Abstract
The thermal physiology of tree-roosting bats has been rarely studied in the wild. I used temperature telemetry to locate and record the skin temperature (Tskin) of chocolate wattled bats (Chalinolobus morio, Vespertilionidae) roosting in tree cavities. In summer, male C. morio (n ¼ 4) used torpor on 88% (15 of 17) of days. Bats entered torpor before or near sunrise, remained torpid for 7.3 h 6 3.8 SD (range: 0.8–13.2 h), and aroused midmorning. Torpor bout duration was negatively related to minimum torpid Tskin (R 2 ¼ 0.94, P , 0.001). In winter, a female bat employed prolonged torpor lasting 13.5 and 15 days, during which Tskin fluctuated passively by 5.78C 6 2.58C, following the daily temperature cycle. At the same time of year, a male bat used torpor repeatedly but aroused on most evenings, possibly to find and copulate with females and also forage on warmer nights. These data shows that male C. morio frequently enter torpor in summer and provides the 1st direct evidence of winter hibernation by tree-roosting bats.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
