Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/62709
Title: Thermal biology and roost selection of free-ranging male little forest bats, Vespadelus vulturnus, during winter
Contributor(s): Chenery, Melissa (author); Geiser, Fritz  (author)orcid ; Stawski, Clare  (author)
Publication Date: 2022
Early Online Version: 2022
Open Access: Yes
DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyac022
Handle Link: https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/62709
Abstract: 

Insectivorous bats are particularly susceptible to heat loss due to their relatively large surface area to volume ratio. Therefore, to maintain a high normothermic body temperature, bats require large amounts of energy for thermoregulation. This can be energetically challenging for small bats during cold periods as heat loss is augmented and insect prey is reduced. To conserve energy many bats enter a state of torpor characterized by a controlled reduction of metabolism and body temperature in combination with selecting roosts based upon thermal properties. Our study aimed to quantify torpor patterns and roost preferences of free-ranging little forest bats (Vespadelus vulturnus) during winter to identify physiological and behavioral mechanisms used by this species for survival of the cold season. All bats captured were male (body mass 4.9 ± 0.7 g, n = 6) and used torpor on every day monitored, with bouts lasting up to 187.58 h (mean = 35.5 ± 36.7 h, n = 6, total number of samples [N] = 61). Torpor bout duration was signifcantly correlated with daily minimum and maximum ambient temperature, mean skin temperature, insect mass, and body mass of individuals and the multiday torpor bouts recorded in the cold qualify as hibernation. The lowest skin temperature recorded was 5.2°C, which corresponded to the lowest ambient temperature measurement of −5.8°C. Most bats chose tall, large, live Eucalyptus trees for roosting and to leave their roost for foraging on warmer days. Many individuals often switched roosts (every 3–5 days) and movements increased as spring approached (every 1–2 days). Our data suggest that V. vulturnus are capable of using the environmental temperature to gauge potential foraging opportunities and as a cue to reenter torpor when conditions are unsuitable. Importantly, frequent use of torpor and appropriate roost selection form key roles in the winter survival of these tiny bats.

Publication Type: Journal Article
Grant Details: ARC/DE160101408
Source of Publication: Journal of Mammalogy, 103(4), p. 826-834
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Place of Publication: United States of America
ISSN: 1545-1542
0022-2372
Fields of Research (FoR) 2020: 3109 Zoology
Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2020: tbd
Peer Reviewed: Yes
HERDC Category Description: C1 Refereed Article in a Scholarly Journal
Appears in Collections:Journal Article
School of Environmental and Rural Science

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