Biology of Myotis thysanodes and M. lucifugus (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae)—I. Thermoregulation

Studier, Eugene H.; O’Farrell, Michael J.

doi:10.1016/0300-9629(72)90014-x

Cited by 75 publications

(52 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…The energetic savings related to low Tb flight are obvious and have been discussed previously (Bradley & O'Farrell. 1969;Studier & O'Farrell, 1972). However, we do not believe this to be the causative factor.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 62%

“…The widespread nature of this phenomenon is apparent (Table 3); only 2 out of 11 desert species tested required a Tb of 30°C or more to initiate flight. This is in direct conflict with most earlier studies (see review in Studier & O'Farrell, 1972). The only early study that would indicate the potential of bats to attain flight at low Tb is that of Reeder & Cowles (1951).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 80%

“…Most studies have suggested that active bats behave as homeotherms, maintaining high, relatively constant body temperatures and that resting bats tend towards facultative poikilothermy, wherein body temperatures approximate ambient temperatures. Flight at reduced body temperature was first shown for bats by Bradley & O'Farrell (1969) and further documented by Studier & O'Farrell (1972). This physiological phenomenon appears to be associated with bats that are active throughout the year (O'Farrell & Bradley, 1970) or with hibernators which exhibit some intra-and inter-roost winter movements (Henshaw & Folk, 1966).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 92%

“…A summary of mean minimum Tb for flight is given by Studier & O'Farrell (1972). More complete data for some southwestern bats are given in Table 3.…”

Section: Lclboratory Flight Trialsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Intensive studies have been conducted concerning thermoregulation of bats (for references see Henshaw, 1970;Lyman, 1970;Studier & O'Farrell, 1972). Most, however, have dealt with laboratory responses of nonflying bats over a wide range of temperatures which may or may not have related to the animals' natural thermal exposure.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Comparative thermal relationships of flight for some bats in the Southwestern United States

O’Farrell

Bradley

1977

Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A: Physiology

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Abstract-l.Nine of eleven species of desert bats tested demonstrated the ability to initiate and maintain flight at reduced body temperatures.This ability is associated with periodic activity throughout the winter.2. Of the two species studied most intensively, Pipistrellus hesperus demonstrated a stronger relationship between ambient and body temperatures than did Myotis californicus. It is hypothesized, that differences in total body insulation are responsible for the difference in this relationship.3. Pipistrellus hesperus shows seasonal shifts in actual flight body temperature with a difference of 8%10°C between summer and winter. Spring and fall represent transition periods where the body temperature responds more directly to ambient temperature. Myotis californicus shows the same patterns only to a lesser extent.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 62%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 80%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 92%

“…A summary of mean minimum Tb for flight is given by Studier & O'Farrell (1972). More complete data for some southwestern bats are given in Table 3.…”

Section: Lclboratory Flight Trialsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Comparative thermal relationships of flight for some bats in the Southwestern United States

O’Farrell

Bradley

1977

Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A: Physiology

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Combinations of reproductive, individual, and weather effects best explain torpor patterns among female little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus)

Besler

Broders

2019

Ecology and Evolution

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Heterothermic mammals can use torpor, a state of metabolic suppression, to conserve energy during times of limited food and poor environmental conditions. Females may use torpor throughout gestation and lactation; however, there are associated physiological and ecological costs with potential fitness consequences. Previous studies have controlled for, but not quantified the impact of interindividual variation on torpor patterns and understanding this may provide insight on why certain thermoregulatory responses are employed. The objective of this study was to identify and quantitatively characterize the intrinsic variables and weather conditions that best explain variation in torpor patterns among individual female little brown bats, Myotis lucifugus . We used temperature‐sensitive radio‐transmitters affixed to females to measure skin temperature patterns of 35 individuals roosting in bat boxes in the spring and summer. We used Bayesian multi‐model inference to rank a priori‐selected models and variables based on their explanatory power. Reproductive condition and interindividual effects best explained torpor duration and depth, and weather best explained torpor frequency. Of the reproductive conditions, lactating females used torpor for the shortest durations and at shallower depths (i.e., smallest drop in minimum T sk ), while females in early spring (i.e., not‐obviously‐pregnant) used torpor for the longest and deepest. Among individuals, the greatest difference in effects on duration occurred between pregnant individuals, suggesting interindividual variation within reproductive condition. Increases in precipitation and wind were associated with a higher probability of torpor use. Our results provide further support that multiple variables explain torpor patterns and highlight the importance of including individual effects when studying thermoregulatory patterns in heterothermic species. OPEN RESEARCH BADGES This article has earned an Open Data Badge for making publicly available the digitally‐shareable data necessary to reproduce the reported results. The data is available at https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.c04tj85 .

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Female little brown bats require both building and natural roosts in a mountainous environment with short summers

Micalizzi,

Forshner,

Low

et al. 2023

Ecosphere

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The little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus) is an endangered species that occurs throughout most of North America. The recovery strategy for little brown bats in Canada identifies a need to understand habitat use and protect important bat habitat across the species' Canadian range; however, bat roosting habitat requirements have not been well studied in mountainous environments within the northern part of the species' range. Our objective was to understand the use of building and natural roosts by female little brown bats in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Over two summers, we captured little brown bats in Banff, Yoho, and Kootenay National Parks, in Alberta and British Columbia, Canada, and tracked 49 females to their day roosts. Buildings were the only roost type used by radio‐tagged bats of all reproductive stages, the dominant roost type used throughout the reproductive period, and the only structures in which we located maternity colonies. Buildings also appeared to shape the distribution of foraging female and reproductive female bats such that few were captured at long distances from towns and building clusters. Compared with bats in more southern and in non‐mountainous areas, bats in our study area had delayed juvenile weaning and volancy, began hibernation early, and had low reproductive rates. We suggest that buildings are a key habitat for female little brown bats to persist at their current levels in our study area, by providing thermal conditions that promote overwinter survival; additional reproductive delays caused by torpor use in cool natural roosts would likely reduce juvenile and adult female overwinter survival below the levels required to sustain populations. Nevertheless, building colonies were unusually small, and bats had relatively low fidelity to particular building roosts, suggesting that building roosts may not consistently meet bats' needs. Some nonreproductive and pregnant females also frequently used natural roosts, particularly after colder nights; these roosts may be important in facilitating torpor and energy conservation for these bats. Because bats are long‐lived with low reproductive output and low juvenile survival, addressing the needs of both reproductive and nonreproductive individuals is important for population persistence.

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Biology of Myotis thysanodes and M. lucifugus (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae)—I. Thermoregulation

Cited by 75 publications

References 36 publications

Comparative thermal relationships of flight for some bats in the Southwestern United States

Comparative thermal relationships of flight for some bats in the Southwestern United States

Combinations of reproductive, individual, and weather effects best explain torpor patterns among female little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus)

Female little brown bats require both building and natural roosts in a mountainous environment with short summers

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