Qrc Lch - epa.wa.gov.au · Ghost Bat, Macroderma gigas - Contextual Study, June 2019 . Map symbol Unit name Unit description Area (ha) in desktop survey area ... 28,974.5 4,504.2

PARABURDOO

Qa

QrcAbfo

Lchk

Awfj

Adf

Lch

CzkAdf

AbfbQrc

AwfjQrc

LchCzk LchkAdf

Lchk

Qrc

LchwAwfjLsym

AchmAshmLchw

Alhw

Czk

540000 550000 560000 570000 580000 590000

74200

00743

0000

74400

00

0 2 4 6 8 10Kilometres

Figure A.1: Geological units of the field search areaAuthor: M. Love Date: 08-01-2019

Coordinate System: GDA 1994 MGA Zone 50

Drawn: C. Dyde Figure Ref: 14303-18-BIDR-1RevA_190108_FigA1_Geo

Rio Tinto Iron OreGreater Paraburdoo Ghost Bat, Macroderma gigas - Contextual Study

TownsField Search Area

WA Surface GeologyQUATERNARY

Qa - alluvium 38485Qrc - colluvium 38491

CENOZOICCzk - calcrete 38497

PALEOPROTEROZOICLsym - Mount McGrath FormationLch - Hamersley GroupLchk - Brockman Iron FormationLchw - Weeli Wolli Formation

ARCHEANAbfb - Bunjinah FormationAbfo - Boongal FormationAlhw - Wittenoom FormationAshm - Mount McRae Shale and Mount Sylvia FormationAdf - Fortescue Group - mafic intrusionsAwfj - Jeerinah FormationAchm - Marra Mamba Iron Formation

NEW

PLT

NEW

TAB

RCK

NEW

BOO

CAP

BOO

MRN

RIVETH

ETH

RCKBOO

ETH

PBO

RIV

RIV

DLR

PBO

ETH

TAB

MRN

CAP

PBO

MRN

PBO

ETH

RIV

TAB

RIV

ETH

ETH

ETH

PARABURDOO

540000 550000 560000 570000 580000 590000

74200

00743

0000

74400

00

0 2 4 6 8 10Kilometres

Figure A.2: Land systems of the field search areaAuthor: M. Love Date: 09-01-2019

Coordinate System: GDA 1994 MGA Zone 50

Drawn: C. Dyde Figure Ref: 14303-18-BIDR-1RevA_190108_FigA2_LSys

Rio Tinto Iron OreGreater Paraburdoo Ghost Bat, Macroderma gigas - Contextual Study

TownsField Search Area

Land SystemBoolgeeda SystemCapricorn SystemDollar SystemEthel SystemMarandoo SystemNewman SystemParaburdoo SystemPlatform SystemRiver SystemRocklea SystemTable System

Rio Tinto Iron Ore Greater Paraburdoo – Ghost Bat, Macroderma gigas - Contextual Study, June 2019

Table A.1: Geological units of the desktop survey area and field search area (Stewart et al. 2008).

Map symbol

Unit name Unit description Area (ha) in desktop survey area

Area (ha) in field search area

Gascoyne IBRA Bioregion

Abfb Bunjinah Formation Metabasaltic pillow lava and breccia; metatuff and minor chert 358.1 -

Abfo Boongal Formation Basalt with some pillow lava development 149.4 -

Abfp Pyradie Formation Pyroxene spinifex-textured metabasalt flows and pillow lava; metatuff, and minor chert; contains komatiite locally

203.2 -

Adf Fortescue Group - mafic intrusions

Metadolerite, dolerite, gabbro; medium to coarse grained, massive grey-green rock, usually foliated 334.2 -

Awfj Jeerinah Formation Shale, sandstone, siltstone, mudstone, dolomite, local microbanded chert, jaspilite, conglomerate; fine-grained massive rhyolite; mafic tuff with local accretionary lapilli and agglomerate; thin basalt/dolerite and andesitic basalt flows

100.8 5.6

Czk calcrete 38497 Pisolitic, nodular or massive calcrete; ferruginous inclusions; calcareous cementing of bedrock and transported materials; locally with intercalated chalcedony; as low mounds, in playa lakes, or as valley calcrete; locally dissected and karstified

3,896.2 1,406.5

Lch Hamersley Group Undivided chert, banded iron-formation, jaspilite, dolomite, mudstone, siltstone 1,201.2 1,169.1

Lsc Capricorn Group Ferruginous and quartzitic sandstone, ferruginous siltstone and mudstone, conglomerate, dolostone and felsic volcanic rock.

303.7 -

Lsy Wyloo Group Shale, sandstone, greywacke, dolomite, phyllite, quartz-mica schist, felsic volcanic rocks, chert, chert breccia, mudstone, siltstone, conglomerate

507.5 -

Lsya Ashburton Formation Mudstone interbedded with sandstone and dolomite; intruded by sills 5,0623.2 -

Lsyd Duck Creek Dolomite Thin to thick bedded, locally stromatolitic, metadolomite; metadolorudite, and minor chert and pelite 3,115.2 -

Lsym Mount McGrath Formation

Coarse sandstone, conglomerate, pelite, dolomite 343.1 -

Qa alluvium 38485 Channel and flood plain alluvium; gravel, sand, silt, clay, locally calcreted 19,083.4 39.9

Qrc colluvium 38491 Colluvium, sheetwash, talus; gravel piedmonts and aprons over and around bedrock; clay-silt-sand with sheet and nodular kankar; alluvial and aeolian sand-silt-gravel in depressions and broad valleys in Canning Basin; local calcrete, reworked laterite

35,496.9 635.6


Map symbol



Pilbara IBRA Bioregion

Abfb Bunjinah Formation Metabasaltic pillow lava and breccia; metatuff and minor chert 17,623.4 58.7

Abfo Boongal Formation Basalt with some pillow lava development 15,732.7 76.6

Abfp Pyradie Formation Pyroxene spinifex-textured metabasalt flows and pillow lava; metatuff, and minor chert; contains komatiite locally

11,237.2 -

Abfr Mount Roe Basalt Massive, porphyritic, vesicular, amygdaloidal and doleritic basalt; some high-Mg basalt, agglomerate, volcanic breccia, tuff, mafic wacke, shale, polymictic conglomerate and sandstone, siliceous limestone and dolomite

11,375.3 -

Achm Marra Mamba Iron Formation

Chert, ferruginous chert, jaspilite, banded iron-formation, minor shale, siltstone, mudstone, 2,484.8 256.5

Adf Fortescue Group - mafic intrusions

Metadolerite, dolerite, gabbro; medium to coarse grained, massive grey-green rock, usually foliated 22,809.0 1,681.1

Alhw Wittenoom Formation

Calcitic dolomite, interbedded chert and shale in upper and lower parts, volcaniclastic sandstone 1,954.4 581.3

Asfb Bellary Formation Pelite, feldspathic sandstone, pebbly sandstone, conglomerate, shale, siltstone, metabasaltic lava and pillow lava, and metatuff

1,935.1 -

Ashm Mount McRae Shale and Mount Sylvia Formation

Interbedded shale, chert, banded iron-formation 1,074.3 453.8

Awfh Hardey Formation Sandstone, siltstone, shale, lithic wacke, mudstone, arkose, calcareous beds, conglomerate; porphyry, porphyry breccia; quartzite; dacitic to rhyolitic lavas; quartz-feldspar-mica schist; boulder breccia; basalt; felsic pyroclastics, ultramafic lava

8,609.0 -

Awfj Jeerinah Formation Shale, sandstone, siltstone, mudstone, dolomite, local microbanded chert, jaspilite, conglomerate; fine-grained massive rhyolite; mafic tuff with local accretionary lapilli and agglomerate; thin basalt/dolerite and andesitic basalt flows

8,966.0 2,529.1

Czk calcrete 38497 Pisolitic, nodular or massive calcrete; ferruginous inclusions; calcareous cementing of bedrock and transported materials; locally with intercalated chalcedony; as low mounds, in playa lakes, or as valley calcrete; locally dissected and karstified

1,872.6 473.3


Map symbol



Lch Hamersley Group Undivided chert, banded iron-formation, jaspilite, dolomite, mudstone, siltstone 4,558.3 4,044.5

Lchb Boolgeeda Iron Formation

Fine-grained, finely laminated, dark grey-brown to black flaggy iron-formation, minor chert, jaspilite, shale.

1,236.0 -

Lchk Brockman Iron Formation

Banded iron-formation, chert, mudstone and siltstone 11,221.3 4,921.8

Lchw Weeli Wolli Formation

Banded iron-formation (commonly jaspilitic), mudstone, siltstone; common interlayered metadoleritic sills

2,542.9 1,234.7

Lfhw Woongarra Rhyolite Rhyolite, rhyodacite, rhyolitic volcaniclastic breccia and banded iron formation 249.7 -

Lsy Wyloo Group Shale, sandstone, greywacke, dolomite, phyllite, quartz-mica schist, felsic volcanic rocks, chert, chert breccia, mudstone, siltstone, conglomerate

4,483.3 -

Lsym Mount McGrath Formation

Coarse sandstone, conglomerate, pelite, dolomite 2,537.7 297.0

Qa alluvium 38485 Channel and flood plain alluvium; gravel, sand, silt, clay, locally calcreted 5,548.4 362.5

Qrc colluvium 38491 Colluvium, sheetwash, talus; gravel piedmonts and aprons over and around bedrock; clay-silt-sand with sheet and nodular kankar; alluvial and aeolian sand-silt-gravel in depressions and broad valleys in Canning Basin; local calcrete, reworked laterite

28,974.5 4,504.2


Table A.2: Distribution of land systems within the desktop survey area and field search area subregions (Department of the Environment and Energy 2017c).

IBRA subregion name



Gascoyne IBRA Bioregion

Ashburton Boolgeeda System

Stony lower slopes and plains below hill systems supporting hard and soft spinifex grasslands or mulga shrublands.

1,048.6 472.4

Ashburton Capricorn System

Rugged sandstone hills, ridges, stony footslopes and interfluves supporting low acacia shrublands or hard spinifex grasslands with scattered shrubs.

2,829.6 -

Ashburton Dollar System Stony plains supporting mulga and snakewood shrublands with somes chenpod low shrubs. 7,133.6 91.0

Ashburton Edward System Alluvial plains with sparse saltbush and bluebush low shrublands and other shrublands. 8,445.3

Ashburton Ethel System Cobble plains with sparse mulga and other acacia shrublands. 18,120.9 432.0

Ashburton Kooline System Rough shale hills, saline drainage floors and broad braided creeks with sparse acacia shrublands and minor tussock grasslands.

62,788.4 -

Ashburton Newman System

Rugged jaspilite plateaux, ridges and mountains supporting hard spinifex grasslands. 970.0 867.0

Ashburton Paraburdoo System

Basalt derived stony gilgai plains and stony plains supporting snakewood and mulga shrublands with spinifex, chenopods and tussock grasses.

2,880.4 143.0

Ashburton Platform System

Dissected slopes and raised plains supporting shrubby hard spinifex grasslands. 776.4 -

Ashburton River System Narrow, seasonally active flood plains and major river channels supporting moderately close, tall shrublands or woodlands of acacias and fringing communities of eucalypts sometimes with tussock grasses or spinifex.

6,605.1 80.6

Ashburton Rocklea System Basalt hills, plateaux, lower slopes and minor stony plains supporting hard spinifex and occasionally soft spinifex grasslands with scattered shrubs.

1,148.9 23.1

Ashburton Table System Low calcrete plateaux, mesas and lower plains supporting mulga and cassia shrublands and minor spinifex grasslands.

2,968.8 1,147.6

Pilbara IBRA Bioregion

Hamersley Boolgeeda System

Stony lower slopes and plains below hill systems supporting hard and soft spinifex grasslands or mulga shrublands.

1,941.7 795.0


IBRA subregion name



Hamersley Capricorn System

Rugged sandstone hills, ridges, stony footslopes and interfluves supporting low acacia shrublands or hard spinifex grasslands with scattered shrubs.

6,036.9 622.5

Hamersley Dollar System Stony plains supporting mulga and snakewood shrublands with somes chenpod low shrubs. 36.8 -

Hamersley Ethel System Cobble plains with sparse mulga and other acacia shrublands. 507.8 150.9

Hamersley Jamindie System

Stony hardpan plains and rises supporting groved mulga shrublands, occasionally with spinifex understorey.

511.4 -

Hamersley Kooline System Rough shale hills, saline drainage floors and broad braided creeks with sparse acacia shrublands and minor tussock grasslands.

3,175.7 -

Hamersley Marandoo System

Basalt hills and restricted stony plains supporting grassy mulga shrublands. 71,212.6 542.4

Hamersley Newman System

Rugged jaspilite plateaux, ridges and mountains supporting hard spinifex grasslands. 28,679.1 13,931.5

Hamersley Paraburdoo System

Basalt derived stony gilgai plains and stony plains supporting snakewood and mulga shrublands with spinifex, chenopods and tussock grasses.

22,348.7 63.7

Hamersley Platform System

Dissected slopes and raised plains supporting shrubby hard spinifex grasslands. 10,662.5 3,522.4

Hamersley River System Narrow, seasonally active flood plains and major river channels supporting moderately close, tall shrublands or woodlands of acacias and fringing communities of eucalypts sometimes with tussock grasses or spinifex.

3,903.4 558.1

Hamersley Robe System Low plateaux, mesas and buttes of limonite supporting soft spinifex and occasionally hard spinifex grasslands.

218.7 -

Hamersley Rocklea System Basalt hills, plateaux, lower slopes and minor stony plains supporting hard spinifex and occasionally soft spinifex grasslands with scattered shrubs.

11,795.2 1,207.3

Hamersley Table System Low calcrete plateaux, mesas and lower plains supporting mulga and cassia shrublands and minor spinifex grasslands.

480.0 81.3

Hamersley Wona System Basalt upland gilgai plains supporting Roebourne Plains grass and Mitchell grass tussock grasslands, minor hard spinifex grasslands or annual grasslands/herbfields.

5,515.5 -


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Appendix B: Survey Sampling Locations




Table B.1: Fauna sampling locations.

Site ID MGA Zone 50 K

Sampling method Date Habitat Condition Disturbance Microhabitats Photo Easting (mE) Northing (mN)

BAT1*

(Cave2) 539023 7437594 Echolocation recording

16/07/2018 – 27/7/2018

08/02/2019 – 13/03/2019 Gorge/Gully 1.0 (Excellent) None

Rocky outcrop, caves, overhangs, crevices, leaf litter

BAT2

(Cave 11) 539274 7437589 Echolocation recording

03/08/2018 – 05/08/2018



BAT3


04/08/2018 – 05/08/2018






BAT4

(Pool 5) 545334 7435883 Echolocation recording 04/08/2018 – 05/08/2018 Gorge/Gully 1.0 (Excellent) None

Rocky outcrop, caves, overhangs, crevices, leaf litter, semi-permanent pool

BAT5


26/07/2018 – 10/09/2018



BAT6*

(Cave 1) 550736 7435240 Echolocation recording 16/07/2018 – 27/7/2018 Gorge/Gully 1.0 (Excellent) None


BAT7* 550762 7434658 Echolocation recording 16/07/2018 – 27/7/2018 Gorge/Gully 1.0 (Excellent) None Rocky outcrop, caves, overhangs, crevices, leaf litter

No Photo

BAT8 (Cave 14)

553868 7433695 Echolocation recording 08/10/2018 – 14/03/2019 Gorge/Gully 1.0 (Excellent) None Rocky outcrop, caves, overhangs, crevices, leaf litter




BAT9 (Cave 15)


BAT11 (Cave 1)


BAT12 (Cave 3)


BAT13 (Cave 4)


BAT14 (Cave 5)


[No photo]

BAT15

(Cave 16) 550049 7435094 Echolocation recording 04/12/2018 – 29/01/2019 Gorge/Gully 1.0 (Excellent) None





Cave 13^ 553868 7433695 Echolocation recording 07/02/2019 –13/03/2019 Gorge/Gully 1.0 (Excellent) None Rocky outcrop, caves, overhangs, crevices, leaf litter

Cave 17^ 550032 7435091 Echolocation recording 10/01/2019 – 22/02/2019 Gorge/Gully 1.0 (Excellent) None Rocky outcrop, caves, overhangs, crevices, leaf litter

Cave 18^ 549038 7435427 Echolocation recording 07/02/2019 – 13/03/2019 Gorge/Gully 1.0 (Excellent) None Rocky outcrop, caves, overhangs, crevices, leaf litter

* Bat detector set up by Rio Tinto personnel independent to Astron field visits; data provided to Astron for inclusion in this report.

^ Bat detector set up and collected by Rio Tinto personnel independent to Astron field visits; data provided to Astron for inclusion in this report.


Appendix C: Significant Areas




Table C.1: Location of significant areas recorded during the Astron field surveys.

Site ID

MGA Zone 50 K

Category/evidence Description Photograph Easting (mE)

Northing (mN)

Cave 1

(Astron Environmental Services 2018c)

550736 7435240

Confirmed diurnal roost

Ghost Bat and Pilbara Leaf-nosed Bat calls (BAT6)

Ghost Bat present (x1)

Entrance: narrow and pinched (1 m wide x 0.6m high)

Orientation: south-west

Internal: 1 dome with 2 side pockets (12 m deep x 4 m wide x 3 m high)

Conditions: one Ghost Bat present, scats, raised humidity and elevated temperature

Cave 2


539023 7437594

Potential diurnal roost

Pilbara Leaf-nosed Bat calls and Ghost Bat calls (BAT1)

Entrance: narrow (2 m wide x 1 m high)

Orientation: south

Internal: forked cave, corkscrew to the right (25 m deep) and straight to the left (10 m deep), 2 domes (2 m high x 3 m wide), lots of crevices and solution pipes

Conditions: microbats present, scats, raised humidity, elevated temperature, rear passages


Site ID

MGA Zone 50 K


Northing (mN)

Cave 3


550744 7434608


Pilbara Leaf-nosed Bat calls and Ghost Bat calls (BAT12)


Orientation: west

Internal: narrow with two side caverns (30 m deep x 1 m to 15 m wide x 1 m high)

Conditions: raised humidity and elevated temperature

Cave 4


550750 7434642



Ghost Bats (x3) present

Entrance: overhang that is open/wide (5 m wide x 2 m high)

Orientation: west

Internal: large cavernous dome with solution pipes (10 m deep x 4 m wide x 5 m high)

Conditions: three Ghost Bat present, scats, raised humidity and elevated temperature


Site ID

MGA Zone 50 K


Northing (mN)

Cave 5 550845 7435060 Ghost Bat feed cave

Entrance: overhang that is open/wide (5 m wide x 1.5m high)

Orientation: west

Internal: single dome (5 m deep x 5 m wide x 1.5 m high)

Conditions: Ghost Bat scats present

Cave 6 550146 7435298

Confirmed maternal roost


Ghost Bats recorded roosting on multiple occasions (four individuals and one individual)

Hormone analysis of scats indicating presence of pregnant females

Midden piles

Entrance: open/wide (6 m wide x 1 m high)

Orientation: south-west

Internal: two domed caverns, left dome has soultion pipes 5 m to 7 m in height, right dome is large cavern (15 m deep x 10 m wide x 15 m high)

Conditions: mulitple Ghost Bats present, midden piles, high humidity and high elevated temperatures


Site ID

MGA Zone 50 K


Northing (mN)

Cave 7 537830 7437721 Potential diurnal roost

Entrance: narrow (0.5 m wide x 2 m high)

Orientation: south-east

Internal: narrow long tube (14 m deep x 1 m wide x 1 m high)

Conditions: microbats present, raised humidity and elevated temperature


Entrance: narrow (2 m wide x 0.5 m high)

Orientation: north-east

Internal: deep slanted cave (20 m deep) with rear passages

Conditions: raised humidity and elevated temperature


Site ID

MGA Zone 50 K


Northing (mN)



Orientation: west

Internal: deep, right slant (15 m deep x 1 m wide x 1 m high)



Entrance: open/wide (4 m wide x 1.5 m high) with pinch portion (0.5 m wide x 0.5 m high)

Orientation: south-east

Internal: single dome (15 m deep x 2 m wide x 3 m high)



Site ID

MGA Zone 50 K


Northing (mN)

Cave 11 539274 7437589

Potential maternal roost / confirmed diurnal roost

Pilbara Leaf-nosed Bat and Ghost Bat calls present (BAT2)

Ghost Bat calls indicate roosting


Orientation: south

Internal: pinched section that opens into a higher dome on a side chamber (20 m deep x 8 m wide x 4 m high)

Conditions: large midden, raised humidity and elevated temperature

Cave 12 545277 7435693


Pilbara Leaf-nosed Bat and Ghost Bat calls present (BAT3)


Orientation: west

Internal: long tunnel shaped cave (18 m deep x 1 m wide x 1 m high) with a large, narrow top chamber (>15 m deep x 1 m wide x 3 m high)

Conditions: Ghost Bat scats present, raised humidity and elevated temperature


Site ID

MGA Zone 50 K


Northing (mN)

Cave 13^ 547677 7436201


Ghost Bat calls (Cave 13)



Orientation: south

Internal: two chambers, one left (10 m deep x 5 m wide x 2 m high) and one right (10 m deep x 3 m wide x 3 m high)

Conditions: Ghost Bat scats present, raised humidity and elevated temperature

Cave 14 553868 7433695




Ghost Bats observed roosting on one occasion (two individuals)

Entrance: open/wide, large cathedral (12 m wide x 6 m high)

Orientation: south

Internal: one large rear domed cavern, left dome with multiple cracks and crevices and mini roosting spots, main dome is 5 m to 8 m in height, 25 m deep x 12 m wide

Conditions: two Ghost Bats present, three large midden piles, raised humidity and elevated temperature


Site ID

MGA Zone 50 K


Northing (mN)

Cave 15 544724 7435692

Potential maternal roost / Confirmed diurnal roost



Ghost Bats observed roosting on one occasion (three individuals)

Large midden piles

Entrance: narrow (0.5 m wide x 0.4 m high)

Orientation: east

Internal: three domed caverns (potential), front dome 1.5 m high x 2 m wide x 2 m high, rear caverns dome dimensions unknown)

Conditions: mulitple Ghost Bats present, midden piles, high humidity and high elevated temperatures

Cave 16 550049 7435094



Ghost bats observed roosting on one occasion (one individual)

Entrance: wide (3.0 m wide x 2.5 m high)

Orientation: east-south-east

Internal: one long tunnel (~15 m to 20 m) leading to one high rear domed cavern

Conditions: One Ghost Bat present, large midden piles, raised humidity and elevated temperature


Site ID

MGA Zone 50 K


Northing (mN)

Cave 17^ 550032 7435091 Potential diurnal roost

Ghost Bat calls (Cave 17)



Internal: two chambers, one left (15 m deep x 2.5 m wide x 1.5 m high) and one right (15 m deep x 2.5 m wide x 1.5 m high)

Conditions: Raised humidity and elevated temperature

Cave 18* 549038 7435427

Potential maternal roost / confirmed diurnal roost

Multiple Ghost Bat calls (Cave 18)

Large midden in rear chamber

Internal: three chambers, one main (10 – 15 m deep x 8m wide), one side (6 m deep x 4 m wide x 3 m high dome) and one rear (6 m deep x 4 m wide x 3 m high dome)

Conditions: Large midden in rear chamber


Site ID

MGA Zone 50 K


Northing (mN)

Pool 1 542119 7436243 Semi-permanent water 2 m wide x 1.5 m long x 0.5 m deep

Pool 2 542120 7436256 Semi-permanent water 1 m wide x 1 m long x 0.4 m deep


Site ID

MGA Zone 50 K


Northing (mN)

Pool 3 545203 7435812 Semi-permanent water 5 m wide x 3 m long x 1 m deep

Pool 4 545342 7435989 Semi-permanent water 3 m wide x 2 m long x 1.5 m deep


Site ID

MGA Zone 50 K


Northing (mN)

Pool 5 545324 7435889

Semi-permanent water

High number of Pilbara

Leaf-nosed Bat calls

suggesting a favoured

foraging/drinking point

(BAT4)

6 m wide x 6 m long x 4 m deep

^ Cave was found in 2018 during Astron surveys but acoustic monitoring only undertaken in 2019.

* A new significant cave was recorded by Rio Tinto biologist Scott Reiffer within the Western Ranges area on 06/02/2019 and acoustic monitoring undertaken in 2019.


Appendix D: Bat Call WA Pty Ltd Reports



Western Range PGb 2018-9 – Issue 1

Bat Call WA 1 8 June 2019

Rio Tinto, Paraburdoo Western Range, Pilbara WA,

Acoustic Survey of Ghost Bat Activity,

July 2018 to March 2019.

Prepared for Rio Tinto

Bat Call WA Pty Ltd ABN 26 146 117 839 43 Murray Drive Hillarys Western Australia 6025 [email protected] +61 8 9402 1987 +61 488 930 735 Prepared by: R. D. Bullen – Bat Call WA Issue 1 8 June 2019 This document has been prepared to the requirements of Rio Tinto. It may be cited for the purposes of scientific research or other reasonable use. It may not be reproduced or distributed to any third party by hardcopy or electronic means without the permission of the client or Bat Call WA.

mailto:[email protected]



Document Revision History

Issue Date Revision History

A 25 March 2019 Initial draft prepared for client review

B 26 March 2019 Additional Cave 18 data added

C 12 April 2019 Additional Cave 17 data added

D 5 June 2019 Revised draft incorporating client’s comments

1 8 June 2019 First formal issue



Executive Summary

Ghost bat presence is reported for fourteen caves at the Western Range project, near Paraburdoo, in the

Pilbara, Western Australia. Astron Environmental Services zoologists and Rio Tinto internal biologists

carried out a targeted echolocation-based survey for bats from July 2018 to March 2019. Results for the

months of July to December for all bat species are presented in Bat Call (2019a). Those results indicated

that there were Pilbara leaf-nosed bats foraging across the Western Range study area but there are no

diurnal roosts to the west of the known Ratty Spring roost (Bat Call 2019b). However, a series of caves

utilised by Ghost bats were identified and further targeted surveying was carried out by Rio Tinto

biologists during the first quarter of 2019. Bat Call WA has reviewed all of the recordings made

between July and March and provided an assessment of Ghost bat activity levels and suggested usage at

these sites.

The Ghost bat is an obligate cave roosting bat that is widespread across the Pilbara in general including

the Paraburdoo area (McKenzie and Bullen 2009; Bat Call 2018; Bat Call 2019a). It has been the

subject of detailed observations for many years and, more recently, to several mid and long term

monitoring programs including Rio Tinto’s programs at West Angelas (Biologic 2016) and in the Robe

Valley (Bat Call 2017). These have shown that PGb are constantly moving between available caves. The

evidence from this work shows that the usage of particular caves falls into four broad categories. Firstly

there are caves and historical underground mines (adits) that are used continuously as diurnal roosts by

large numbers of Ghost bats for long periods of time, “category 1” caves. Secondly there are caves that

are used regularly as diurnal roosts by small numbers of Ghost bats but not continuously, “category 2”

caves. Thirdly there are caves that are used as diurnal roosts only occasionally and as nocturnal roosts

more frequently, “category 3” caves. And finally, survey work in recent years has shown that virtually

any deep overhang, shelter or cave is subject to a nocturnal visit and/or an opportunistic roosting visit,

“category 4” sites. Detailed definitions for cave categories are given in the text below.

Pilbara Ghost bat detection along the Western Range ridge is consistent with the presence of Ghost bats

in the district, probably year-round. Ghost bats were recorded at thirteen of the fourteen caves and scats

were recorded at the fourteenth. Timing of the echolocation calls detected suggested diurnally roosting

bats at six caves. The numbers of bats identified as roosting suggest that up to ten were present at

Western Range during the survey. While no category 1 caves were identified, three have been

categorised as category 2 on the basis of the detected call patterns, caves (Caves 6, 11 and 15). A fourth

(Cave 18, nearby cave 6) has been classified as a category 2 based on the combination of regular visits

during the survey, its size, and the presence of a very large midden in a rear chamber. The remaining



nine caves have been categorised in category 3 (Caves 1 to 4, 12 to 14, 16 and 17) and the site with scats

but with no calls detected (Cave 5) as category 4.

The four category 2 caves together with groups of category 3 caves nearby are recommended for

protection as they make up three groupings that are important for the species persistence (TSSC 2016,

Bat Call 2017.



Habitats

The sites for the survey were chosen by Astron and Rio Tinto staff. Details of the sites are presented in

table 1. Thirteen sites were cave entrances and one was an overhang. The locations are shown in relation

to local features in figure 1.

Each cave has been categorised according to the following definitions based on Ghost bat (PGb) usage:

Category 1 diurnal roost caves with permanent occupancy.

There are a number of documented permanent roost caves and underground mines in northern Australia,

e.g. Tunnel Creek in the Kimberley and Kohinoor Adit in the NT. These tend to have large but variable

populations, e.g. Kohinoor’s colony has grown from 300+ in 1981 to ~1,500 in 1990 and then reduced

to 550 in 2013 (Woinarski et al. 2014). In the Pilbara, other than a number of historical underground

mines e.g. Klondyke Queen, Lalla Rookh and Bamboo Creek which do have large populations of over

100 PGb, very few such roosts in natural caves are documented. Those that may be permanently

occupied have been observed with variable populations present. One example may be a significant cave

in the Robe Valley south-west of Pannawonica that has had PGb present on most, if not all, survey

visits. The colony size at this cave has varied from a few to over 70 recorded in April 2017 (Bat Call

2017). Where permanent presence at these sites is proven, they must all be assumed to be maternity

caves. There are no previously documented Cat 1 caves at Western Range.

Category 2 diurnal roost caves with regular occupancy.

There are a number of Pilbara caves and adits where PGb have regular, but not continuous, presence

over long periods. The longest continuous monitoring programs have been at Rio Tinto’s West Angelas

project and at BHPs MAC and South Flank projects. At all three locations there are a number of caves

with roosting PGb records but none of these have had either permanent presence or consistently high

numbers present. Numbers have varied between zero and five with very occasional counts of 20 or

more. Based on recent monitoring of caves using ultrasonic call detectors, these caves have PGb present

for 25 to 75% of nights for mid to long periods but then may be abandoned for periods. There is

insufficient data at present to see if there are any seasonal trends in these occupancy rates. These caves

typically have a number of other caves, shelters and overhangs within a few hundred meters. Together

they make up an “apartment block” grouping (TSSC 2016, Bat Call 2017) that supports the ongoing

presence of the bats.

Recent analysis at West Angelas based on genetic sampling at five monitored caves in 2015 and 2017

(Ottwell et al. 2018) suggests that some PGb tend to use particular caves regularly over a season or year



but others move between caves in the same period. Their analysis identifies 34 unique individuals at

caves over those two years and indicated that the “genetic effective population size” was 12 individuals.

Two of the five caves have been shown by the long-term observations to have regular occupancy

(Biologic 2016). These are AA1 and A1. In all surveys undertaken, PGb have been either roosting in

low numbers or there was evidence of recent roosting at the former and, with the exception of one

survey, at the latter. The genetic analysis also supports this conclusion with presence of multiple bats

over the two years of that study at these caves. Similar occupancy patterns have been recorded at several

caves at the BHP projects. There are an increasing number of observations becoming available of

pregnant PGb or PGb carrying pups at some of these caves although again there is insufficient data to

identify any trends other than to say that any cave that has regular occupancy must be assumed to be

capable of supporting one or more reproducing females and their offspring. There are four caves at

Western Range (see below) that fall into this category.

Category 3 roost caves with occasional occupancy.

There are a large number of caves and adits where PGb roost occasionally or rarely in small numbers of

one to a few. Surveys in recent years have identified numerous caves that have PGb scats or small food

middens present but either no evidence of roosting bats or with rarely repeated presence observations,

e.g. five of the seven monitored caves at West Angelas (Biologic 2016) show such a pattern with

occasional PGb present and/or intermittent evidence of recent occupancy. Reproducing females have

been reported from at least two caves that ongoing observations indicate fall into this category. One

example is the “Caves Creek maternity cave” east of Rio Tinto’s Silvergrass project where several PGb

with pups were reported in 1998.

Category 4 nocturnal roost caves, opportunistic usage.

Numerous observations suggest that the majority of caves and adits in the Pilbara are used in at least an

opportunistic manner by itinerant Ghost bats. This may be anything from a single foraging visit to a

longer visit with a resting period or possibly a feeding session. Evidence of such visits is the widespread

presence of small numbers of scats found or occasional echolocation calls recorded during surveys.

These visits may or may not be repeated depending whether the bat is passing through a district or is a

more permanent resident nearby.



Table 1: Site recording period and location details.

Coordinates are Zone 50K

Date

Overnight

Recordings Habitat Easting Northing

Cave 1 July 18

Dec 18

11 by Astron

6 by Astron Cave entrance 550736 7435240

Cave 2 July 18

Feb and March 19

10 by Astron

34 by RT Cave entrance 539023 7437594

Cave 3 Dec 18 6 by Astron Cave entrance 550744 7434608

Cave 4 July 18

Dec 18

11 by Astron

6 by Astron Cave entrance 550750 7434642

Cave 5 Dec 18 6 by Astron Overhang 550845 7435060

Cave 6 July to Sept 18

Dec 18 to March 19

46 by Astron


Cave 11 Aug 18

Feb and March 19

2 by Astron


Cave 12 Aug 18

Feb and March 19

1 by Astron


Cave 13 Feb and March 19 34 by RT Cave entrance 547677 7436201

Cave 14 Oct 18

Oct 18 to March 19

8 by Astron


Cave 15 Oct 18 to Dec 18

Dec 18 to March 19

60 by Astron


Cave 16 Dec 18 and Jan 19 45 by RT Cave entrance 550048 7435093

Cave 17 Jan and Feb 19 43 by RT Cave entrance 550032 7435091

Cave 18 Feb and March 19 35 by RT Cave entrance 549038 7435427



Weather

The period of this study included the 2018 northern WA dry season and the majority of the 2018-19

northern WA wet season.

Paraburdoo received no rainfall during the northern dry season and virtually none in the early months of

the northern wet season, figure 1. Rain was recorded in January with 64 mm recorded at Paraburdoo

airport. However, no rain fell during February and only 10 mm fell during the survey in the first half of

March.

Figure 1: Rainfall at Paraburdoo Airport during the study period.

Survey Team

Sites were chosen and detectors placed by Astron ecologists led by Matthew Love and Rio Tinto

biologists led by Scot Reiffer. The dates that the various sites were instrumented are given in Table 1.

Bob Bullen of Bat Call WA completed analysis of all audio and echolocation recordings.

Sampling

Echolocation Survey

The echolocation survey consisted of completing overnight ultrasonic bat sound recordings, beginning

at twilight, within the survey area, table 1. The recordings were “continuous” (Hyder et al. 2010) made

using ultrasonic SM2BAT+ SongMeter and SM4U SongMeter (both by Wildlife Acoustics Inc., USA)

detectors. The audio settings used followed the manufacturer’s recommendations contained in the user



manuals and included the full frequency range that Ghost bats and PLNb use during social and

ultrasonic communication.

Power for the detectors was initially provided by their internal batteries. Later, for long term

deployments at caves 6, 11, 14, 15 and 18, power was provided by external 12V batteries charged by

solar panels.

For the ultrasonic recordings, once reformatted as .wav files, COOL EDIT 2000 (now available as

AUDITION from Adobe Systems Inc.) was used to display each sequence for identification. PGb calls

were identified manually. An example of a PGb call including social and ultrasonic segments is given in

figure 2.

Figure 2: Example of a Ghost Bat audible social and inaudible ultrasonic call sequence

Call detections, singly or in groups, made just prior to dawn civil twilight (CT) followed by similar call

detection patterns subsequent to dusk CT suggested diurnal roosting of bats at that cave. When these

calls were detected in groups over periods of a few to 30 minutes, the number of calls recorded

suggested that a similar number of PGb were entering and re-exiting the caves on that day.



VHF Tracking Survey

A complementary VHF tracking program has begun in 2019, by Biologic Environmental (Biologic),

with targeted cave searches, establishing VHF tracking systems and has included the capture, tagging

and release of a total of 7 Ghost Bats to date. Outcomes of this project will be released at a later date.

.



Survey Limitations

The sites surveyed were accessible on foot and the detectors, using omnidirectional microphones, were

set on the ground with the microphone horizontal. Ghost bats are unlikely to be under-represented as a

result of the placement of the detectors. However, PGb calls are cryptic and are sometimes difficult to

differentiate from heavy Taphozous spp and/or insect calling. Further PGb do not always call at the

entrance of caves as they enter or exit. For this reason the number of PGb present in the caves may be

underrepresented.



Results

Echolocation Survey

Ghost bat ultrasonic calls were detected at thirteen of fourteen sites, (Caves 1 to ‘4, ‘6, ’11 to ‘18), table

2 and figure 3. These records are consistent with the PGb being present year round on the Western

Range ridges. This result is consistent with the known presence of low numbers of PGb in the

Paraburdoo area of the central Pilbara. In addition, a number of diurnal PGB sightings were reported

(see below) and four caves (Caves 6, 11, 15 and 18) were reported by survey ecologists to contain very

large PGb middens indicating long term presence.

Three widely separated caves, Cave 6, ’11 and ’15, showed the consistent presence of the species and

call time pairs were recorded on a number of days that suggested diurnally roosting bats. Each also had

large PGb middens present. These have been categorised as Cat 2 on the basis of the call patterns. The

monthly variation of the call detections and the timing of suggested diurnal roosting are presented in

Table 2. These show that PGb utilised these three caves on 30% or more of all detector nights and

typically over 50%. Diurnal roosting was suggested in each month of the survey at the three caves

except in December at Cave 6 and January at Cave 15. The monthly total of roosting nights varied

widely with lows of one night at Cave 6 during in July, January and March and at Cave 11 in August, to

a high of 12 nights at Cave 11 in March. The number of PGb indicated roosting at the three caves

suggests up to ten PGb may have been present at Western Range during the study. A fourth (Cave 18)

that contains a very large PGb midden is categorised as a Cat 2 cave on the basis of its size and internal

configuration, the midden and the regular detection of PGb calls although no roosting bats were detected

during the two months of the survey.

Category 3 caves include caves ‘1 to ‘4, ’12 to ’14, ’16 and ‘17. Typically these caves were visited

during the majority of, but not all, months. The number of nights with visits detected in any month

varied widely but was typically under 50%. The highest visit rate was Cave 2, 73% of nights in

February. Roosting was rare in these caves with only single nights recorded at Caves 2 and 14 in

February and Cave 13 in March.

The only category 4 site included in the study was Cave 5, an overhang nearby Cave 6. While scats were

recorded at this site, no PGb calls were detected.

Three important groupings of caves with PGb activity have been identified centred on the four category

2 caves with category 3 caves nearby. The pair of caves ‘6 and ’18, with one-kilometre separation, has

Caves 16 and ‘17, between them. Cave 11 has Cave 2, 250 m to the west and Cave 15 has Cave 12, 500



m to the east. All three groupings showed regular and consistent usage by PGb. A fourth cave grouping,

south east of cave 6, consisted of four cat. 3 sites, caves 1, 3, 4 and 5. PGb were observed at two of these

however there were no large middens reported and ultrasonic call recordings were inconsistent. Usage

of these four caves was therefore assessed as typical of other individual cat. 3 caves and therefore not

important as a grouping.

Caves 13 and ’14 are both category 3 caves but are isolated from the other groupings. Both had regular

visits but typically on less than 30% of nights in any month. A single PGb roosting diurnally was

suggested at Cave 14 in February and at Cave 13 in March and two were identified roosting diurnally at

Cave 14 earlier. The maximum utilisation recorded was 37% at Cave 13 in March.



Table 2. Ghost Bat Activity presented by site.

Cave

and

Category

Observations of

PGb presence in

daylight hours

Ultrasonic Survey Results

July 18 Aug 18 Sept 18 Oct 18 Nov 18 Dec 18 Jan 19 Feb 19 Mar 19

Cave 1

3

1 PGb seen (Astron 2018)

Scats present (Astron

2018)

Survey dates PGb detected

PGb roosting indicated PGb roosting on dates

Number roosting suggested

16 – 26 Yes on 45%

No

4 - 9 Yes on 67%

No

Cave 2

3

PGb Scats present (Astron 2018)




16 – 26 Yes on 18%

No

8 - 28 Yes on 73%

Yes 12 – 22

1

1 - 12 Yes on 10%

No

Cave 3

3




4 - 9 Yes on 67%

No

Cave 4

3


Scats present (Astron

2018)




16 – 26 Yes on 36%

No

4 - 9 No



Cave

and

Category

Observations of

PGb presence in

daylight hours



Cave 5

4





4 - 9 No

Cave 6

2


1 PGb seen (Biologic,

Feb 19 in prep.)

2 large middens present. (Astron 2018)




26 - 31 Yes on 33% Yes on 17%

27 2

1 - 31 Yes on 66% Yes on 30% 4, 16, 24-30

3

1 - 9 Yes on 100% Yes on 100%

1-9 4

10 - 31 Yes on 32%

No

1 - 31 Yes on 50% Yes on 3%

16 1

8 - 28 Yes on 57% Yes on 20%

1-5 1

1 - 12 Yes on 45% Yes on 8%

9 1

Cave 11

2

5 PGb seen (Biologic, May 19 in prep.)

1 large midden

present (Astron 2018)




3 - 4 Yes on 100%

Yes on 50% 4 2

7 - 28 Yes on 60% Yes on 33%

8, 22-28 7

1 - 12 Yes on 100% Yes on 100%

1-12 6

Cave 12

3





4 No

7 - 28 Yes on 23%

No

1 - 12 Yes on 9%

No



Cave

and

Category

Observations of

PGb presence in

daylight hours



Cave 13

3





7 - 28 Yes on 23%

No

1 - 12 Yes on 37% Yes on 8%

4 1

Cave 14

3


1 PGb seen (Biologic,

Feb 19 in prep.)




8 - 31 Yes on 12%

No

10 - 30 Yes on 31%

No

10 - 31 Yes on 7%

No

11 - 31 Yes on 10%

No

7 - 28 Yes on 23% Yes on 5%

20 1

1 - 13 No

Cave 15

2


1 very large midden

present (Astron 2018)




11 - 31 Yes on 48% Yes on 30%

24 - 31 3

1 - 30 Yes on 47% Yes on 30% 1-4 19-25

2

1 - 9 Yes on 56% Yes on 56%

5-9 3

10 - 31 Yes on 30%

No

8 - 28 Yes on 54% Yes on 33%

5-16 2

1 - 13 Yes on 38% Yes on 30%

9-13 3

Cave 16

3




4 - 31 Yes on 14%

No

8 - 28 Yes on 11%

No

Cave 17

3




10 - 31

Yes on 45% No

1 - 21

Yes on 24% No



Cave

and

Category

Observations of

PGb presence in

daylight hours



Cave 18

2

1 very large midden present (S. Reiffer

(RTIO) pers comm.)




7 - 28 Yes on 20%

No

1 - 12 Yes on 12%

No



Figure 3. Western Range PGb survey sites.

Pink pins indicate category 2 or 3 caves. The yellow pin at cave 5 indicates a category 4 overhang



Recommendations.

The results of the survey are consistent with the use of the ridge lines within the study areas by up to 10

PGb, probably on a seasonal basis with low numbers present year round. In particular, Caves 6, ‘11 and

‘15 have been proven to be category 2 caves and Cave 18 has been included in this category. All have

third category caves nearby, i.e. Caves 2, ’12, ’16 and ‘17.

Three recommendations are made:

1. As a primary recommendation, these three cave groupings including the four cat. 2 caves are

recommended for protection by exclusion zones of adequate shape and size.

2. As a secondary matter, protection for the isolated cave ’14 by retention of the gully facade

behind is also recommended.

3. Of lesser importance are caves 1, ‘3, ‘4 ‘5 and ‘13, all cat. 3 or cat. 4. Each is judged to be either

nearby a primary grouping or midway between two primary cave groupings that are separated by

less than five kilometres.



References

Bat Call (2017). Robe Valley Mesa A to Mesa 2405A, impact of mining on Ghost bat presence and activity, April 2017, including assessment of caves on Mesas F and G. Unpublished report prepared for Rio Tinto, issue 3.

Bat Call (2018). Rio Tinto, Paraburdoo Western Range, Pilbara WA, Acoustic Survey of Bat and Night

Parrot Activity, June 2018. Unpublished report for Astron/Rio Tinto dated August 2018. Bat Call (2019a). Rio Tinto, Greater Paraburdoo, Pilbara WA, Acoustic Survey of Bat Activity, July to

December 2018. Unpublished report for Astron/Rio Tinto dated January 2019. Bat Call (2019b). Rio Tinto, Rio Tinto, Ratty Spring and Paraburdoo Pools Pilbara leaf-nosed Bat

monitoring program, 2015 to December 2018. Unpublished report for Rio Tinto dated January 2019.

Biologic (2016). West Angelas Iron Ore Mine – Deposit B and F Ghost bat monitoring 2015.

Unpublished report prepared for Rio Tinto dated January 2016. Hyder, B.M., Dell, J. and Cowan, M.A. (eds) (2010). Technical guide – Terrestrial vertebrate fauna

surveys for environmental impact assessment. Technical report of the Environmental Protection Authority and the Department of Environment and Conservation.

McKenzie, N.L. and Bullen R.D. (2009). The echolocation calls, habitat relationships, foraging niches

and communities of Pilbara microbats. Rec. West. Aust. Mus. Supplement 78:123-155.

Ottwell, K, McArthur, S., Van Leeuwen, S. and Byrne, M. (2018). Cave use by Ghost Bat (Macroderma gigas) at the West Angelas mine site. WA Department of Biodiversity and Attractions report dated January 2018.

T.S.S.C. (2016). Conservation advice, Macroderma gigas, ghost bat. Environment protection and

biodiversity conservation act 1999,: Threatened species scientific committee report dated May 2016.



Appendix 1. Significant Western Range Cave Descriptions.

Descriptions and images provided by Astron Environmental Services unless otherwise noted.

MGA Zone 50 K

Description Photograph Easting

(mE)

Northing

(mE)

Cave 1

Cat. 3

Regular PGb nocturnal visits detected. 1 PGb observed 2018

550736 7435240

Entrance: narrow and pinched (1 m wide x 0.6m high) Orientation: South-west Internal: 1 dome with 2 side pockets (12 m deep x 4 m wide x 3 m high) Conditions: Ghost Bat scats present, raised humidity and elevated temperature



MGA Zone 50 K


(mE)

Northing

(mE)

Cave 2

Cat. 3

Regular PGb nocturnal visits detected. Occasional diurnal roosting recorded.

539023 7437594

Entrance: narrow (2 m wide x 1m high) Orientation: South Internal: forked cave, corkscrew to the right (25 m deep) and straight to the left (10 m deep), 2 domes (2 m high x 3 m wide), lots of crevices and solution pipes Conditions: raised humidity, elevated temperature, rear passages



MGA Zone 50 K


(mE)

Northing

(mE)

Cave 3

Cat. 3

Regular PGb nocturnal visits detected

550744 7434608

Entrance: narrow (5 m wide x 1m high) Orientation: West Internal: narrow with two side caverns (30 m deep x 1-15 m wide x 1 m high) Conditions: raised humidity and elevated temperature



MGA Zone 50 K


(mE)

Northing

(mE)

Cave 4

Cat. 3 Regular PGb nocturnal visits detected. 3 PGb observed 2018

550750 7434642

Entrance: overhang that is open/wide (5 m wide x 2m high) Orientation: West Internal: large cavernous dome with solution pipes (10 m deep x 4 m wide x 5 m high) Conditions: raised humidity and elevated temperature



MGA Zone 50 K


(mE)

Northing

(mE)

Cave 5

Cat 4

No current activity detected

550845 7435060

Entrance: overhang that is open/wide (5 m wide x 1.5m high) Orientation: West Internal: single dome (5 m deep x 5 m wide x 1.5 m high) Conditions: Ghost Bat scats present



MGA Zone 50 K


(mE)

Northing

(mE)

Cave 6

Cat. 2

Regular PGb nocturnal visits detected. Regular diurnal roosting recorded.

550146 7435298

Entrance: open/wide (6 m wide x 1 m high) Orientation: South-west Internal: two domed caverns, left dome has soultion pipes 5-7 m in height, right dome is large cavern (15 m deep x 10 m wide x 20 m high) Conditions raised humidity and elevated temperature

Chamber: 10 m wide x 15 m deep x 2 m high

Entrance: 6 m wide x 1 m high opening into 5 m deep dome

Constriction: 1 m x 0.5 m



MGA Zone 50 K


(mE)

Northing

(mE)

Cave 11

Cat. 2


539274 7437589

Entrance: narrow (4 m wide x 0.5 m high) Orientation: South Internal: pinched section that opens into a high dome on a side chamber (20 m deep x 8 m wide x 4 m high) Conditions: raised humidity and elevated temperature



MGA Zone 50 K


(mE)

Northing

(mE)

Cave 12

Cat. 3


545277 7435693

Entrance: narrow (1 m wide x 1 m high) Orientation: West Internal: long tunnel shaped cave (18 m deep x 1 m wide x 1 m high) with a large, narrow top chamber (>15 m deep x 1 m wide x 3 m high) Conditions: raised humidity and elevated temperature



MGA Zone 50 K


(mE)

Northing

(mE)

Cave 13

Cat. 3

Regular PGb nocturnal visits detected Occasional diurnal roosting recorded.

547677 7436201

Entrance: narrow (10 m wide x 2 m high) Orientation: South Internal: two chambers, one left (10 m deep x 5 m wide x 2 m high) and one right (10 m deep x 3 m wide x 3 m high) Conditions: Ghost Bat scats present, raised humidity and elevated temperature



MGA Zone 50 K


(mE)

Northing

(mE)

Cave 14

Cat. 3

Regular PGb nocturnal visits detected Occasional diurnal roosting recorded.

553868 7433695

Entrance: open/wide, large cathedral (12 m wide x 6 m high) Orientation: south Internal: one large rear domed cavern, left dome with multiple cracks and crevices and mini roosting spots, main dome is 5 m to 8 m in height, 25 m deep x 12 m wide



MGA Zone 50 K


(mE)

Northing

(mE)

Cave 15

Cat. 2


544724 7435692

Entrance: narrow (0.5 m wide x 0.4 m high) Orientation: east Internal: three domed caverns (potential), front dome 1.5 m high x 2 m wide x 2 m high, rear caverns dome dimensions unknown Conditions: Ghost Bat middens present, raised humidity and elevated temperature

Figure by T. Moyle and S. Reiffer



MGA Zone 50 K


(mE)

Northing

(mE)

Cave 16

Cat. 3


550049 7435094

Entrance: wide (3.0 m wide x 2.5 m high) Orientation: east-south-east Internal: one long tunnel (~15 m to 20 m) leading to one high rear domed cavern



MGA Zone 50 K


(mE)

Northing

(mE)

Cave 17

Cat. 3


550032 7435091



Internal: two chambers, one left (15 m deep x 2.5 m wide x 1.5 m high) and one right (15 m deep x 2.5 m wide x 1.5 m high)

Conditions: Raised humidity and elevated temperature



MGA Zone 50 K


(mE)

Northing

(mE)

Cave 18

Cat. 2


549038 7435427

Entrance: 3 m x 3 m Orientation: South Internal: One large chamber (8 m wide x ~12 m deep), one rear chamber (6 m x 4 m). Cave has three domes 3 m high.

Cave 18 entrance image by S. Reiffer (RTIO)

PGB midden image by T. Moyle (Biologic); cave layout by S. Reiffer (RTIO)

Para Western Range –Issue 2

BAT CALL WA 1 of 18 29/05/2019

Rio Tinto, Greater Paraburdoo, Pilbara WA,

Acoustic Survey of Bat Activity,

July to December 2018.

Prepared for Astron Environmental Services

Bat Call WA Pty Ltd ABN 26 146 117 839 43 Murray Drive Hillarys Western Australia 6025 [email protected] +61 8 9402 1987 +61 488 930 735 Prepared by: R. D. Bullen – Bat Call WA Issue 2 29 May 2019 This document has been prepared to the requirements of Astron Environmental Services. It may be cited for the purposes of scientific research or other reasonable use. It may not be reproduced or distributed to any third party by hardcopy or electronic means without the permission of the client or Bat Call WA.



BAT CALL WA 2 of 18 29/05/2019

Document Revision History

Issue Date Revision History

A 5 Nov 2018 Initial draft prepared for Astron review

B 18 Dec 2018 Second draft including data from October to December

1 29 Jan 2019 Formal Issue

2 29 May 2019 Second Issue incorporating additional data


BAT CALL WA 3 of 18 29/05/2019

Summary

Bat presence is reported for 14 sites near Paraburdoo, in the Pilbara, WA. Astron Environmental Services (Astron) carried out a targeted echolocation-based survey for bats from July to December 2018. Bat Call WA has reviewed the recordings made and provided species lists and activity levels for the bats present. Ten species of echolocating bats were confirmed present including both EPBC Act listed species in the Pilbara, the Ghost bat (Macroderma gigas) (PGb) and the Pilbara leaf-nosed bat (Rhinonicteris aurantia) (PLNb). PGb were detected ultrasonically at ten sites. PLNb calls were detected in low to high numbers at thirteen sites. PGb detection along the ridge is consistent with the presence of PGb in the district, probably year-round. PGb were recorded at ten of the fourteen sites. They were detected on 38 of 67 detector nights at site BAT5 (also identifies as Cave 6). At this site, the timing of the calls on five nights between July and September was consistent with roosting bats. At BAT 9 (also identified as Cave 15) they were detected on 29 of 59 nights. Call timing was consistent with roosting bats on at least 14 nights. At all sites, the timing of PLNb calls were consistent with bats originating from the known Ratty Spring roost to the east and do not indicate the presence of a permanent or satellite roost cave nearby. The detection of calls with timing close to civil twilight at the western end of the study area in June 2018 (Bat Call 2018) was not repeated. That call remains as a single bat roosting overnight opportunistically and is not consistent with the presence of a satellite roost cave at the western end of the range. A single call pair was detected on the night of the 29th November at BAT 9. This also indicates a single bat roosting opportunistically and is not consistent with a satellite diurnal roost cave nearby. Habitats

The sites for the survey were chosen by Astron. Details of the sites are presented in table 1. Eleven sites were cave entrances with one gorge and one pool. The locations are shown in relation to local features in figure 1. Timing, Moon Phase and Weather

The echolocation survey was conducted between 16th July and 31st December 2018. The sampling evenings in July and August were generally cold and dry with minimum overnight temperatures around 5OC. The sampling evenings in October were warm and dry with minimum overnight temperatures around 15OC. November and December were hot and dry. The moon included full lunar cycles. Survey Team

Sites were chosen and detectors placed by Astron ecologists. Bob Bullen of Bat Call WA completed analysis of audio and echolocation recordings. Sampling

The echolocation survey consisted of completing a total of three hundred overnight ultrasonic bat sound recordings, beginning at twilight, within the survey area. The recordings were “continuous” (Hyder et al. 2010) made using ultrasonic SM2BAT+ SongMeter and SM4U SongMeter (both by Wildlife Acoustics Inc., USA) detectors. The audio settings used followed the manufacturer’s recommendations contained in the user manuals. For the ultrasonic recordings, once reformatted as .wav files, COOL EDIT 2000 (now available as AUDITION from Adobe Systems Inc.) was used to display each sequence for identification. Calls


BAT CALL WA 4 of 18 29/05/2019

were identified manually. Only good quality call sequences were used. Details of calls analysed are provided in Table 2 as recommended by Australasian Bat Society (ABS 2006). Reference data for the species identified are available in Bullen and McKenzie 2002, McKenzie and Bullen 2003 and McKenzie and Bullen 2009.

Survey Limitations

The sites surveyed were accessible on foot and the detectors, using omnidirectional microphones, were set on the ground with the microphone horizontal. Species are unlikely to be under-represented as a result. Bat species density away from cave or adit entrances is impossible to estimate from echolocation records. Bat activity is therefore substituted as an approximate guide to the relative numbers of each species using the study area. Results of bat fauna survey

An assemblage of ten echolocating bat species was confirmed as present at the study sites including both the PGb and PLNb, table 3. Species activity levels were low to very high, which is expected for the study area habitat and the times of year. PGb detections Ghost bat ultrasonic calls were detected at nine caves, (BAT 1, ‘2, ‘5, ‘6, ‘8, ‘9, ’11, ‘12 and ‘15), table 3 and figure 1. Ultrasonic calls were also detected at the gorge site (BAT 7). These records are consistent with the PGb being present year-round on the Western Range ridges. This result is consistent with the known presence of low numbers of PGb in the Paraburdoo area of the central Pilbara. BAT 5 (Cave 6) and BAT 9 (Cave 15) in particular showed the consistent presence of the species. At BAT 5, timing of calls on five nights between July and September was consistent with roosting bats while call timing from mid-August onward was consistent with regular foraging visits (PGb were detected on all but three nights between 11 August and 9 September). The grouping of sites nearby this cave, together with the presence of middens and scat piles (Astron pers comm), is consistent with this area providing an “apartment block” of roosting opportunities (after Bat Call 2017). This is a one deep cave with characteristics of a maternity roost, with multiple caves/shelters and overhangs in close proximity offering nocturnal feeding and refuge opportunities. The area also includes a local productive set of gullies and gorges, a productive foraging area within 5-10 km radius, including a good quality riparian line or ephemeral fresh water lakebed, and appropriate protection from human interference. In this grouping, BAT 5 provides the characteristics of a maternity roost cave (John Trainer, Astron zoologist pers comm). At BAT 9 (Cave 15), calls were detected on the majority of nights from mid-October onward. The timing of the calls was consistent with roosting bats on 14 nights during this period, and probably an additional six. Overall, the results are consistent with Author’s data from other Hamersley Range ridge lines where PGb in small numbers utilise a number of caves for varying times throughout the year and occasionally come together in larger groups for short periods. PLNb detections PLNb were detected at all but one ultrasonic site, table 3 and figure 3. Call numbers were low to high with the maximum number of calls being 216 at BAT 3 and 86 at BAT 4, figure 4. The temporal pattern of calls, figure 4, is consistent with PLNb foraging away from their roost with timing gaps from civil twilight increasing from 45 minutes at BAT 8 in the east to primarily midnight calls at the western sites. The closest confirmed permanent diurnal roost is at Ratty Spring approximately 10 km to the east. A single call pair (one call immediately prior to dawn followed later in the day by one call immediately after dusk) was detected on the night of the 29th


BAT CALL WA 5 of 18 29/05/2019

November at BAT 9. This indicates that a bat roosted opportunistically and is not consistent with a satellite diurnal roost at, or nearby this cave. Common bat species detections Five common species, Austronomus australis, Chalinolobus gouldii, Taphozous georgianus, T. hilli and Vespadelus finlaysoni dominated bat presence in the area. Both Taphozous species were detected at most sites Taxonomy presented herein is after Reardon et al. (2014) and Jackson and Groves (2015). Recommendations.

PLNb The results of the survey are consistent with the author’s existing data on the dispersal of this species from its permanent roost at Ratty Spring. No additional targeted survey effort is indicated by these results. PGb The results of the survey are consistent with the use of the ridge lines within the study areas by PGb, probably on a year-round basis. In particular, BAT 5 and BAT 9 (Caves 6 and 15) should be protected by exclusion zones of adequate size.


BAT CALL WA 6 of 18 29/05/2019

References

ABS (2006). Recommendations of the Australasian Bat Society Inc for reporting standards for insectivorous bat surveys using bat detectors. The Australasian Bat Society Newsletter 27: 6-9.

Bat Call (2017). Robe Valley Mesa A to Mesa 2405A, impact of mining on Ghost bat presence and

activity, April 2017, including assessment of caves on Mesas F and G. Unpublished report prepared for Rio Tinto, issue 3.

Bat Call (2018). Rio Tinto, Paraburdoo Western Range, Pilbara WA, Level 1 Targeted Survey of

Bat and Night Parrot Activity, June 2018. Unpublished report for Astron dated Oct 2018. Bullen, R. (2013). Pilbara leaf-nosed bat, Rhinonicteris aurantia: Summary of current data on

distribution, energetics and threats. Presentation made to Western Australian Department of Environment and Conservation workshop on Pilbara leaf-nosed bats, 25 June 2013

Bullen R.D. and McKenzie N.L. (2002). Differentiating Western Australian Nyctophilus

(Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) echolocation calls. Australian Mammalogy. 23: 89-93 Bullen R.D. and McKenzie N.L. (2005). Seasonal range variation of Tadarida australis (Chiroptera:

Molossidae) in Western Australia: the impact of enthalpy. Australian Journal of Zoology 53: 145-156.

Hyder, B.M., Dell, J. and Cowan, M.A. (eds) (2010). Technical guide – Terrestrial vertebrate fauna

surveys for environmental impact assessment. Technical report of the Environmental Protection Authority and the Department of Environment and Conservation.

Jackson, S. and Groves, C (2015). Taxonomy of Australian Mammals. CSIRO Publishing:

Collingwood Vic. McKenzie N.L. and Bullen R.D. (2003). Identifying Little Sandy Desert bat species from their

echolocation calls. Australian Mammalogy 25: 73-80. McKenzie, N.L. and Bullen R.D. (2009). The echolocation calls, habitat relationships, foraging

niches and communities of Pilbara microbats. Rec. West. Aust. Mus. Supplement 78:123-155. Reardon, T.B., McKenzie, N.L., Cooper, S.J., Appleton, B. Carthew, S. and Adams, M. (2014). A

molecular and morphological investigation of species boundaries and phylogenetic relationships in Australian free-tailed bats Mormopterus (Chiroptera: Molossidae). Australian Journal of Zoology, available on-line 23 April 2014.


BAT CALL WA 7 of 18 29/05/2019

Table 1 Microbat echolocation site specific details. Coordinates are Zone 50K

Date Recording Time & SM2 unit Habitat Easting Northing

BAT 1 (Cave 2) 16 to 26 July Eleven overnight recordings using

SM4U02759 recording at 384 kbps Cave entrance 539023 7437594

BAT 2 3 to 4 Aug Two overnight recordings using SM2 SN 11793 recording at 384 kbps Cave entrance 539274 7437589

BAT 3 4 Aug One overnight recording using SM2 SN 12801 recording at 384 kbps Cave entrance 545277 7435693

BAT 4 4 Aug One overnight recording using SM2 SN 7758 recording at 384 kbps Permanent pool 545334 7435883

BAT 5 (Cave 6)

26 July to 31 Dec

Sixty-seven overnight recordings using SM2 SN 7634 (1 night) and SM4U02734,

both recording at 384 kbps Cave entrance 550146 7435298

BAT 6 16 to 26 July Eleven overnight recordings using SM4U02734 recording at 384 kbps Cave entrance 550736 7435240

BAT 7 16 to 26 July Eleven overnight recordings using SM2 SN 2486 recording at 384 kbps Gorge 550762 7434658

BAT 8 (Cave 14) 8 Oct to 31 Dec

Eight-five overnight recordings using SM2 SN 15337 and SM4U02759

recording at 384 kbps Cave entrance 553868 7433695

BAT 9 (Cave 15) 11 Oct to 9 Dec Fifty-nine overnight recordings using


BAT 11 (Cave 1) 4 to 9 Dec Six overnight recordings using








BAT 15 (Cave 16) 4 to 31 Dec Twenty-eight overnight recordings using



BAT CALL WA 8 of 18 29/05/2019

Table 2: Summary of Echolocation call characteristics for microbat species present.

Genus species Authority Common name

Typical

Fpeak

kHz

Note 1

Ave.

Q

Note 1

Typical

Duration

msec

Typical Call

Shape

Austronomus australis (Gray 1838) Note 2 White-striped free-tailed bat 12 7 12 - 23 CF– shallow

FM

Chaerephon jobensis (Miller 1902) Northern free-tailed bat 22 5 8 - 15 Shallow FM

Chalinolobus gouldii (Grey 1841) Gould’s wattled bat 32 10 7 - 11 FM

Macroderma gigas (Dobson 1880) Ghost bat 20 – 52 variable

2 – 20 variable variable Complex FM

Ozimops lumsdenae Reardon et al. 2014 Northern free-tailed bat 26 10 8 - 13 Shallow FM

Rhinonicteris aurantia (Gray 1845) Pilbara leaf-nosed bat 120 30 5 - 8 CF

Scotorepens greyii (Gray 1843) Little broad-nosed bat 38 10 7 - 13 FM

Taphozous georgianus Thomas 1915 Common sheath-tailed bat 24.5 14 9 - 18 CF– shallow FM

Taphozous hilli Thomas 1915 Hills sheath-tailed bat 26 14 9 - 18 CF– shallow FM

Vespadelus finlaysoni (Kitchener, Jones and Caputi 1987) Inland cave bat 55 14 4 - 8 FM

Note 1: Fpeak and Q are defined in McKenzie and Bullen 2003, 2009. Note 2: Taxonomy follows Jackson and Groves (2015). A. australis was recently Tadarida australis. O. lumsdenae was recently Mormopterus beccarii.


BAT CALL WA 9 of 18 29/05/2019

Table 3. Survey microbat lists presented by site.

Site

Au

stro

nom

us

au

stra

lis

Ch

aer

eph

on

joben

sis

Ch

ali

nolo

bu

s

gou

ldii

Macr

oder

ma

gig

as

Ozi

mops

lum

sden

ae

Rh

inon

icte

ris

au

ran

tia

Sco

tore

pen

s

gre

yii

Taph

ozo

us

geo

rgia

nu

s

Taph

ozo

us

hil

li

Ves

padel

us

fin

lays

on

i

BAT 1 Yes Low (3 calls)

Low (~5 calls per

night) Yes Yes Yes

BAT 2 Yes Low (6 calls)

Low (~15 calls per night)

Yes Yes Yes

BAT 3 High (216 calls) Yes Yes

BAT 4 Yes Yes Yes Yes High (86 calls) Yes Yes Yes Yes

BAT 5

Low (Up to 11 calls per night)


Yes Yes Yes

BAT 6 Yes Low (7 calls) Low

(31 calls) Yes Yes Yes

BAT 7 Yes Yes Yes Low (6 calls) Yes

Low (~5 calls per

night) Yes Yes Yes Yes

BAT 8 Low (7 calls)

Med (~40 calls per night)

Yes Yes Yes

BAT 9


Low

(~25 calls per night)

Yes Yes Yes

BAT 11 Low (8 calls) Low

(1 call) Yes Yes Yes



BAT 13 Low (2 calls) Yes Yes Yes

BAT 14 Yes Yes Yes



Note: Both Taphozous species were detected.


BAT CALL WA 10 of 18 29/05/2019

Figure 1. Survey sites where PGb were detected.


BAT CALL WA 11 of 18 29/05/2019

Figure 2. Temporal patterns of PGb calls detected


BAT CALL WA 12 of 18 29/05/2019


BAT CALL WA 13 of 18 29/05/2019


BAT CALL WA 14 of 18 29/05/2019

Figure 3. Western Range survey sites where PLNb were detected.


BAT CALL WA 15 of 18 29/05/2019

Figure 4. Temporal patterns of PLNb calls detected


BAT CALL WA 16 of 18 29/05/2019


BAT CALL WA 17 of 18 29/05/2019

Appendix 1 PLNb and PGb activity at BAT 5 (Cave 6) during the August to December 2018 monitoring period

Site

Pilbara leaf-nosed bat PLNb Ghost bat PGb

Time of

first call

Time of

last call

Number

of calls

Roosting

indicated

Time of first

call

Time of last

call

Number of

calls

Roosting

indicated

26-27 July 03:09 04:35 6 No 18:34 06:00 2 per night Yes

28 July -2 Aug 0 0 No

3-4 Aug 02:37 03:05 20 No 17:55 05:56 11 Yes

5-10 Aug 03:49 1 No 0 No

11-13 Aug 23:50 03:29 30 No 22:50 04:41 3 per night No

14 Aug 0 0 No

15 Aug 0 19:49 04:56 5 Probable

16 -21 Aug 0 22:16 03:58 2 per night No

22-23 Aug 0 0 No

24-26 Aug 03:56 2 No 03:54 04:58 1 per night No

27-28 Aug 0 19:54 05:26 7 Yes

29 Aug – 9 Sept 0 18:50 05:06 ~5 per night Yes

10-31 Dec 23:57 04:04 9 No 19:41 04:36 13 No


BAT CALL WA 18 of 18 29/05/2019

Appendix 2 PLNb and PGb activity at BAT 9 (Cave 15) during the October to December 2018 monitoring period

Site

Pilbara leaf-nosed bat PLNb Ghost bat PGb

Time of

first call

Time of

last call

Number

of calls

Roosting

indicated

Time of first

call

Time of last

call

Number of

calls

Roosting

indicated

11 Oct 18:42 1 Probable 12-14 Oct 0

15 Oct 04:46 04:50 2 No

16-17 Oct 0

18 Oct 00:47 1 No

19 Oct 0

20 Oct 00:18 02:30 4 No

21-22 Oct 0

23-25 Oct 19:06 04:48 ~5 per night Yes

26-27 Oct 0

28 Oct 19:57 03:27 2 No

29 Oct 0 30 Oct – 5 Nov 19:27 04:38 ~5 per night Probable

6-14 Nov 0 15 Nov 23:13 1 No

16-18 Nov 0

19-25 Nov 19:06 04:56 ~5 per night Yes 26 Nov – 1 Dec 0

2 Dec 04:19 04:56 5 No

3 Dec – 4 Dec 0

5 Dec – 9 Dec 19:26 04:11 ~4 per night Yes

11 Oct – 9 Dec except ~19:40 ~04:00 ~25 per night No

30 Nov 19:10 04:30 45 Yes*

* Timing and call pattern suggest that 1 PLNb roosted overnight opportunistically.


Appendix E: Biologic Hormone Analysis Report



Biologic Environmental Survey Pty Ltd

PO Box 179

Floreat, WA, 6014

23 April 2019

Attn: Tenielle Brown & Scott Reiffer Rio Tinto Iron Ore

Perth, Western Australia

Dear Tenielle and Scott,

Rio Tinto Iron Ore (RTIO) commissioned Biologic Environmental Survey Pty Ltd (Biologic) to undertake

hormone analysis study of Ghost Bat scats collected from caves within two existing RTIO exploration

leases, Caliwinga (cave CCAL01) and Western Range (Cave 6). The overarching objective of the

analysis was to identify the occurrence of pregnant individuals occurring in each cave and discuss in

with reference to the significance each represents to the species.

High levels of progesterone were recorded from samples in both caves, including 15% of the 20

samples from CCAL01 and 35% of the 20 samples from Western Range Cave 6, indicating pregnant

individuals have occurred in both caves. As the age of scat samples was not known when collected,

and the pregnancy hormone progesterone is known to decay quickly, further sampling and analysis is

recommended.

If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to get in contact.

Yours sincerely,

Chris Knuckey

Senior Zoologist | Manager of Vertebrate Fauna

[email protected]

(08) 6142 7119 | 0449 269 695


RTIO Ghost Bat Faecal Hormone Analysis

1 INTRODUCTION

Rio Tinto Iron Ore (RTIO) commissioned Biologic Environmental Survey Pty Ltd (Biologic) to undertake

a hormone analysis of Ghost Bat scats collected from two separate exploration leases, Caliwinga (cave

CCAL01), located approximately 90 km north of Tom Price, WA and Western Range (Cave 6), located

approximately 18 km west of Paraburdoo, WA.

The overarching objective of the analysis was to identify the occurrence of pregnant individuals

occurring in each cave and discuss in with reference to the significance each represents to the species.

Hormone analysis was undertaken for 40 samples, 20 from each cave, by Dr Tamara Keeley from the

University of Queensland. Analysis methods followed methods previously developed for faecal

hormone analysis in Ghost Bat and other bat species to determine the occurrence of pregnancy within

populations using the samples caves.

2 METHODS

Ghost Bat scats were collected from two caves by RTIO and Biologic staff during site visits undertaken

6 November 2017 (cave CCAW01) and 27 July 2018 (cave CWRA02). Both caves are located within

existing RTIO exploration leases, Caliwinga (CCAL01), located approximately 90 km north of Tom

Price, WA (-21.9270°S; 117.4981°E) and Western Range (Cave 6), located approximately 18 km west

of Paraburdoo, WA (-23.190584°S, 117.490004°E).

A total of 20 scats were collected from the two caves, all of which were used for the hormone analysis.

Scats were opportunistically collected from within caves and not by standardised sheet collection

methods, thus deposition timeframe of scats is unknown.

Hormone analysis was undertaken by Dr Tamara Keeley from the University of Queensland to

determine faecal progesterone levels within scats to indicate pregnancy of individuals within the

population. The method has previously been used for numerous other bat species (Keeley et al., 2012a;

Keeley et al., 2012b) and has been validated for Ghost Bat in a pilot study using the captive breeding

colony from Perth Zoo (Keeley, 2018). Material from the Perth Zoo colony was also used to compared

and validate analysis of samples collected from wild populations. Samples with progesterone levels

above 970ng/g were considered likely to represent those originating from pregnant females (Keeley,

2018). Detailed analysis methods for the hormone analysis by T. Keeley, and are as follows:

Only whole samples were analysed to avoid the possibility of hormone levels being artificially altered

if pooled faecal sample pieces came from different individuals of differing reproductive status. Faecal

samples were analysed for progesterone metabolite concentrations by enzyme-immunoassay (EIA).

Prior to analysis for hormone concentrations, each faecal sample was extracted using a basic hormone

extraction procedure (Keeley et al., 2012a; Palme et al., 2013). Faecal samples were subsampled to

a weight of either 0.1 ± 0.02 or 0.05 ± 0.002 g to which 5 ml of 80% methanol was added. Samples

were rotated gently overnight, centrifuged at 1000 g for 10 min and then decanted and stored at -20°C

until analysis. The supernatant was diluted 1:20 to 1:1000 (dependant on concentration) in assay buffer

prior to analysis. Faecal progesterone metabolite concentrations were quantified by double antibody


EIA using a goat anti-mouse IgG (Arbor Assays, USA), monoclonal progesterone antiserum (CL425),

horseradish peroxidase conjugated label (both provided by C. Munro, University of California-Davis,

Davis, USA) and progesterone (Sigma Aldrich Australia Ltd.) standards as previously described with

minor modifications (Keeley et al., 2012b).

The antiserum (1:80,000) was incubated on a microtitre plate overnight, horseradish peroxidise

conjugate (1:400,000), standards (0.016 - 4 ng/ml) and samples were loaded (50 µl/well) onto the plate

and the EIA was performed as described elsewhere (Keeley et al., 2012b; Pollock et al., 2010). Intra

and inter-assay coefficients of variation were both <10%. Cross-reactivities for the EIA antibodies were

as previously described (Graham et al., 2001). Hormone concentrations were expressed as

nanograms of hormone metabolites per gram of faeces (ng/g). Progesterone levels were considered

to be elevated (i.e. progesterone levels indicating pregnancy or individual) for results of 970 ng/g or

greater.

3 RESULTS

Of the 40 scat samples analysed, ten (25%) scats contained elevated progesterone levels (i.e. samples

with progesterone levels exceeding 970 mg/g). This included three (15%) of the 20 scats from CCAL01

and seven (35%) of the 20 from Western Range Cave 6. One additional sample from CCAL01

(CCAL.20171106.17) showed intermediate levels (i.e. progesterone levels ranging from 700–950 ng/g)

of progesterone (715.00 ng/g), indicating progesterone levels were possibly in the process of increasing

or decreasing at the time of scat analysis. This suggests either the hormone was decaying due to the

age of the scat, or the individual may have recently been pregnant or is at early stages of.

Progesterone levels of nine samples containing elevated progesterone ranged from 2,265.60 ng/g to

11,511.63 ng/g, with the highest levels recorded a from sample CWRA02.20180727.20 and lowest from

CWRA02.20180727.12, both from Western Range Cave 6. In comparison, the progesterone levels of

the three elevated progesterone samples from CCAL range from 7,926.83 ng/g to 10,599.25 ng/g. With

the exception of CCAL.20171106.17 (715.00 ng/g), all the remaining samples analysed (75%) returned

progesterone levels below 629.29 ng/g (range 78.76–629.29 ng/g).

Table 3.1: Progesterone levels of Ghost Bat scats collected and analysed

Sample ID Cave ID Latitude Longitude Sample No.

Collection date

Progesterone level (ng/g)1

CCAL01.20171106.1 CCAL01 -21.9270 117.4981 1 6-Nov-17 626.29

CCAL01.20171106.2 CCAL01 -21.9270 117.4981 2 6-Nov-17 8,326.85*

CCAL01.20171106.3 CCAL01 -21.9270 117.4981 3 6-Nov-17 124.8

CCAL01.20171106.4 CCAL01 -21.9270 117.4981 4 6-Nov-17 7,926.83*

CCAL01.20171106.5 CCAL01 -21.9270 117.4981 5 6-Nov-17 345.95

CCAL01.20171106.6 CCAL01 -21.9270 117.4981 6 6-Nov-17 163.33

CCAL01.20171106.7 CCAL01 -21.9270 117.4981 7 6-Nov-17 10,599.25*

CCAL01.20171106.8 CCAL01 -21.9270 117.4981 8 6-Nov-17 348.24

CCAL01.20171106.9 CCAL01 -21.9270 117.4981 9 6-Nov-17 276.54


Sample ID Cave ID Latitude Longitude Sample No.

Collection date

Progesterone level (ng/g)1

CCAL01.20171106.10 CCAL01 -21.9270 117.4981 10 6-Nov-17 487.88

CCAL01.20171106.11 CCAL01 -21.9270 117.4981 11 6-Nov-17 431.7

CCAL01.20171106.12 CCAL01 -21.9270 117.4981 12 6-Nov-17 78.76

CCAL01.20171106.13 CCAL01 -21.9270 117.4981 13 6-Nov-17 238.43

CCAL01.20171106.14 CCAL01 -21.9270 117.4981 14 6-Nov-17 300.38

CCAL01.20171106.15 CCAL01 -21.9270 117.4981 15 6-Nov-17 206.9

CCAL01.20171106.16 CCAL01 -21.9270 117.4981 16 6-Nov-17 111.86

CCAL01.20171106.17 CCAL01 -21.9270 117.4981 17 6-Nov-17 715.00**

CCAL01.20171106.18 CCAL01 -21.9270 117.4981 18 6-Nov-17 250.58

CCAL01.20171106.19 CCAL01 -21.9270 117.4981 19 6-Nov-17 543.4

CCAL01.20171106.20 CCAL01 -21.9270 117.4981 20 6-Nov-17 295.45

CWRA02.20180727.1 WR Cave 6 -23.1905 117.4900 1 27-Jul-18 243.41

CWRA02.20180727.2 WR Cave 6 -23.1905 117.4900 2 27-Jul-18 5,560.00*

CWRA02.20180727.3 WR Cave 6 -23.1905 117.4900 3 27-Jul-18 5,569.11*

CWRA02.20180727.4 WR Cave 6 -23.1905 117.4900 4 27-Jul-18 407.52

CWRA02.20180727.5 WR Cave 6 -23.1905 117.4900 5 27-Jul-18 457.14

CWRA02.20180727.6 WR Cave 6 -23.1905 117.4900 6 27-Jul-18 514.74

CWRA02.20180727.7 WR Cave 6 -23.1905 117.4900 7 27-Jul-18 238.74

CWRA02.20180727.8 WR Cave 6 -23.1905 117.4900 8 27-Jul-18 3,504.76*

CWRA02.20180727.9 WR Cave 6 -23.1905 117.4900 9 27-Jul-18 309.43

CWRA02.20180727.10 WR Cave 6 -23.1905 117.4900 10 27-Jul-18 140.41

CWRA02.20180727.11 WR Cave 6 -23.1905 117.4900 11 27-Jul-18 9,186.99*

CWRA02.20180727.12 WR Cave 6 -23.1905 117.4900 12 27-Jul-18 2,265.60*

CWRA02.20180727.13 WR Cave 6 -23.1905 117.4900 13 27-Jul-18 560

CWRA02.20180727.14 WR Cave 6 -23.1905 117.4900 14 27-Jul-18 3,251.20*

CWRA02.20180727.15 WR Cave 6 -23.1905 117.4900 15 27-Jul-18 526.23

CWRA02.20180727.16 WR Cave 6 -23.1905 117.4900 16 27-Jul-18 404.62

CWRA02.20180727.17 WR Cave 6 -23.1905 117.4900 17 27-Jul-18 559.67

CWRA02.20180727.18 WR Cave 6 -23.1905 117.4900 18 27-Jul-18 271.94

CWRA02.20180727.19 WR Cave 6 -23.1905 117.4900 19 27-Jul-18 487.97

CWRA02.20180727.20 WR Cave 6 -23.1905 117.4900 20 27-Jul-18 11,511.63* 1 * – elevated progesterone levels (>970 ng/g); ** – intermediate progesterone levels (700–950 ng/g)

4 CONCLUSION

Based on the results of the hormone analysis of 40 samples from Western Range Cave 6 and CCAL01,

elevated levels of progesterone indicate pregnant individuals have occurred in both caves sampled.

Indicatively, based on scats collected, 25% of the individuals that deposited scats in the two caves were

pregnant females, 35% of the samples from Western Range Cave 6 and 15% from CCAL01.

Results were comparable with those of similar studies of Ghost Bat Faecal hormones undertaken for

the RTIO West Angelas Ghost Bat monitoring (Biologic, 2019), with the portion of samples showing

elevated progesterone levels of this study falling within the range from the monitoring survey (mean


31%, range 0–40%, noting only a single scat collected from one site which lacked elevated

progesterone levels. Additionally, the proportion of scats containing elevated progesterone levels has

been observed to fluctuate between monitoring periods (Biologic, 2019). Direct comparison between

the results is difficult due to several uncontrolled or unknown factors which may influence results,

particularly the capacity of cave or number of individuals occupying at a site and the proportion of which

are females.

The occurrence of multiple scats with elevated progesterone levels within both caves indicates the

presence of pregnant individuals at some stage in the past, possibly suggesting nightly visits or material

diurnal roosting. However, this may not accurately reflect the abundance of individuals if scats were not

deposited by all individuals or multiple scats were deposited by the same individuals. Due to the

opportunistic sampling method adopted, the date of deposition of scats is unknown, thus the period of

occurrence of pregnant females within the caves cannot be determined, and if scats may be associated

with the same individuals.

Further targeted sampling of scat samples from the two caves would provide further support to

determine the presence of pregnant individuals within a defined timeframe and highlight the value of

these caves as maternal diurnal roosts.


5 REFERENCES

Biologic, Environmental Survey. (2019). West Angelas, Ghost Bat Monitoring 2018. Unpublished report prepared for Rio Tinto Iron Ore. Subiaco, WA:

Graham, L., Schwarzenberger, F., Möstl, E., Galama, W., & Savage, A. (2001). A versatile enzyme immunoassay for the determination of progestogens in feces and serum. Zoo Biology, 20(3), 227-236. doi:10.1002/zoo.1022

Keeley, T. (2018). West Angelas Ghost Bat Research. Unpublished report prepared for Biologic Environmental Survey.

Keeley, T., Goodrowe, K. L., Graham, L., Howell, C., & MacDonald, S. E. (2012a). The reproductive endocrinology and behavior of Vancouver Island marmot (Marmota vancouverensis). Zoo Biology, 31(3), 275-290. doi:10.1002/zoo.20384

Keeley, T., O’Brien, J. K., Fanson, B. G., Masters, K., & McGreevy, P. D. (2012b). The reproductive cycle of the Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) and factors associated with reproductive success in captivity. General and Comparative Endocrinology, 176(2), 182-191. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ygcen.2012.01.011

Palme, R., Touma, C., Arias, N., Dominchin, M. F., & Lepschy, M. (2013). Steroid extraction: Get the best out of faecal samples. Veterinary Medicine Austria, 100, 238-246.

Pollock, K., Boot, R., Wilson, R., Keeley, T., Grogan, K., Kennerley, P., & Johnston, S. D. (2010). Oestrus in the Julia Creek dunnart (Sminthopsis douglasi) is associated with wheel running behaviour but not necessarily changes in body weight, food consumption or pouch morphology. Animal Reproduction Science, 117, 135-146.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ygcen.2012.01.011

Documents

Qrc Lch - epa.wa.gov.au · Ghost Bat, Macroderma gigas - Contextual Study, June 2019 . Map symbol Unit name Unit description Area (ha) in desktop survey area ... 28,974.5 4,504.2