Sedgeley (2001): Winter activity in the tree-roosting lesser short-tailed bat, Mystacina tuberculata, in cold-temperate climate in New Zealand.

Sedgeley, J. A. 2001. Winter activity in the tree-roosting lesser short-tailed bat, Mystacina tuberculata, in cold-temperate climate in New Zealand. Acta Chiropterologica 3: 179–195

Unusually high levels of activity compared to other small bats in temperate forests were detected in the short-tailed bats during winter on Codfish Island. Radio-tagged bats flew on >50% of nights including those where minimum temperatures were 0 °C. Large levels of activity were recorded at roosts (max. = 1443 bats). Periods of activity were associated with feeding, social displays and changing roosts. Winter activity may not be as energetically expensive for short-tailed bats as other cold-temperate bat species. Their ability to forage on terrestrial invertebrates and to select different roost sites, allow them to be active more frequently and for longer.