Echolocation Ecology and Flight Morphology of Insectivorous Bats (Chiroptera) in South-Western Australia

1991 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 427 ◽  
Author(s):  
JH Fullard ◽  
C Koehler ◽  
A Surlykke ◽  
NL Mckenzie
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
Small Community ◽  
Echolocation Call ◽  
Forest Reserve ◽  
Insectivorous Bats ◽  
Southwestern Australia ◽  
Aspect Ratios ◽  
Flight Morphology ◽  
Diet Analyses ◽  
Non Parametric

A small community of obligate insectivorous microchiropterans in the Perup forest reserve of southwestern Australia was sampled to determine species flight morphologies, diets and echolocation call designs. The aspect ratio:wing loading relationships of the seven species analysed indicate a loose clustering of species into closed, edge and open microhabitats with substantial interspecific overlap. Non-parametric correlations of the bats' aspect ratios and wing loadings with their echolocation call characteristics support these foraging zone classifications. Diet analyses indicate that this community of bats forages on a wide variety of insects, although certain preferences for Lepidoptera, Hymenoptera and Coleoptera were noted. We use these results and observations of the same species from other sites to propose a microhabitat separation for the bats of the Perup forest.

scholarly journals Forest stratification shapes allometry and flight morphology of tropical butterflies

2020 ◽  
Vol 287 (1937) ◽  
pp. 20201071
Author(s):  
Sebastián Mena ◽  
Krzysztof M. Kozak ◽  
Rafael E. Cárdenas ◽  
María F. Checa
Keyword(s):  
Insect Flight ◽  
Morphological Diversity ◽  
Vertical Gradient ◽  
Latitudinal Gradients ◽  
Butterfly Species ◽  
Forest Stratification ◽  
Aspect Ratios ◽  
Flight Morphology ◽  
Study Selection ◽  
Key Factor

Studies of altitudinal and latitudinal gradients have identified links between the evolution of insect flight morphology, landscape structure and microclimate. Although lowland tropical rainforests offer steeper shifts in conditions between the canopy and the understorey, this vertical gradient has received far less attention. Butterflies, because of their great phenotypic plasticity, are excellent models to study selection pressures that mould flight morphology. We examined data collected over 5 years on 64 Nymphalidae butterflies in the Ecuadorian Chocó rainforest. We used phylogenetic methods to control for similarity resulting from common ancestry, and explore the relationships between species stratification and flight morphology. We hypothesized that species should show morphological adaptations related to differing micro-environments, associated with canopy and understorey. We found that butterfly species living in each stratum presented significantly different allometric slopes. Furthermore, a preference for the canopy was significantly associated with low wing area to thoracic volume ratios and high wing aspect ratios, but not with the relative distance to the wing centroid, consistent with extended use of fast flapping flight for canopy butterflies and slow gliding for the understorey. Our results suggest that microclimate differences in vertical gradients are a key factor in generating morphological diversity in flying insects.

Shore-based recreational angling in the Rottnest Island Reserve, Western Australia: Spatial and temporal distribution of catch and fishing effort

2006 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 238 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. B. Smallwood ◽  
L. E. Beckley ◽  
N. R. Sumner
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
Temporal Distribution ◽  
Fishing Effort ◽  
Recreational Fishing ◽  
Temporal Data ◽  
Target Species ◽  
Southwestern Australia ◽  
Recreational Angling ◽  
Western Australian ◽  
Support Decision Making

The Rottnest Island Reserve, located off southwestern Australia, is one of the most popular recreational fishing locations in Western Australia. In the reserve, standard Western Australian recreational fishing regulations apply and there are two small "no-take" conservation sanctuary areas. A roving creel survey of shore-based recreational angling in the reserve was conducted from January to December 2003. In total, 1 053 anglers were recorded which included individuals, families, school groups and angling club members. The total annual shore-based angling effort for Rottnest island was calculated to be 23 899 angler outings and the total catch estimated at 53 994 retained fish. Fishing effort was concentrated in the settlement area on the eastern side of the island and the highest levels of catch and effort were recorded in April, May and July. During the survey, 33 fish species were identified in the catch and the small, pelagic species Australian Herring dominated with 7.27 tonnes caught during the study. Shore-based anglers also caught and released a large number of non-target species. The survey has provided spatial and temporal data that can be used as a benchmark and to support decision making by the Rottnest Island Authority with respect to biodiversity conservation and the Department of Fisheries with regard to management of shore-based recreational angling in the Rottnest Island Reserve.

Changes in an Assemblage of Small Birds in the Understorey of Dry Sclerophyll Forest in Southwestern Australia After Fire

1988 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 331 ◽  
Author(s):  
RD Wooller ◽  
MC Calver
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
Southwestern Australia ◽  
Low Intensity ◽  
Sclerophyll Forest

Changes in the numbers and types of small birds caught in mist-nets in the understorey of dry sclerophyll forest in south-western Australia were recorded for three years after a low intensity fire. There were few changes in the species composition of the assemblage but abundances of the 6-8 most numerous and relatively sedentary species were approximately halved. Many marked individuals (22%) were recaptured up to three years after the fire. After the fire, the number of prey taxa recorded from the faeces of birds caught fell from twelve to six, and the birds ate proportionately more ants and fewer beetles. Ants eaten after the fire were smaller than those eaten before it.

A comparison of the roosting and foraging behaviour of three species of African insectivorous bats (Rhinolophidae, Vespertilionidae, and Molossidae)

1986 ◽  
Vol 64 (12) ◽  
pp. 2860-2867 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Brock Fenton ◽  
I. L. Rautenbach
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
National Park ◽  
Foraging Behaviour ◽  
Kruger National Park ◽  
Radio Tracking ◽  
Body Temperatures ◽  
Wing Morphology ◽  
Echolocation Call ◽  
Insectivorous Bats ◽  
Deciduous Woodland

We used radio tracking to study the roosting and foraging behaviour of Rhinolophus hildebrandti, Scotophilus borbonicus (=S. viridis and S. leucogaster), and Tadarida midas in the Pafuri Region of Kruger National Park, South Africa in November 1985. Although the species roosted in different locations (S. borbonicus in hollow mopane trees, R. hildebrandti in a hollow baobab tree, and T. midas in buildings), roost temperatures and the bats' body temperatures were generally similar. The S. borbonicus and T. midas flew continuously while foraging in pursuit of flying prey; the R. hildebrandti switched between continuous flight, and hunting from a perch also in pursuit of flying prey. All three species foraged for about 60 min nightly, but the T. midas ventured at least 10 km from their roosts, while for S. borbonicus and R. hildebrandti, comparable figures were 4 and 2 km, respectively. The three species showed a spectrum of wing morphology and echolocation call design features from clutter resistant (R. hildebrandti) to relatively clutter resistant (S. borbonicus) and clutter intolerant (T. midas) and the foraging areas used by the bats corresponded to these features. Rhinolophus hildebrandti foraged below the canopy in riverine forest and deciduous woodland, while S. borbonicus foraged around the canopy but not closer than 0.5 m to it, while T. midas foraged in the open well above the canopy. These differences are discussed along with variations in foraging behaviour in insectivorous bats.

The allometry of echolocation call frequencies of insectivorous bats: why do some species deviate from the pattern?

Oecologia ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 152 (3) ◽  
pp. 583-594 ◽  
Author(s):  
David S. Jacobs ◽  
Robert M. R. Barclay ◽  
Maryalice H. Walker
Keyword(s):  
Echolocation Call ◽  
Insectivorous Bats

A new wobbegong shark, Orectolobus hutchinsi n. sp. (Orectolobiformes: Orectolobidae) from southwestern Australia

Zootaxa ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 1239 (1) ◽  
pp. 35 ◽  
Author(s):  
PETER R. LAST ◽  
JUSTIN A. CHIDLOW ◽  
LEONARD J.V. COMPAGNO
Keyword(s):  
Continental Shelf ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
Recreational Fisheries ◽  
Rock Lobster ◽  
North West ◽  
Southwestern Australia ◽  
White Spots ◽  
By Catch

Orectolobus hutchinsi n. sp.. is a moderate-sized wobbegong shark found in shallow continental shelf habitats off Western Australia. It occurs from Coral Bay (near North West Cape) south to Groper Bluff (west of Bremer Bay) in depths of 9–106 m where it is caught as by-catch of local gillnet, longline, rock lobster and recreational fisheries. It is sympatric with two other commercial wobbegong species, Orectolobus maculatus and O. ornatus, but differs from these and other IndoPacific species in having the combination of a few unbranched dermal lobes, relatively tall dorsal fins, no warty tubercles on the back of adults, and dark brown corrugated saddles without white spots and blotches. Some details of its biology are also provided.

scholarly journals Echolocation call description of 15 species of Middle-Eastern desert dwelling insectivorous bats

Bioacoustics ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 217-235 ◽  
Author(s):  
Talya D. Hackett ◽  
Marc W. Holderied ◽  
Carmi Korine
Keyword(s):  
Middle Eastern ◽  
Eastern Desert ◽  
Echolocation Call ◽  
Insectivorous Bats

Echolocation call structure and intensity in five species of insectivorous bats.

1995 ◽  
Vol 198 (2) ◽  
pp. 475-489 ◽  
Author(s):  
D A Waters ◽  
G Jones
Keyword(s):  
Energy Flux ◽  
Escape Response ◽  
Free Flight ◽  
Echolocation Call ◽  
Constant Frequency ◽  
Insectivorous Bats ◽  
Call Structure ◽  
Low Intensity ◽  
Energy Flux Density ◽  
Rms Amplitude

Echolocation call intensity was measured in the laboratory for five species of British insectivorous bats in free flight and in the hand. All species showed similar call intensities of between 80 and 90 dB peSPL (peak equivalent SPL) at 1 m during flight except Plecotus auritus, whose call intensity was between 68 and 77 dB peSPL at 1 m. Calls from stationary bats were about 13 dB less intense than calls during flight. A method is proposed to measure the root mean square (rms) amplitude of echolocation calls and, hence, to calculate the energy flux density of the call. The constant-frequency calls of Rhinolophus hipposideros have energy flux densities approximately ten times higher than those of bats using frequency-modulated calls as a result of their longer durations and lower crest factors. It is argued that the low-intensity calls of P. auritus allow it to approach tympanate moths more closely before triggering their escape response.

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