Landscape genetics and sociobiology of Gould's long-eared bat (Nyctophilus gouldi) and the lesser long-eared bat (N. geoffroyi) in fragmented populations of south-eastern Australia.

Habitat fragmentation represents one of the greatest threats to biodiversity, yet for the second largest mammalian order Chiroptera we have only just begun to assess the impacts of this threatening process on population connectivity and genetic diversity. Many aspects of chiropteran ecology remain unknown due to their cryptic lifestyle and difficulties in applying traditional observational and field-based techniques. At the time of this PhD project‘s conception there were no published studies utilising genetic techniques to address the influence of habitat fragmentation on any chiropteran species. Since that time two studies have been published, in 2009 and 2011. I add to this new body of literature by conducting genetic analyses to assess population connectivity and genetic diversity in two congeneric vespertilionids, Nyctophilus gouldi and N. geoffroyi. The study was conducted in western Victoria and south-eastern South Australia across a landscape comprising continuous and fragmented regions of native habitat. Populations within continuous forest provided a benchmark for parameters including gene flow, genetic diversity and social structure, for comparison with forest fragments. This thesis also capitalises on the underutilised potential of molecular techniques for the study of chiropterans. I applied molecular approaches to assess dispersal strategies and social structure in both species offering novel ecological insights. Four data chapters covering these topics are outlined below. Chapter 2 describes the isolation and characterisation of 16 microsatellite markers developed to facilitate this research. I utilised next generation sequencing technology (454) to generate a microsatellite DNA library and employed Multiplex Ready Technology (MRT) as a flexible and cost effective method to test primers and design marker panels for screening. DNA was isolated from N. gouldi resulting in 15 loci, while cross amplification in N. geoffroyi produced 7 reliable loci. Chapter 3 addresses the impact of habitat fragmentation on the forest and woodland specialist N. gouldi, which is listed as endangered in South Australia. Based on roosting requirements, rarity in the agricultural landscape and limited dispersal ability I predicted that N. gouldi populations would display reduced gene flow and signs of isolation as a result of habitat fragmentation. This prediction was confirmed by my analyses which identified reduced population connectivity, decreased genetic diversity, elevated measures of relatedness and inbreeding, and altered demography within fragmented populations isolated by ≥27km of agricultural land. Agricultural distances