Roosting and Echolocation Behavior of the African Bat, Chalinolobus variegatus

Obrist, Martin К.; Aldridge, H. D. J. N.; Fenton, M. Brock

doi:10.2307/1381721

Cited by 12 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 11 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Similar patterns have been described for several other vespertilionids including NyctaIus leisleri, N. noctula, Pipistrellus kuhli, Barbastella barbastellus and Chalinolobus variegatus (Watson 1970;Ahl6n 1981;Obrist et al 1989), and for emballonurids (Pye 1973;Barclay 1983). Calls of alternating frequency could separate echoes from the Is echo recognition a problem in everyday foraging of vespertilionid bats?…”

Section: Effects Of Variabilitysupporting

confidence: 63%

Flexible bat echolocation: the influence of individual, habitat and conspecifics on sonar signal design

Obrist¹

1995

Behav Ecol Sociobiol

256

129

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Acoustic signals which are used in animal communication must carry a variety of information and are therefore highly flexible. Echolocation has probably evolved from acoustic communication, still serves such functions and could prove as flexible. Measurable variability can indicate flexibility in a behaviour. To quantify variability in bat sonar and relate it to behavioural and environmental factors, I recorded echolocation calls of Euderma maculatum, Eptesicus fuscus, Lasiurus borealis and L. cinereus while the bats hunted in their natural habitat. I analysed 3390 search phase calls emitted by 16 known and 16 unknown individuals foraging in different environmental and behavioural situations. All four species used mainly multiharmonic signals that showed considerable intra-and inter-individual variability in the five signal variables I analysed (call duration, call interval, highest and lowest frequency and frequency with maximum energy) and also in the shape of the sonagram. A nested multivariate analysis of variance identified the influences of individual, hunting site, close conspecifics and of each observation on the frequency with maximum energy in the calls, and on other variables measured. Individual bats differed in multiple comparisons, most often in the main call frequency and least often in call interval. In a discriminant function analysis with resubstitution, 56-76% of a species' calls were assigned to the correct individual. Distinct individual call patterns were recorded in special situations in all species and the size of foraging areas in forested areas influenced temporal and spectral call structure. Echolocation behaviour was influenced by the presence of conspecifics. When bats were hunting together, call duration decreased and call interval increased in all species, but spectral effects were less pronounced. The role of morphometric differences as the source of individually distinct vocalizations is discussed. I also examined signal adaptations to long range echolocation and the influence of obstacle distance on echolocation call design. My results allow to discuss the problems of echo recognition and jamming avoidance in vespertilionid bats.

show abstract

Section: Effects Of Variabilitysupporting

confidence: 63%

Flexible bat echolocation: the influence of individual, habitat and conspecifics on sonar signal design

Obrist¹

1995

Behav Ecol Sociobiol

256

129

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Glauconycteris variegata has relatively low wing loading (body mass/wing area), a long wingspan, and a high aspect ratio (wing length/wing width- Findley et al 1972;Obrist et al 1989). An adult female from Zimbabwe with a 45-mm forearm, 325-mm wingspan, and a body mass of 12.6 g, had a wing area of 15.03 mm 2 , an aspect ratio of 7.0, and wing loading of 8.2 N/m 2 (Obrist et al 1989).…”

Section: Form and Functionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…An adult female from Zimbabwe with a 45-mm forearm, 325-mm wingspan, and a body mass of 12.6 g, had a wing area of 15.03 mm 2 , an aspect ratio of 7.0, and wing loading of 8.2 N/m 2 (Obrist et al 1989). The wing tips of G. variegata are long and pointed, suggesting efficient lowspeed, maneuverable flight (Obrist et al 1989). G. variegata has a minimum power speed of 3.3 m/s, maximum range speed of 4.4 m/s, and mean foraging flight speed of 4 m/s (Obrist et al 1989).…”

Section: Form and Functionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The wing tips of G. variegata are long and pointed, suggesting efficient lowspeed, maneuverable flight (Obrist et al 1989). G. variegata has a minimum power speed of 3.3 m/s, maximum range speed of 4.4 m/s, and mean foraging flight speed of 4 m/s (Obrist et al 1989).…”

Section: Form and Functionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Echolocation vocalizations are high-intensity, frequencymodulated calls typically sweeping from 70 to 30 kHz, sometimes including a 2nd harmonic, and rarely a 3rd (Fenton and Fullard 1979;Obrist et al 1989). Obrist et al (1989) report echolocation frequencies for flying and foraging bats.…”

Section: Form and Functionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations