The Metabolic Rates and Body Temperatures of Bats

Weight dynamics of bats wintering in the cave at Puławy (Poland)

“…When comparing the weights of bats at Puławy with those of northern bats of the same species (Ryberg, 1947) it is noticeable that the weights of the former are in general considerably greater, e. g. M. nattereri at Puławy weighs 6.37 -14.09 g., while in Sweden the weight is only 5 -9.5 g.; P. auritus: 6.38 -12.70 g., and correspondingly 5-10 g.; B. barbastellus 7.50-15.23 g., and correspondingly 6 -8.5 g.; E. serotinus 18.29 -29.71 g. and correspondingly 13 -17 g. If B e r g m a n's law is applied here it appears that the bats behave like poikilothermic animals, their size becoming smaller the further north they live. This is in agreement with the results of investigations made by Hock (1951) and by Hanuś (1959) on the metabolism of bats.…”

Circulation in Mammalian Hibernation

“…Hibernation may continue for many hours with an increased metabolic rate, or the stimulus may be sufficient to start the arousal process. This residuum of temperature control has been reported for such widely separated groups as bats (Hock, 1951), dormice (Wyss, 1932) and hamsters (Lyman, 1948) and it doubtless exists in all hibernators. It is not infallible, however, for the animal cannot respond fast enough to rapid cooling of the environment and may die either because of failure of organ function due to cold or because of actual freezing of the tissues.…”

Hibernation and daily torpor in Australian mammals

“…The five remaining families (largely insectivorous Microchiroptera; Menkhorst and Knight 2001) all contain known heterothermic species, but most of the data are available on the family Vespertilionidae (Kulzer et al 1970;Hall 1982;Geiser 2006; Table 1). Long-eared bats (Nyctophilus geoffroyi and N. gouldi), wattled bats (Chalinolobus gouldii), broad-nosed bats (Scotorepens balstoni) and forest bats (Vespadelus vulturnus) show low minimum T b of ~1 to 6°C and TMR (~1-4% of BMR) that are similar to those of hibernating bats elsewhere as well as echidnas and pygmy-possums (Hock 1951;Geiser 2004).…”