Free-ranging Van Gelder’s bat Bauerus dubiaquercus (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) preying on dung beetles in southern Mexico

Mammalia ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pedro A. Aguilar-Rodríguez ◽  
Aline Méndez-Rodríguez ◽  
Sandra M. Ospina-Garcés ◽  
M. Cristina MacSwiney G. ◽  
Yossi Yovel
Keyword(s):  
Aspect Ratio ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Prey Species ◽  
Dung Beetles ◽  
Forest Edges ◽  
Wing Morphology ◽  
Wing Loading ◽  
Southern Mexico ◽  
Free Ranging ◽  
Wing Aspect Ratio

Abstract We report the first prey species consumed by the free-ranging Van Gelder’s bat Bauerus dubiaquercus. We trapped four pregnant individuals of this species carrying freshly captured dung beetles. We describe the wing morphology and flight descriptors (wing loading and wing aspect ratio) of the species, which presents wings more suitable for capturing insects by aerial hawking, although the evidence suggests that is able to capture dung beetles of nearly 10% of its body mass in flight close to the ground. The species could obtain their prey while foraging on uncluttered pasture near forest edges.

scholarly journals Endothermy in African Dung Beetles During Flight, Ball Making, and Ball Rolling

1978 ◽  
Vol 73 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
GEORGE A. BARTHOLOMEW ◽  
BERND HEINRICH
Keyword(s):  
Cooling Rate ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Partial Correlation ◽  
Dung Beetles ◽  
Necessary Condition ◽  
Body Temperatures ◽  
Wing Loading ◽  
Ambient Temperatures ◽  
Ball Rolling ◽  
Competition For Food

1. Body temperatures of diurnal and nocturnal ball-rolling and non ballrolling dung beetles (in particular the genera Scarabaeus, Kheper, Gymnopleurus and Heliocopris) were studied in the field in Kenya. 2. The beetles were conspicuously endothermic during flight, ball making, and ball rolling. When at rest, their body temperatures did not differ significantly from that of their surroundings. They did not always generate high body temperatures while walking. However, they sometimes warmed up prior to walking and subsequently maintained a large difference between body and ambient temperatures. 3. The nocturnal species, S. laevistriatus, was conspicuously endothermic during ball making and ball rolling, often maintaining thoracic temperatures of 40 °C or more in an ambient temperature of 25–26 °C. In this species, the velocity of ball rolling increased linearly with body temperature from 5 cm/sec at 28 °C to 18 cm/sec at 40 °C. 4. The take-off temperatures of dung beetles increased with body mass up to 2.5g. In beetles larger than 2.5g metathoracic temperatures at take-off ranged from 40 to 44 °CC and were independent of mass. 5. Flight temperatures showed essentially the same pattern as take-off temperatures, increasing with mass up to about 42 °C at 2.5 g and being independent of mass thereafter. 6. Both flight and take-off temperatures increased with wing-loading up to about 35 N/m2, but were independent of wing loading from 35 to 65 N/m2. 7. In each of the species for which we had an adequate sample, wing loading increased linearly with body mass. Partial correlation analysis suggests that metathoracic temperature is more dependent on body mass than on wing-loading. 8. During periods of endothermy, metathoracic temperature exceeded prothoracic temperature, and abdominal temperature was lower than that of either the prothorax or metathorax. 9. Cooling rate was inversely related to body mass. The removal of elytra and wings caused the cooling rate to increase by about one-quarter. 10. Elevated body temperatures in dung beetles during terrestrial activity is probably selectively advantageous in competition for food. A high metathoracic temperature is a necessary condition for take-off and flight in the larger species. 11. Mechanisms of heat production and the evidence for thermoregulation are discussed.

Wing Morphology and Body Design in Opsiphanes and Caligo Butterflies Match the Demands of Male Mating Displays (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae)

2020 ◽  
Vol 113 (3) ◽  
pp. 207-215
Author(s):  
Carla M Penz ◽  
Susan F Williams
Keyword(s):  
Lower Energy ◽  
Male Mating ◽  
Forest Edges ◽  
Wing Morphology ◽  
Male Display ◽  
Seeking Behavior ◽  
Body Design ◽  
Male Mate ◽  
Light Gaps ◽  
Wing Aspect Ratio

Abstract There is noticeable variation in male mate-seeking behavior among species of Brassolini butterflies. Males of Opsiphanes Doubleday and Caligo Hübner (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae) species perform crepuscular displays along forest edges and in light gaps. While male Opsiphanes perform aerial displays, Caligo males perch and wait for receptive females. A comparison of five species of each genus suggests that male display behavior is associated with, and has likely influenced the evolution of their wing attributes and body design. Opsiphanes males have higher wing aspect ratio and more distal centroid position than congeneric females, suggesting that the energetic demands of aerial displays led to sexual dimorphism in wing morphology. In contrast, male and female Caligo generally showed similar wing morphology, which possibly results from the lower energy expenditure of perching behavior when compared with active flight. Likely due to a genetic correlation between sexes, female Opsiphanes and Caligo are more similar in wing morphology and body design to their congeneric males than to each other. Based on our analyses, we make predictions about reproductive behavior for four species in which male mating displays are unknown.

Assessment of sources of variance and patterns of overlap in microchiropteran wing morphology in southeast Queensland, Australia

2002 ◽  
Vol 80 (3) ◽  
pp. 450-460 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin P Rhodes
Keyword(s):  
Aspect Ratio ◽  
Wing Morphology ◽  
Wing Loading ◽  
Flight Behaviour ◽  
Phylogenetic Constraint ◽  
Aspect Ratios ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Family Level ◽  
Measurement Variance ◽  
Southeast Queensland

In ecomorphological relationships, ecological similarities or overlap between species may occur with morphological similarity or overlap. Determination of morphological distinctness is thus important when relating morphology with ecology. This is the first of a series of papers investigating the ecomorphology of Microchiroptera in southeast Queensland, Australia, and in it I describe means and ranges of measurements and distinctness of wing morphology. In 21 species from this region, species means for aspect ratio (relative wing width) ranged from 4.98 to 8.25, while wing loading (mass by wing area) ranged from 4.32 to 15.9 N/m2. For these variables, each species' range (minimum–maximum) overlaps that of at least one other species, with greater overlap at lower values. Morphological overlap was frequent, owing to a consistently wide range of wing dimensions within species, with greater overlap at low aspect ratios and wing loadings where species were more closely packed. For all variables, the variance arising from the method of measurement (wing extend and trace) was less than intraspecific variance, but in many cases was similar to interspecific overlap. A proportion of the range and overlap in wing-morphology variables is attributable to measurement variance. The variance in aspect ratio was lower than in wing loading at species, genus, family, and region levels. Phylogenetic constraint on aspect ratio appears to be greater than on wing loading, particularly at the family level. At family and genus levels, aspect ratio varied less than wing loading. No overlap in aspect ratio occurred at family level. I group species into morphologically distinct units and provide predictions of the flight behaviour of these.

Wing Morphology and Flight Behaviour of the Golden-Tipped Bat, Phoniscus Papuensis (Dobson) (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae)

1995 ◽  
Vol 43 (6) ◽  
pp. 657 ◽  
Author(s):  
MP Rhodes
Keyword(s):  
Aspect Ratio ◽  
Habitat Preference ◽  
Flight Performance ◽  
Wing Morphology ◽  
Wing Loading ◽  
Wing Area ◽  
Flight Behaviour

The wing morphology and flight performance of Phoniscus papuensis was examined to determine whether the wing morphology reflected published observations of flight behaviour and habitat preference. Wingspan and wing area were above the vespertilionid average for its mass. The wing loading and aspect ratio were below average. The wing loading is the lowest of any Australian vespertilionid. P. papuensis was able to successfully negotiate arrays of obstacles 22 cm apart 60% of the time. This ability, and the extremely broad, lightly loaded wings, afford the species unique flight characteristics which have been observed in the field and allow flight in complex, 'closed' habitats.

Oxygen Consumption of Moths During Rest, Pre-Flight Warm-Up, and Flight In Relation to Body Size and Wing Morphology

1978 ◽  
Vol 76 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
GEORGE A. BARTHOLOMEW ◽  
TIMOTHY M. CASEY
Keyword(s):  
Oxygen Consumption ◽  
Aspect Ratio ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Beat Frequency ◽  
Wing Beat ◽  
Wing Loading ◽  
Warm Up ◽  
Pooled Data ◽  
Wing Beat Frequency ◽  
Tightly Coupled

Morphometrics and oxygen consumption were studied in about 35 sphingids, 50 saturniids, and 20 other heterothermic moths belonging to various families. For the pooled data of all species the regression of oxygen consumption on mass in grams is described by the following equations: at rest, cm3/h = 0.402 g0.775; during hovering flight, cm3/h = 59.430.818; during warm-up, cm3 = 1.186 g0.898. Similar equations are presented for the families Saturniidae and Sphingidae. In sphingids and saturniids thoracic mass, wing length, and wing area increased with body mass, whereas wing loading and aspect ratio were independent of body mass. The sphingids had higher wing loading, aspect ratio, and wing beat frequency during flight than the saturniids. Wing beat frequency was more tightly coupled to morphological parameters in sphingids than in saturniids. The allometry of resting and active aerobic metabolism in heterothermic moths is compared with that of reptiles, mammals and birds. The scaling of oxygen consumption during flight in the moths is almost identical to that of bats and birds.

scholarly journals FLIGHT PHYSIOLOGY OF NEOTROPICAL BUTTERFLIES: ALLOMETRY OF AIRSPEEDS DURING NATURAL FREE FLIGHT

1994 ◽  
Vol 191 (1) ◽  
pp. 125-139 ◽  
Author(s):  
R Dudley ◽  
R Srygley
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass ◽  
Wing Length ◽  
Correlation Coefficients ◽  
Flight Speed ◽  
Morphological Data ◽  
Free Flight ◽  
Wing Loading ◽  
Natural Conditions ◽  
Wing Area ◽  
Wing Aspect Ratio

Airspeed measurements during natural free flight were made on a total of 270 neotropical butterflies representing 62 species. Morphological data were obtained from the same individuals for which airspeeds had been determined. Flight speed was positively correlated with body mass, thoracic mass and wing loading. Controlling for body mass, higher wing loadings were correlated with increased flight speed. Flight speed and wing aspect ratio were negatively correlated. No consistent correlations were found between airspeed and wing length, wing area or body length. Released butterflies and butterflies encountered in natural free flight did not differ substantially in flight speed allometry. The observed scaling of flight speeds was similar to that derived for a much smaller sample of butterflies flying in an insectary, although absolute values of flight speed were approximately three times higher in natural flight and correlation coefficients of allometric regressions were typically lower. These results suggest that butterfly airspeeds under natural conditions can reasonably be predicted from morphological measurements, and that studying flight in enclosed spaces preserves the allometry of flight speeds.

Numerical Study of Winglet at Low Reynolds Numbers

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sina Pooladsanj ◽  
Mehran Tadjfar
Keyword(s):  
Aspect Ratio ◽  
Flow Field ◽  
Vortex Flow ◽  
Numerical Study ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Flow Zone ◽  
Low Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Structured Grid ◽  
Flow Field Characteristics ◽  
Wing Aspect Ratio

A numerical study has been performed to evaluate the aerodynamics coefficients of a winglet in the range of Reynolds numbers below 30,000. In this study some parameters on winglet design have been considered. The effect of winglet-tip airfoil thickness has been investigated on aerodynamics coefficients. In order to explore this effect, two different airfoils (NACA0002 and NACA0012) were employed at the winglet-tip. The influence of varying the winglet connection angle to the wing on aerodynamics coefficients and flow field characteristics in the vortex flow zone such as; circulation magnitude and vorticity magnitude in the vortex core have been studied. Six connection angles including 20°, 30°, 40°, 50°, 60° and 70° have been studied. Negative values of these angles have also been considered. In addition, the effect of changing wing aspect ratio on aerodynamics coefficients has been investigated. To solve the flow field around the studied geometry a fully structured grid was used which consists of 84 blocks.

Effects of Season, Location, Species, and Sex on Hematologic and Plasma Biochemical Values and Body Mass in Free-ranging Grebes (Aechmophorus species)

2021 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nancy L. Anderson ◽  
Susan E. W. De La Cruz ◽  
Joseph K. Gaydos ◽  
Michael H. Ziccardi ◽  
Danielle J. Harvey
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass ◽  
Free Ranging

Effects of canine heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) on body condition and activity of free-ranging coyotes (Canis latrans)

2000 ◽  
Vol 78 (6) ◽  
pp. 1042-1051 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin N Sacks ◽  
Karen M Blejwas
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Dirofilaria Immitis ◽  
Canis Latrans ◽  
Infected Group ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Canine Heartworm ◽  
Average Body Mass ◽  
Free Ranging ◽  
Average Body

We used radiotelemetry to study relationships among canine heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) infection, body condition, and activity of free-ranging coyotes (Canis latrans). Average body mass at death was lower for 17 coyotes in a high-intensity infected group (mean = 33.6 heartworms) than for 18 coyotes in a control group (mean = 3.6 heartworms; p < 0.01). Coyotes in the infected group lost body mass at an average rate of 20% per year relative to the control group (p < 0.01). Bone marrow fat was negatively correlated with heartworm burden (R2 = 0.27; p < 0.01). Average body mass of coyotes at initial capture (i.e., potentially before infection) did not differ between infected and control groups (p = 0.90; 1–β = 0.70). Activity was negatively correlated with heartworm burden during the last 2 months of life (R2 = 0.30; p < 0.01), but no correlation was found 2–4 months before death. Activity of the infected group (n = 13) declined over time (p = 0.01), whereas no difference in activity was observed in the control group (n = 13; p = 0.50). Our findings indicate that heartworm infection reduced body condition and activity of coyotes but that nutritional status did not significantly affect susceptibility to infection.

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