CRA = Central Road Authority; AFP = Australian Federal Police; CIS = Christmas island Shire; DIMIA = Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs; DoFA = Department of Finance and Administration, * = some wet season sampling may extend into the following year (i.e. sampling undertaken in December – January).
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Special thanks to the following people who assisted with the preparation of this recovery plan: Terry Reardon provided advice on the process required to resolve the taxonomic uncertainty surrounding this species. Mick Jeffery provided useful contact details and valuable comments on current management issues on Christmas Island, including information on the impact of the Yellow Crazy Ant and the current status of the ant with respect to active management strategies being conducted by the Crazy Ant Steering Committee. Alistair Graham provided lively discussion on various issues included in this plan. Greg Richards and David James provided recent information of the species that was presented in Appendix 4. David Titley provided information on the Anabat II detector, Zcaim and future developments of the recommended ultrasonic detection system for monitoring the species on the island. Karen Jung supplied GIS data. Carol Harris helped track down obscure library references. Mike Bamford, Graeme Gillespie, Alistair Graham, Judy Hagan, Mick Jeffery, Dennis O’Dowd, Greg Richards, Chris Tidemann and Susan Wright provided useful comments on earlier drafts of the Recovery Plan. Special thanks to Susan Wright for her advice during the development of this plan and assistance in deciphering the EPBC Act.
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APPENDIX ONE: RESURVEY OF KNOWN PIPISTRELLE SITES AFFECTED BY YELLOW CRAZY ANT SUPERCOLONIES
It is recommended that sites known to contain important foraging and roosting areas in 1998, that were subsequently infested with Yellow Crazy Ant supercolonies, be resurveyed to investigate the impact of this introduced species on the pipistrelle.
A. Sites
Sites of high or moderate Christmas Island Pipistrelle activity and roost areas (from Lumsden et al. 1999) that were subsequently infested with Yellow Crazy Ant supercolonies, and those that were located nearby (i.e. within foraging range).
Site # Location Lat./Long. Flying*/Roost Activity Level
Sites within subsequently infested areas
14 Circuit Track, 0.15 km E of Winifred Beach Track 10o29'38" 105o34'09" Flying Moderate
26 0.1 km S of Martin Point carpark 10o28'10" 105o33'35" Flying Moderate
27 Creek below Hughs Dale waterfall, where walking track crosses creek 10o28'45" 105o33'28" Flying Moderate
28 At start of walking track to Hughs Dale waterfall, 20 m from the road. 10o28'32" 105o33'38" Flying Moderate
45 Road to Dales, 0.4 km W of intersection below LB4 10o28'32" 105o35'53" Flying Moderate
76 Circuit Track, 1.5 km E of Winifred Beach Tk 10o29'50" 105o34'52" Flying Moderate
R1 Winifred Beach Track, Sydney Dale area 10o29'10" 105o34'06" Roost
R4 Winifred Beach Track, Sydney Dale area 10o29'23" 105o34'03" Roost
R8 Winifred Beach Track, Sydney Dale area 10o29'18" 105o33'53" Roost
R9 Winifred Beach Track, Sydney Dale area 10o29'15" 105o33'56" Roost
R10 Winifred Beach Track, Sydney Dale area 10o29'18" 105o33'52" Roost
Sites within foraging range of subsequently ant infested areas
7 Off Dales Road, 0.3 km W of Winifred Beach Track turnoff 10o28'30" 105o34'16" Flying Moderate
8 0.1 km down track to rehab area 22S, at gate 10o29'26" 105o36'57" Flying Moderate
13 Winifred Beach Track, 0.75 km S of Dales Road 10o28'58" 105o34'21" Flying Moderate
21 Winifred Beach Track, 0.1 km S of Dales Road 10o28'40" 105o34'25" Flying High
22 Winifred Beach Track, 0.3 km S of Dales Road 10o28'46" 105o34'22" Flying High
44 Road to Dales, 0.5 km E of intersection below LB4 10o28'36" 105o36'15" Flying High
70 Toms Ridge, 3.0 km NW of Dales Road 10o27'32" 105o33'36" Flying Moderate
R2 Winifred Beach Track, Sydney Dale area 10o29'12" 105o34'09" Roost
R7 Winifred Beach Track, Sydney Dale area 10o29'13" 105o34'10" Roost
R6 Winifred Beach Track, Sydney Dale area 10o29'17" 105o34'18" Roost
R11 Winifred Beach Track, Sydney Dale area 10o29'14" 105o34'19" Roost
R12 Winifred Beach Track, Sydney Dale area 10o29'17" 105o34'14" Roost
= Foraging or Commuting.
B. Sampling Period and Climatic Conditions
For comparative purposes a resurvey of these sites needs to be conducted between 10 May and 20 June. Nights with rain periods are to be avoided due to possible suppression of bat activity and to the resultant reduced sensitivity of the bat detector microphone.
C. Sampling Techniques
These techniques are identical to those used by Lumsden et al. (1999), except where indicated, so that results can be compared with the 1998 study.
Bat Sampling: In the 1998 study, bat calls were recorded on Anabat II bat detectors linked to tape recorders via delay switches. There have been significant advances in recent years in bat detector technology and it is recommended for future work on the Christmas Island Pipistrelle that Anabat detectors are used in conjunction with the new Anabat CF Storage Zcaim (Titley Electronics, Ballina, NSW). This system downloads calls directly to a memory card and avoids the previous problem of cassette tapes filling up with high frequency insect noise. All-night recordings are now possible, and units should be set to record from before dusk until after dawn. This will provide more detailed information of activity levels throughout the night and will also document any daytime flying activity. The number of bat passes between 1830 and 2100 hrs (Christmas Island Standard Time) will be used for comparison with the 1998 and 1994 studies. The detector and CF Zcaim are to be housed in a waterproof box with only the microphone exposed (e.g. refer to Plate 6 in Lumsden et al. 1999). To protect the units from Robber Crabs Birgus latro these units need to be placed above the ground, for example on folding chairs. The chair arms are used to position the box at an angle of 45o (Plate 7 in Lumsden et al. 1999). A waterproof cover extending out from the top of the box protects the microphone from rain. The sensitivity dial on the detectors are set at seven, and on this setting bats can be detected at a range of 15 to 20 m. The majority of sites are sampled for a single night, although repeat sampling is required if rain occurs during the sampling period.
Data analysis: Since the pipistrelle is the only bat on the island that echolocates, all bat echolocation calls recorded on the Anabat detector/CF Zcaim can be assigned to this species. However, insects on Christmas Island produce high frequency noise that sounds very similar to bat calls and is recorded by the detector. If recordings are made onto cassette tapes the calls should be examined using Anabat software to distinguish them. However, if a CF Zcaim is used, as recommended, insect noise is largely eliminated (G. Richards, pers. comm). Each time a bat flies past the detector, the CF Zcaim saves a computer file, with a unique date and time stamp. Where there is continuous activity, a file is automatically saved every 16 seconds. Feeding buzzes are identified by the rapid increase in pulse rate of the echolocation call. These buzzes indicate foraging activity as distinct from commuting bats, and are counted separately for each recording session.
To compare with earlier studies, activity levels are assessed by the number of passes over a 150-minute time period, commencing 45 minutes after sunset (i.e. 1830 to 2100 hrs). Activity levels are defined as high (>1 pass per minute, i.e. >150 passes in 150 min.), moderate (1 bat pass per 1 to 10 minutes, i.e. 15 to 150 passes in 150 min.) and low (<1 bat pass per 10 min., i.e. <15 passes in 150 min.).
Insect Sampling: Insect availability is to be measured using a light trap at each detector site. The light trap consists of a 20 litre plastic bucket with a cone fitted inside (Plate 9 in Lumsden et al. 1999). Attached to the cone is a fluorescent light with two tubes, a black light and a standard light. The cone projects the light upwards to sample the airspace in which the bats forage. At the base of the cone is a jar containing 70% alcohol, into which the attracted insects fall. The light is powered by a 12 V battery and a timer activates the unit to turn on at dusk and off at dawn. To keep out of reach of Robber Crabs the light trap is hung on a rope tied between two trees, or placed on a folding chair.
Captured insects are to be dried at 80oC for three hours and weighed to give a dry weight of available prey. Only insects <15 mm in total body length are included so that the assessment is based on prey items within the likely size range taken by the pipistrelle.
The number of insect calls recorded on the bat detectors could be used as an additional measure of insect activity (G. Richards, pers. comm.), although only a component of the insect fauna would be recorded in this way.
APPENDIX TWO: PIPISTRELLE MONITORING PROTOCOL
This monitoring strategy has been adapted from Lumsden et al. (1999):
The most appropriate way to monitor the pipistrelle population is to employ similar techniques to those used in the 1998 survey (refer to Appendix One for stationary sampling methods), so that results can be compared. It is recommended that two strategies be used to investigate aspects of the Christmas Island Pipistrelle status: 1) decline in activity levels at known sites, and 2) contraction in distribution.
1). Vehicle-based Driving Detection
This strategy will provide distributional information, which currently is of importance given the westward range contraction of the species. The methodology for this strategy is outlined below.
Advantages:
Provides information on distributional change.
Much quicker and easier in providing useful information.
Disadvantages:
Provides limited information on abundance levels at particular sites.
Vehicle-based Driving Detection Methodology
Drive a standardised route encompassing all regions of the island and passing through sites of low, moderate and high bat activity (Figure 13). This route is to be driven at a speed of <40 kph with two people, a driver and a bat detector operator. The latter person will hold the detector out of the passenger window, at a constant angle, pointing forward in the direction the vehicle is travelling.
Route: Start at the Parks Australia North office in the Settlement, down Murray Road, past Central Area Workshop along the road to The Dales, down Winifred Beach Track to the Circuit Track, U-turn, back to the road to The Dales, turn right, continue east to LB4, turn right, continue to Coconut Corner, along EW Baseline to NS Baseline, past the Airport, down the upper road to the Casino, back along the coast through the Settlement to the Parks Office (Figure 13).
The censuses are only to be conducted in suitable weather conditions: no rain, wind speed <10 kph, and less than three quarter moon phase.
They are to be conducted within a standardised 2.5 hour time period, commencing no earlier than 45 minutes after sunset and finishing no later than 3 hours 15 minutes after sunset. It is likely to take approximately 2.0 to 2.5 hours to complete the circuit; therefore it should commence as soon as possible following 45 minutes after official sunset.
Equipment: See below.
Recording Technique: Two potential methods depending on equipment availability and the ability of a GPS to provide continual accurate locational information (NB: this may be a problem due to rainforest canopy cover, the typically high vertical extent of the cloud and continuous cloud cover):
a) The detector operator would record the output of the detector continually on to cassette tapes for the entire driving route. The operator would give the speedometer reading and location at all road junctions on to the tape, using the voice activation function on the detector. Whenever a sound thought to be a bat call was heard, the speedometer would also be recorded by the operator onto the cassette tape. It is important that the bat detector operator is familiar with the sound of pipistrelle calls heard over the external microphone of the Anabat detector. A familiarisation session should be run for any new operator prior to a monitoring sampling session. Where possible, the same bat detector operator should be used. It is recommended that the resulting tapes are sent for analysis to someone experienced in distinguishing between bat and insect sounds. Hence this sampling strategy would also require the small cost of analysing the recordings.
b) The Anabat detector would be connected to the Anabat CF Storage Zcaim, with a compatible GPS also hooked up to provide locational information to be continually downloaded. With a limited amount of training, the files produced using this technique could be analysed on the island, as insect noise is largely excluded using this technique (G. Richards, pers. comm.).
2). Stationary Site Detection
This strategy will provide information on changes in abundance levels at known sites, which is important to monitor given the apparent decrease in abundance at some localities.
A selection of sites with varying activity levels from the 1998 survey (Lumsden et al. 1999) would be sampled. Use of the stationary detector method should have the advantage that the equipment can be set up and left all night and then retrieved the following day, minimising labour costs. Deployment of two or more units per sample night would reduce the number of sampling nights required. The following 10 sites are recommended for sampling.
Site #
Location
Lat./Long.
Activity level
4
Pipeline track NW of Jedda Cave, 0.4 km NW of Powerline Track
10o28'27" 105o38'16"
Low
8
0.1 km down track to rehab area 22S, at gate
10o29'26" 105o36'57"
Moderate
14
Circuit Track, 0.15 km E of Winifred Beach Track
10o29'38" 105o34'09"
Moderate
16
Winifred Beach carpark
10o30'00" 105o32'58"
Moderate
19
Track in front of Research Station
10o29'28" 105o38'46"
Low
21
Winifred Beach Track, 0.1 km S of Dales Road
10o28'40" 105o34'25"
High
28
At start of walking track to Hughs Dale waterfall, 20 m from the road.
10o28'32" 105o33'38"
Moderate
34
ML 106 area, on track heading W, 0.6 km from Blowholes Road.
10o30'24" 105o38'35"
High
44
Road to Dales, 0.5 km E of intersection below LB4
10o28'36" 105o36'15"
High
70
Toms Ridge, 3.0 km NW of Dales Road
10o27'32" 105o33'36"
Moderate
Equipment and Technique: As for Appendix One.
Analysis: Electronic files could be analysed on the island if someone was appropriately trained, or could be sent off-island to someone experienced in distinguishing between bat and insect sounds.
Advantages:
Provide information on abundance levels at a number of known sites.
Disadvantages:
A number of sites would need to be sampled to show patterns and as only one detector unit is currently available on the island only one site could be sampled a night (although see recommendations below). This limitation would mean that multiple nights would have to be devoted to pipistrelle monitoring within each time period.
Provides information on distributional change with a large amount of effort (i.e. sampling nights).
Monitoring Equipment Recommended
Note: The Parks Australia North Anabat detector was found to be faulty in 1998 and needs to be returned to Titley Electronics for repairs, before the monitoring program commences. It appeared to be a problem with the speaker affecting the volume of the calls. Since there is considerable vehicle noise when undertaking vehicle detection, it is necessary to have the volume level working correctly. In addition new equipment would need to be purchased as outlined below.
2 Anabat II Detectors (one as a backup, Supplier: Titley Electronics) (for both monitoring strategies)
1 USB Reader/Writer or a Parallel Reader/Writer (to download information from CF Zcaim to computer).
Associated cables (connecting tape recorder to detector, CF Zcaim to detector; Supplier: Titley Electronics) (for both monitoring strategies)
Garmin Etrex GPS (or similar common brand water-resistant hand-held GPS) (for both monitoring strategies).
2 Waterproof tool box (Stationary Sampling)
2 Folding Chairs (Stationary Sampling)
Waterproof cover (Stationary Sampling) (Lumsden et al. 1999 used a laminated manilla folder attached to the lid of the tool box with Velcro, Plate 6 and 7).
Timing
To detect changes in status at particular sites (Stationary Sites) or distributional changes (Vehicle-based Driving Detection) it will require a minimum of two years of sampling but is recommended to be conducted on a yearly basis for the full five-year life of this Plan.
It is recommended that the:
Stationary Sampling be undertaken one time per year per site in May-June to coincide with the 1998 survey, and
Vehicle-based Detection Sampling be undertaken on two nights at four monthly intervals, with one sample period to coincide with the timing of the 1998 survey (May-June).
Figure 13. The route to be used for the monitoring program using Vehicle-based Driving Detection, commencing and finishing at the Park’s office (from Lumsden et al. 1999).
APPENDIX THREE: KNOWN BAT SITES ON THE EASTERN EDGE OF THE CHRISTMAS ISLAND PIPISTRELLE’S RANGE
To determine threatening processes influencing the decline and westward contraction in the range of the Christmas Island Pipistrelle, roost sites need to be located along the eastern limit of the known range (Action 2). The following sites in the centre of the island where bat activity was recorded in 1998 (from Lumsden et al. 1999) should be targeted for this work.
Site #
Location
Lat./Long.
Activity level
4
Pipeline track NW of Jedda Cave, 0.4 km NW of Powerline Track
10o28'27" 105o38'16"
Low
18
NS Baseline, 0.2 km NE of Grants Well Track
10o28'52" 105o40'19"
Low
19
Track in front of Research Station
10o29'28" 105o38'46"
Low
32
Behind shrine near junction of EW Baseline and Blowholes Road
10o30'05" 105o39'04"
Low
33
Minefield ML 106, 50 m W of Blowholes Road on mining road
10o30'27" 105o38'50"
Low
34
ML 106 area, on tk heading W, 0.6 km from Blowholes Road.
10o30'24" 105o38'35"
High
42
Track from Research Station to Murray Road, 0.2 km S of Murray Road
10o28'28" 105o38'03"
Low
52
Jane Up, NW of Research Station
10o29'21" 105o38'32"
Low
53
0.1 km SE along track off junction of EW Baseline and South Point Road
10o30'18" 105o39'23"
Low
60
Road to Greta Beach, 0.4 km N of top carpark
10o29'27" 105o40'41"
Low
APPENDIX FOUR: SUMMARY OF RECENT INFORMATION INDICATING FURTHER RANGE AND POPULATION DECLINE
This Appendix provides a summary of recent information indicating a continuing decline and range contraction in the species.
A. Greg Richards, Bat Consultant (pers. comm.)
For more detailed information refer to the fauna survey as part of the EIS of the Mine Lease Applications & National Park Reference Areas conducted in August 2002 for Phosphate Resources Limited by EWL Sciences Pty Ltd.
Evidence indicating a significant reduction in abundance using ultrasonic data as an index of abundance. Using similar methodology to Lumsden et al. (1999) the Christmas Island Pipistrelle data collected by G. Richards indicated:
1. the species was recorded in less sites than in 1998;
2. the species had undergone a further westward range contraction on the island;
3. there were a decreased number of bat passes at most sites; and
4. the species was only recorded foraging in four localities.
B. David James, PAN (pers. comm.)
The following information was provided by David James: In February and March 2004 searches for the Christmas Island Pipistrelle were undertaken using Anabat detectors and harp traps. Using the detector driving technique outlined in Lumsden et al. (1999) and detailed in Appendix 2, twelve hours of driving at 20 kph over five nights were undertaken on roads and tracks from the South West Baseline to Winifred Beach, approximately 250km total. There was only one site that Pipistrelles were recorded at in any numbers – at the start of the Winifred Beach Track, which was the area with the highest levels of activity in the 1998 surveys. In the 12 hours of sampling, bats were detected at only three other locations, and each time by only a single animal. No bats were recorded at many of the sites where they were regularly recorded in 1998. Harp traps have been set in a number of locations on the island, but the only site that bats have been trapped is the site on Winifred Beach Track.
The level of recording by David James appears to be considerably lower than during the 1998 study.
Summary:
This recent evidence indicates that a review of the conservation status is required. The species appears to have markedly declined since 1998 and there may be few localities where viable populations remain on the island.