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Keicher L, Shipley JR, Dietzer MT, Wikelski M, Dechmann DKN. Heart rate monitoring reveals differential seasonal energetic trade-offs in male noctule bats. Proc Biol Sci 2024; 291:20240855. [PMID: 38981523 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2024.0855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2024] [Indexed: 07/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Understanding how animals meet their daily energy requirements is critical in our rapidly changing world. Small organisms with high metabolic rates can conserve stored energy when food availability is low or increase energy intake when energetic requirements are high, but how they balance this in the wild remains largely unknown. Using miniaturized heart rate transmitters, we continuously quantified energy expenditure, torpor use and foraging behaviour of free-ranging male bats (Nyctalus noctula) in spring and summer. In spring, bats used torpor extensively, characterized by lowered heart rates and consequently low energy expenditures. In contrast, in summer, bats consistently avoided torpor, even though they could have used this low-energy mode. As a consequence, daytime heart rates in summer were three times as high compared with the heart rates in spring. Daily energy use increased by 42% during summer, despite lower thermogenesis costs at higher ambient temperatures. Likely, as a consequence, bats nearly doubled their foraging duration. Overall, our results indicate that summer torpor avoidance, beneficial for sperm production and self-maintenance, comes with a high energetic cost. The ability to identify and monitor such vulnerable energetic life-history stages is particularly important to predict how species will deal with increasing temperatures and changes in their resource landscapes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara Keicher
- Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Am Obstberg 1 , Radolfzell 78315, Germany
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Universitätsstraße 10 , Konstanz 78457, Germany
| | - J Ryan Shipley
- WLS Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research, Flüelastraße 11 , Davos CH-7260, Switzerland
| | - Melina T Dietzer
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Management, Uni-ver-sity of Freiburg, Tennenbacher Straße 4 , Freiburg 79106, Germany
| | - Martin Wikelski
- Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Am Obstberg 1 , Radolfzell 78315, Germany
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Universitätsstraße 10 , Konstanz 78457, Germany
| | - Dina K N Dechmann
- Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Am Obstberg 1 , Radolfzell 78315, Germany
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Universitätsstraße 10 , Konstanz 78457, Germany
- Cluster for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour, University of Konstanz, Universitätsstraße 10 , Konstanz 78457, Germany
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2
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Kelling M, Currie SE, Troxell SA, Reusch C, Roeleke M, Hoffmeister U, Teige T, Voigt CC. Effects of tag mass on the physiology and behaviour of common noctule bats. MOVEMENT ECOLOGY 2024; 12:38. [PMID: 38725032 PMCID: PMC11084088 DOI: 10.1186/s40462-024-00477-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND External tags, such as transmitters and loggers, are often used to study bat movements. However, physiological and behavioural effects on bats carrying tags have rarely been investigated, and recommendations on the maximum acceptable tag mass are rather based on rules of thumb than on rigorous scientific assessment. METHODS We conducted a comprehensive three-step assessment of the potential physiological and behavioural effects of tagging bats, using common noctules Nyctalus noctula as a model. First, we examined seasonal changes in body mass. Second, we predicted and then measured potential changes in flight metabolic rate in a wind tunnel. Third, we conducted a meta-analysis of published data to assess effects of different tag masses on the weight and behaviour of bats. RESULTS Individual body mass of common noctules varied seasonally by 7.0 ± 2.6 g (range: 0.5-11.5 g). Aerodynamic theory predicted a 26% increase in flight metabolic rate for a common noctule equipped with a 3.8 g tag, equating to 14% of body mass. In a wind tunnel experiment, we could not confirm the predicted increase for tagged bats. Our meta-analysis revealed a weak correlation between tag mass and emergence time and flight duration in wild bats. Interestingly, relative tag mass (3-19% of bat body mass) was not related to body mass loss, but bats lost more body mass the longer tags were attached. Notably, relatively heavy bats lost more mass than conspecifics with a more average body mass index. CONCLUSION Because heavy tags (> 3 g) were generally used for shorter periods of time than lighter tags (~ 1 g), the long-term effects of heavy tags on bats cannot be assessed at this time. Furthermore, the effects of disturbance and resource distribution in the landscape cannot be separated from those of tagging. We recommend that tags weighing 5-10% of a bat's mass should only be applied for a few days. For longer studies, tags weighing less than 5% of a bat's body mass should be used. To avoid adverse effects on bats, researchers should target individuals with average, rather than peak, body mass indices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marit Kelling
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Str. 17, 10315, Berlin, Germany.
- University of Potsdam, Plant Ecology and Nature Conservation, Potsdam, Germany.
| | - Shannon E Currie
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Str. 17, 10315, Berlin, Germany
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Parksville, 3010, Australia
| | - Sara A Troxell
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Str. 17, 10315, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christine Reusch
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Str. 17, 10315, Berlin, Germany
| | - Manuel Roeleke
- University of Potsdam, Plant Ecology and Nature Conservation, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Uwe Hoffmeister
- Natura Büro für Zoologische und Botanische Fachgutachten, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Tobias Teige
- Büro für Faunististische und Ökologische Fachgutachten, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christian C Voigt
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Str. 17, 10315, Berlin, Germany
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3
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Henley L, Jones O, Mathews F, Woolley TE. Bat Motion can be Described by Leap Frogging. Bull Math Biol 2024; 86:16. [PMID: 38197980 PMCID: PMC10781826 DOI: 10.1007/s11538-023-01233-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024]
Abstract
We present models of bat motion derived from radio-tracking data collected over 14 nights. The data presents an initial dispersal period and a return to roost period. Although a simple diffusion model fits the initial dispersal motion we show that simple convection cannot provide a description of the bats returning to their roost. By extending our model to include non-autonomous parameters, or a leap frogging form of motion, where bats on the exterior move back first, we find we are able to accurately capture the bat's motion. We discuss ways of distinguishing between the two movement descriptions and, finally, consider how the different motion descriptions would impact a bat's hunting strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucy Henley
- Cardiff School of Mathematics Cardiff University, Senghennydd Road, Cardiff, CF24 4AG, UK
| | - Owen Jones
- Cardiff School of Mathematics Cardiff University, Senghennydd Road, Cardiff, CF24 4AG, UK
| | - Fiona Mathews
- University of Sussex, John Maynard Smith Building, Falmer, Brighton, BN1 9RH, UK
| | - Thomas E Woolley
- Cardiff School of Mathematics Cardiff University, Senghennydd Road, Cardiff, CF24 4AG, UK.
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4
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Stidsholt L, Scholz C, Hermanns U, Teige T, Post M, Stapelfeldt B, Reusch C, Voigt CC. Low foraging rates drive large insectivorous bats away from urban areas. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2024; 30:e17063. [PMID: 38273536 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.17063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
Urbanization has significant impacts on wildlife and ecosystems and acts as an environmental filter excluding certain species from local ecological communities. Specifically, it may be challenging for some animals to find enough food in urban environments to achieve a positive energy balance. Because urban environments favor small-sized bats with low energy requirements, we hypothesized that common noctules (Nyctalus noctula) acquire food at a slower rate and rely less on conspecifics to find prey in urban than in rural environments due to a low food abundance and predictable distribution of insects in urban environments. To address this, we estimated prey sizes and measured prey capture rates, foraging efforts, and the presence of conspecifics during hunting of 22 common noctule bats equipped with sensor loggers in an urban and rural environment. Even though common noctule bats hunted similar-sized prey in both environments, urban bats captured prey at a lower rate (mean: 2.4 vs. 6.3 prey attacks/min), and a lower total amount of prey (mean: 179 vs. 377 prey attacks/foraging bout) than conspecifics from rural environments. Consequently, the energy expended to capture prey was higher for common noctules in urban than in rural environments. In line with our prediction, urban bats relied less on group hunting, likely because group hunting was unnecessary in an environment where the spatial distribution of prey insects is predictable, for example, in parks or around floodlights. While acknowledging the limitations of a small sample size and low number of spatial replicates, our study suggests that scarce food resources may make urban habitats unfavorable for large bat species with higher energy requirements compared to smaller bat species. In conclusion, a lower food intake may displace larger species from urban areas making habitats with high insect biomass production key for protecting large bat species in urban environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Stidsholt
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany
- Zoophysiology, Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Carolin Scholz
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Tobias Teige
- Büro für faunistisch-ökologische Fachgutachten, Berlin, Germany
| | - Martin Post
- Natura-2000 Station für Fledermäuse, Förderverein Naturpark Nossentiner/Schwinzer Heide e.V., Karow, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany
| | - Bianca Stapelfeldt
- Natura-2000 Station für Fledermäuse, Förderverein Naturpark Nossentiner/Schwinzer Heide e.V., Karow, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany
| | - Christine Reusch
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christian C Voigt
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany
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5
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Fill CT, Allen CR, Benson JF, Twidwell D. Spatial and temporal activity patterns among sympatric tree-roosting bat species in an agriculturally dominated great plains landscape. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0286621. [PMID: 37267398 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0286621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/04/2023] Open
Abstract
In agroecosystems, bats can provide a critical ecosystem service by consuming night-flying insect pests. However, many bats also face intense population pressures from human landscape modification, global change and novel diseases. To better understand the behavioral activity of different bat species with respect to space, time, habitat, and other bat species in this environment, we investigated species correlations in space and time over row crop agricultural fields. We used acoustic grids to document spatial and temporal co-occurrence or avoidance between bats and recorded eight species across the 10 field sites we sampled. All species significantly overlapped in two-dimensional space and displayed considerable temporal overlap during the night, yet often exhibited significantly different temporal activity patterns, suggesting fine scale partitioning behavior. Conversion of land to agriculture is likely to increase globally, making it critical to better understand how bat species interact with one another and the landscape to facilitate persistence in these human altered ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher T Fill
- Nebraska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States of America
- Center for Resilience in Agricultural Working Landscapes, School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States of America
| | - Craig R Allen
- Center for Resilience in Agricultural Working Landscapes, School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States of America
| | - John F Benson
- School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States of America
| | - Dirac Twidwell
- Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States of America
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6
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Niga Y, Fujioka E, Heim O, Nomi A, Fukui D, Hiryu S. A glimpse into the foraging and movement behaviour of Nyctalus aviator; a complementary study by acoustic recording and GPS tracking. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2023; 10:230035. [PMID: 37388314 PMCID: PMC10300664 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.230035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023]
Abstract
Species of open-space bats that are relatively large, such as bats from the genus Nyctalus, are considered as high-risk species for collisions with wind turbines (WTs). However, important information on their behaviour and movement ecology, such as the locations and altitudes at which they forage, is still fragmentary, while crucial for their conservation in light of the increasing threat posed by progressing WT construction. We adopted two different methods of microphone array recordings and GPS-tracking capturing data from different spatio-temporal scales in order to gain a complementary understanding of the echolocation and movement ecology of Nyctalus aviator, the largest open-space bat in Japan. Based on microphone array recordings, we found that echolocation calls during natural foraging are adapted for fast flight in open-space optimal for aerial-hawking. In addition, we attached a GPS tag that can simultaneously monitor feeding buzz occurrence, and confirmed that foraging occurred at 300 m altitude and that the flight altitude in mountainous areas is consistent with the turbine conflict zone, suggesting that the birdlike noctule is a high-risk species in Japan. Further investigations on this species could provide valuable insights into their foraging and movement ecology, facilitating the development of a risk assessment regarding WTs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshifumi Niga
- Faculty of Life and Medical Sciences, Doshisha University, 1-3 Tatara miyakodani, Kyotanabe, Kyoto 610-0321, Japan
| | - Emyo Fujioka
- Organization for Research Initiatives and Development, Doshisha University, 1-3 Tatara miyakodani, Kyotanabe, Kyoto 610-0321, Japan
- The University of Tokyo Hokkaido Forest, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 9-61, Yamabe-Higashimachi, Furano, Hokkaido 079-1563, Japan
| | - Olga Heim
- Faculty of Life and Medical Sciences, Doshisha University, 1-3 Tatara miyakodani, Kyotanabe, Kyoto 610-0321, Japan
| | - Akito Nomi
- Faculty of Life and Medical Sciences, Doshisha University, 1-3 Tatara miyakodani, Kyotanabe, Kyoto 610-0321, Japan
| | - Dai Fukui
- The University of Tokyo Hokkaido Forest, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 9-61, Yamabe-Higashimachi, Furano, Hokkaido 079-1563, Japan
| | - Shizuko Hiryu
- Faculty of Life and Medical Sciences, Doshisha University, 1-3 Tatara miyakodani, Kyotanabe, Kyoto 610-0321, Japan
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7
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Slough BG, Reid DG, Schultz DS, Leung MC. Little brown bat activity patterns and conservation implications in agricultural landscapes in boreal Yukon, Canada. Ecosphere 2023. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.4446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/11/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | - Donald G. Reid
- Wildlife Conservation Society Canada Whitehorse Yukon Canada
| | - Dafna S. Schultz
- Department of Resource and Environmental Management Dalhousie University Halifax Nova Scotia Canada
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8
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Wind energy production in forests conflicts with tree-roosting bats. Curr Biol 2023; 33:737-743.e3. [PMID: 36681078 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2022.12.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Revised: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Many countries are investing heavily in wind power generation,1 triggering a high demand for suitable land. As a result, wind energy facilities are increasingly being installed in forests,2,3 despite the fact that forests are crucial for the protection of terrestrial biodiversity.4 This green-green dilemma is particularly evident for bats, as most species at risk of colliding with wind turbines roost in trees.2 With some of these species reported to be declining,5,6,7,8 we see an urgent need to understand how bats respond to wind turbines in forested areas, especially in Europe where all bat species are legally protected. We used miniaturized global positioning system (GPS) units to study how European common noctule bats (Nyctalus noctula), a species that is highly vulnerable at turbines,9 respond to wind turbines in forests. Data from 60 tagged common noctules yielded a total of 8,129 positions, of which 2.3% were recorded at distances <100 m from the nearest turbine. Bats were particularly active at turbines <500 m near roosts, which may require such turbines to be shut down more frequently at times of high bat activity to reduce collision risk. Beyond roosts, bats avoided turbines over several kilometers, supporting earlier findings on habitat loss for forest-associated bats.10 This habitat loss should be compensated by developing parts of the forest as refugia for bats. Our study highlights that it can be particularly challenging to generate wind energy in forested areas in an ecologically sustainable manner with minimal impact on forests and the wildlife that inhabit them.
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9
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Marggraf LC, Lindecke O, Voigt CC, Pētersons G, Voigt-Heucke SL. Nathusius’ bats, Pipistrellus nathusii, bypass mating opportunities of their own species, but respond to foraging heterospecifics on migratory transit flights. Front Ecol Evol 2023. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.908560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
In late summer, migratory bats of the temperate zone face the challenge of accomplishing two energy-demanding tasks almost at the same time: migration and mating. Both require information and involve search efforts, such as localizing prey or finding potential mates. In non-migrating bat species, playback studies showed that listening to vocalizations of other bats, both con-and heterospecifics, may help a recipient bat to find foraging patches and mating sites. However, we are still unaware of the degree to which migrating bats depend on con-or heterospecific vocalizations for identifying potential feeding or mating opportunities during nightly transit flights. Here, we investigated the vocal responses of Nathusius’ pipistrelle bats, Pipistrellus nathusii, to simulated feeding and courtship aggregations at a coastal migration corridor. We presented migrating bats either feeding buzzes or courtship calls of their own or a heterospecific migratory species, the common noctule, Nyctalus noctula. We expected that during migratory transit flights, simulated feeding opportunities would be particularly attractive to bats, as well as simulated mating opportunities which may indicate suitable roosts for a stopover. However, we found that when compared to the natural silence of both pre-and post-playback phases, bats called indifferently during the playback of conspecific feeding sounds, whereas P. nathusii echolocation call activity increased during simulated feeding of N. noctula. In contrast, the call activity of P. nathusii decreased during the playback of conspecific courtship calls, while no response could be detected when heterospecific call types were broadcasted. Our results suggest that while on migratory transits, P. nathusii circumnavigate conspecific mating aggregations, possibly to save time or to reduce the risks associated with social interactions where aggression due to territoriality might be expected. This avoidance behavior could be a result of optimization strategies by P. nathusii when performing long-distance migratory flights, and it could also explain the lack of a response to simulated conspecific feeding. However, the observed increase of activity in response to simulated feeding of N. noctula, suggests that P. nathusii individuals may be eavesdropping on other aerial hawking insectivorous species during migration, especially if these occupy a slightly different foraging niche.
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10
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Insectivorous bats form mobile sensory networks to optimize prey localization: The case of the common noctule bat. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2203663119. [PMID: 35939677 PMCID: PMC9388074 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2203663119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Animals that depend on ephemeral, patchily distributed prey often use public information to locate resource patches. The use of public information can lead to the aggregation of foragers at prey patches, a mechanism known as local enhancement. However, when ephemeral resources are distributed over large areas, foragers may also need to increase search efficiency, and thus apply social strategies when sampling the landscape. While sensory networks of visually oriented animals have already been confirmed, we lack an understanding of how acoustic eavesdropping adds to the formation of sensory networks. Here we radio-tracked a total of 81 aerial-hawking bats at very high spatiotemporal resolution during five sessions over 3 y, recording up to 19 individuals simultaneously. Analyses of interactive flight behavior provide conclusive evidence that bats form temporary mobile sensory networks by adjusting their movements to neighboring conspecifics while probing the airspace for prey. Complementary agent-based simulations confirmed that the observed movement patterns can lead to the formation of mobile sensory networks, and that bats located prey faster when networking than when relying only on local enhancement or searching solitarily. However, the benefit of networking diminished with decreasing group size. The combination of empirical analyses and simulations elucidates how animal groups use acoustic information to efficiently locate unpredictable and ephemeral food patches. Our results highlight that declining local populations of social foragers may thus suffer from Allee effects that increase the risk of collapses under global change scenarios, like insect decline and habitat degradation.
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11
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Kohles JE, O'Mara MT, Dechmann DKN. A conceptual framework to predict social information use based on food ephemerality and individual resource requirements. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2022; 97:2039-2056. [PMID: 35932159 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Revised: 06/03/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Environmental variability poses a range of challenges to foraging animals trying to meet their energetic needs. Where food patches are unpredictable but shareable, animals can use social information to locate patches more efficiently or reliably. However, resource unpredictability can be heterogeneous and complex. The behavioural strategies animals employ to exploit such resources also vary, particularly if, when, and where animals use available social information. We reviewed the literature on social information use by foraging animals and developed a novel framework that integrates four elements - (1) food resource persistence; (2) the relative value of social information use; (3) behavioural context (opportunistic or coordinated); and (4) location of social information use - to predict and characterize four strategies of social information use - (1) local enhancement; (2) group facilitation; (3) following; and (4) recruitment. We validated our framework by systematically reviewing the growing empirical literature on social foraging in bats, an ideal model taxon because they exhibit extreme diversity in ecological niche and experience low predation risk while foraging but function at high energy expenditures, which selects for efficient foraging behaviours. Our framework's predictions agreed with the observed natural behaviour of bats and identified key knowledge gaps for future studies. Recent advancements in technology, methods, and analysis will facilitate additional studies in bats and other taxa to further test the framework and our conception of the ecological and evolutionary forces driving social information use. Understanding the links between food distribution, social information use, and foraging behaviour will help elucidate social interactions, group structure, and the evolution of sociality for species across the animal kingdom.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenna E Kohles
- Department of Migration, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Am Obstberg 1, 78315, Radolfzell, Germany.,Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour, University of Konstanz, Universitätsstraße 10, 78464, Konstanz, Germany.,Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Universitätsstraße 10, 78464, Konstanz, Germany.,Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Apartado 0843-03092, Balboa, Ancón, Panama
| | - M Teague O'Mara
- Department of Migration, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Am Obstberg 1, 78315, Radolfzell, Germany.,Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Apartado 0843-03092, Balboa, Ancón, Panama.,Department of Biological Sciences, Southeastern Louisiana University, 808 N. Pine Street, Hammond, LA, 70402, USA
| | - Dina K N Dechmann
- Department of Migration, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Am Obstberg 1, 78315, Radolfzell, Germany.,Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour, University of Konstanz, Universitätsstraße 10, 78464, Konstanz, Germany.,Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Universitätsstraße 10, 78464, Konstanz, Germany.,Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Apartado 0843-03092, Balboa, Ancón, Panama
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12
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Schmidt KA, Massol F, Szymkowiak J. Resurrecting Shannon's surprise: landscape heterogeneity complements information use and population growth. OIKOS 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.09305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Francois Massol
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019 - UMR 9017 - CIIL - Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille Lille France
| | - Jakub Szymkowiak
- Population Ecology Research Unit, Adam Mickiewicz Univ. Poznań Poland
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13
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Scholz C, Voigt CC. Diet analysis of bats killed at wind turbines suggests large‐scale losses of trophic interactions. CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/csp2.12744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Carolin Scholz
- Department Evolutionary Ecology Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research Berlin Germany
- Plant Ecology and Nature Conservation University of Potsdam Potsdam Germany
| | - Christian C. Voigt
- Department Evolutionary Ecology Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research Berlin Germany
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14
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Reusch C, Lozar M, Kramer-Schadt S, Voigt CC. Coastal onshore wind turbines lead to habitat loss for bats in Northern Germany. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2022; 310:114715. [PMID: 35240570 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.114715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Revised: 01/23/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Wind energy production is particularly rewarding along coastlines, yet coastlines are often important as migratory corridors for wildlife. This creates a conflict between energy production from renewable sources and conservation goals, which needs to be considered during environmental planning. To shed light on the spatial interactions of a high collision risk bat species with coastal wind turbines (WT), we analysed 32 tracks of 11 common noctule bats (Nyctalus noctula) in Northern Germany with miniaturized global positioning system units yielding 6266 locations. We used three spatial models to infer on the preferred and avoided landscape features in interaction with WT. We found 3.4% of all locations close to WT, with bats preferring areas with high levels of impervious surface, identified as farmhouses. Common noctule bats were also more present close to WT adjacent to paths and waterbodies. At the local scale, >70% of common noctule bats avoided WT, yet if bats approached WT we counted more positions at large WT, specifically close to known roosts. Our study highlights that coastal WT should not be placed next to feeding grounds and bat roosts. Additionally, avoidance of WT by bats indicates that foraging bats may suffer from habitat loss in coastal landscapes with high turbine densities. To mitigate the conflict between wind energy power production and conservation goals at coastal sites, wind turbines should be placed at distance to habitat features preferred by bats and turbine densities should be limited.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Reusch
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Str. 17, 10315, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Maja Lozar
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Str. 17, 10315, Berlin, Germany; Institute of Biology, Free University of Berlin, Takustr. 6, 14195, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Stephanie Kramer-Schadt
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Str. 17, 10315, Berlin, Germany; Institute of Ecology, Technische Universität Berlin, Rothenburgstr. 12, 12165, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Christian C Voigt
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Str. 17, 10315, Berlin, Germany.
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15
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Roemer C, Julien J, Bas Y. An automatic classifier of bat sonotypes around the world. Methods Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/2041-210x.13721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte Roemer
- Centre d’Ecologie et des Sciences de la Conservation (Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, CNRS, Sorbonne Université) Paris France
- CEFEUniversité de MontpellierCNRSEPHEIRDUniversité Paul Valéry Montpellier 3 Montpellier France
| | - Jean‐François Julien
- Centre d’Ecologie et des Sciences de la Conservation (Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, CNRS, Sorbonne Université) Paris France
| | - Yves Bas
- Centre d’Ecologie et des Sciences de la Conservation (Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, CNRS, Sorbonne Université) Paris France
- CEFEUniversité de MontpellierCNRSEPHEIRDUniversité Paul Valéry Montpellier 3 Montpellier France
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16
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Social exploitation of extensive, ephemeral, environmentally controlled prey patches by supergroups of rorqual whales. Anim Behav 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2021.09.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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17
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Affiliation(s)
- Jakub Szymkowiak
- Population Ecology Research Unit, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz Univ. Poznań Poland
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18
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Nagel R, Mews S, Adam T, Stainfield C, Fox-Clarke C, Toscani C, Langrock R, Forcada J, Hoffman JI. Movement patterns and activity levels are shaped by the neonatal environment in Antarctic fur seal pups. Sci Rep 2021; 11:14323. [PMID: 34253749 PMCID: PMC8275608 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-93253-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Tracking studies of juveniles are rare compared to those of adults, and consequently little is known about the influence of intrinsic and extrinsic factors on activity during this critical life stage. We used hourly GPS data, collected from 66 Antarctic fur seal pups from birth until moulting, to investigate the explanatory power of multiple individual-based and environmental variables on activity levels. Pups were sampled from two nearby breeding colonies of contrasting density during two subsequent years, and a two-state hidden Markov model was used to identify modalities in their movement behaviour, specifically 'active' and 'inactive' states. We found that movement was typified by central place exploration, with active movement away from and subsequent return to a location of inactivity. The probability of such directed exploration was unaffected by several factors known to influence marine mammal movement including sex, body condition, and temperature. Compared to pups born at the high-density colony, pups at low-density were more active, increased their activity with age, and transitioned earlier into the tussock grass, which offers protection from predators and extreme weather. Our study illustrates the importance of extrinsic factors, such as colony of birth, to early-life activity patterns and highlights the adaptive potential of movement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Nagel
- grid.7491.b0000 0001 0944 9128Department of Animal Behaviour, Bielefeld University, 33501 Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Sina Mews
- grid.7491.b0000 0001 0944 9128Department of Business Administration and Economics, Bielefeld University, 33501 Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Timo Adam
- grid.7491.b0000 0001 0944 9128Department of Business Administration and Economics, Bielefeld University, 33501 Bielefeld, Germany ,grid.11914.3c0000 0001 0721 1626Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The Observatory, Buchanan Gardens, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, KY16 9LZ UK
| | - Claire Stainfield
- grid.478592.50000 0004 0598 3800British Antarctic Survey, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 OET UK
| | - Cameron Fox-Clarke
- grid.478592.50000 0004 0598 3800British Antarctic Survey, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 OET UK
| | - Camille Toscani
- grid.478592.50000 0004 0598 3800British Antarctic Survey, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 OET UK
| | - Roland Langrock
- grid.7491.b0000 0001 0944 9128Department of Business Administration and Economics, Bielefeld University, 33501 Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Jaume Forcada
- grid.478592.50000 0004 0598 3800British Antarctic Survey, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 OET UK
| | - Joseph I. Hoffman
- grid.7491.b0000 0001 0944 9128Department of Animal Behaviour, Bielefeld University, 33501 Bielefeld, Germany ,grid.478592.50000 0004 0598 3800British Antarctic Survey, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 OET UK
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19
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Moiseienko M, Vlaschenko A. Quantitative evaluation of individual food intake by insectivorous vespertilionid bats (Chiroptera, Vespertilionidae). Biol Open 2021; 10:269042. [PMID: 34096574 PMCID: PMC8214420 DOI: 10.1242/bio.058511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2020] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Insectivorous bats provide important ecosystem services, especially by suppressing and controlling the insects’ biomass. To empirically quantify the number of insects consumed by European vespertilionid bats per night, we estimated their ratio of dry mass of feces to mass of consumed insects. This study combines the results of feeding in captivity and the data obtained in field surveys; dry mass of feces was measured in both cases. In captivity, we analyzed the effect of species, age and sex of bats, species of insects consumed and the mass of food portion on the dry mass of feces. Using coefficients of the regression model, we estimated the number of insects consumed by free-ranging bats based on dry mass of their feces. According to our estimates, on average, one individual of one of the largest European bat species, Nyctalusnoctula, consumes 2.2 g (ranging from 0.5 to 8.2 g) of insects per one feeding night, while the smallest European bats of genus Pipistrellus consume 0.4 g (ranging from 0.1 to 1.3 g), further confirming the importance of insectivorous bats for ecosystem services. This publication offers the novel method for the estimation of insects’ biomass consumed by bats. Summary: This study applies a combination of experiment in captivity and field survey that can be used as an easy methodological approach to estimate insect biomass consumed by bats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marharyta Moiseienko
- Bat Rehabilitation Center of Feldman Ecopark, 62340 Lisne, Kharkiv Region, Ukraine
| | - Anton Vlaschenko
- Bat Rehabilitation Center of Feldman Ecopark, 62340 Lisne, Kharkiv Region, Ukraine.,H.S. Skovoroda Kharkiv National Pedagogical University, Institute of Natural Sciences, Valentynivska St., 2, Kharkiv, 61168, Ukraine.,NGO, Ukrainian Independent Ecology Institute, Plekhanivska St., 40/27, 61001 Kharkiv, Ukraine
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20
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Browning E, Barlow KE, Burns F, Hawkins C, Boughey K. Drivers of European bat population change: a review reveals evidence gaps. Mamm Rev 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/mam.12239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Ella Browning
- Centre for Biodiversity and Ecology Research Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment Division of Biosciences University College London LondonWC1E 6BTUK
- Institute of Zoology Zoological Society of London Regents Park LondonNW1 4RYUK
| | - Kate E. Barlow
- The Bat Conservation Trust Quadrant House, 250 Kennington Lane LondonSE11 5RDUK
| | - Fiona Burns
- The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds Centre for Conservation Science SandySG19 2DLUK
| | - Charlotte Hawkins
- The Bat Conservation Trust Quadrant House, 250 Kennington Lane LondonSE11 5RDUK
| | - Katherine Boughey
- The Bat Conservation Trust Quadrant House, 250 Kennington Lane LondonSE11 5RDUK
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21
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Zelenka J, Kasanický T, Budinská I, Kaňuch P. An agent-based algorithm resembles behaviour of tree-dwelling bats under fission-fusion dynamics. Sci Rep 2020; 10:16793. [PMID: 33033280 PMCID: PMC7545098 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-72999-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2020] [Accepted: 09/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Utilization of computational approach in the study of social behaviour of animals is increasing and we attempted such an approach in our study of tree-dwelling bats. These bats live in highly dynamic fission-fusion societies that share multiple roosts in a common home range. The key behavioural component associated with complex and non-centralized decision-making processes in roost switching is swarming around potential locations in order to recruit members to the new roost. To understand roost switching dynamics of bat groups in their natural environment, we employed a computational model, the SkyBat, which is based on swarm algorithm, to model this process. In a simulated environment of this agent-based model, we replicated natural fission-fusion dynamics of the Leisler's bat, Nyctalus leisleri, groups according to predefined species and habitat parameters. Spatiotemporal patterns of swarming activity of agents were similar to bats. The number of simulated groups formed prior to sunrise, the mean number of individuals in groups and the roost height did not differ significantly from data on a local population of bats collected in the field. Thus, the swarm algorithm gave a basic framework of roost-switching, suggesting possible applications in the study of bat behaviour in rapidly changing environments as well as in the field of computer science.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ján Zelenka
- Institute of Informatics, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 845 07, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Tomáš Kasanický
- Institute of Informatics, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 845 07, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Ivana Budinská
- Institute of Informatics, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 845 07, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Peter Kaňuch
- Institute of Forest Ecology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 960 53, Zvolen, Slovakia.
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