Pregnancy-related sensory deficits might impair foraging in echolocating bats.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Reproduction entails substantial demands throughout its distinct stages. The mammalian gestation period imposes various energetic costs and movement deficits, but its effects on the sensory system are poorly understood. Bats rely heavily on active sensing, using echolocation to forage in complete darkness, or when lighting is uncertain. We examined the effects of pregnancy on bat echolocation.

Results

We show that pregnant Kuhl's pipistrelles (Pipistrellus kuhlii) altered their echolocation and flight behavior. Specifically, pregnant bats emitted longer echolocation signals at an ~ 15% lower rate, while flying more slowly and at a lower altitude compared to post-lactating females. A sensorimotor foraging model suggests that these changes could lead to an ~ 15% red

SUBMITTER: Taub M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10044376 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature