INTRASPECIFIC VARIATION IN WING LOADING AFFECTS HABITAT USE BY LITTLE BROWN BATS (MYOTIS-LUCIFUGUS)
INTRASPECIFIC VARIATION IN WING LOADING AFFECTS HABITAT USE BY LITTLE BROWN BATS (MYOTIS-LUCIFUGUS)
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DOI：
10.1139/z95-011
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发表时间：
1995-01-01
期刊：
影响因子：
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通讯作者：
BRIGHAM, RM
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
KALCOUNIS, MC;BRIGHAM, RM
形态限制与不同动物物种的栖息地划分有关。物种间的差异已被探索，但对同一物种个体之间的关系知之甚少。本研究的目的是确定小棕蝠(Myotis Lucifugus)对栖息地的利用是否随个体体重的变化而变化。根据空气动力学理论，我们预测，体重较高的蝙蝠翅膀负荷较大，机动性较差，因此倾向于在需要检测和避免(杂乱)的障碍物较少的地区觅食。根据杂乱程度将栖息地划分为四个区域，并通过测量雄性和非生殖、怀孕、哺乳期、哺乳期后和人工加载的雌性在每个栖息区花费的时间来评估栖息地的利用。为了测试蝙蝠在杂乱中觅食具有选择性优势的假设，我们测量了在杂乱和开放的栖息地飞行昆虫的可用性。捕虫器样本显示，在更杂乱的栖息地，昆虫猎物的密度更高。体质量与机翼负荷呈正相关。总体而言，雄性在质量和翅膀负载方面比雌性小；然而，这些差异并没有转化为不同的栖息地使用。正如预测的那样，个体的翅膀负荷与栖息地的使用之间存在显著的关系，较重的蝙蝠(较大的翅膀负荷)在较不杂乱的地区觅食。
Morphological constraints have been linked to habitat partitioning by different species of animals. Interspecific differences have been explored, but less is known about the relationship between individuals of the same species. The purpose of this study was to determine if habitat use by little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus) varies with body mass of individuals. From aerodynamic theory, we predicted that bats with higher body mass will have higher wing loadings, should be less manoeuvrable, and thus tend to forage in areas where there are fewer obstacles to detect and avoid (clutter). Habitat was ranked into four zones based on the degree of clutter, and habitat use was assessed by measuring the time that males and non-reproductive, pregnant, lactating, postlactating, and artificially loaded females spent in each habitat zone. To test the assumption that a selective advantage accrues to bats foraging in clutter, we measured the availability of flying insects in cluttered and open habitats. Insect trap samples revealed a higher density of insect prey in more cluttered habitats. Body mass was positively correlated with wing loading. Overall, males were smaller than females with respect to mass and wing loading; however, these differences did not translate into differential habitat use. As predicted, there was a significant relationship between individual wing loading and habitat use, with heavier bats (greater wing loading) foraging in less cluttered areas.