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Feeding behavior innovation increases foraging efficiency in the Amur falcon but may be a threat to Asian particolored bats.

ABSTRACT: Behavioral innovations are rare and infrequent in the natural world, but they are pivotal for animals to respond to environmental changes. The ecological benefits of these innovations remain unknown, especially in wild populations. Here, two foraging strategies and three eating behaviors of the Amur falcon (Falco amurensis) were observed during predation on Asian particolored bats (Vespertilio sinensis) across 3 years. We demonstrated that an eating behavioral innovation in F. amurensis increased the foraging efficiency of V. sinensis more than twofold during 3 consecutive years. This showed that changes in feeding behavior by a bird strongly influenced the rate of energy intake. Since predation on bats by falcons mainly occurred during the lactation and post-lactation of bats, this may have a certain level of negative effect on the bat population.

SUBMITTER: Feng L

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9465184 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Feeding behavior innovation increases foraging efficiency in the Amur falcon but may be a threat to Asian particolored bats.

Feng Lei L Li Jingjing J Qin Hexuan H Liu Yingying Y Wu Hui H Feng Jiang J Jiang Tinglei T

Ecology and evolution 20220911 9

Behavioral innovations are rare and infrequent in the natural world, but they are pivotal for animals to respond to environmental changes. The ecological benefits of these innovations remain unknown, especially in wild populations. Here, two foraging strategies and three eating behaviors of the Amur falcon (Falco amurensis) were observed during predation on Asian particolored bats (Vespertilio sinensis) across 3 years. We demonstrated that an eating behavioral innovation in F. a ...[more]

PMID: 36110884

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Project description:Nectar-feeding bats depend mainly on floral nectar to fulfil their energetic requirements. Chiropterophilous flowers generally present strong floral scents and provide conspicuous acoustic echoes to attract bats. While floral scents are assumed to attract bats over long distances, acoustic properties of flower structures may provide detailed information, thus supporting the localization of a flower at close ranges. So far, to our knowledge, there is no study trying to understand the relative importance as well as the combination of these generally coupled cues for detection (presence) and localization (exact position) of open flowers in nature. For a better comprehension of the significance of olfaction and echolocation in the foraging behaviour of nectar-feeding bats, we conducted two-choice experiments with Leptonycteris yerbabuenae. We tested the bats' behaviour in three experimental scenarios with different cues: (i) olfaction versus echolocation, (ii) echolocation versus echolocation and olfaction, and (iii) olfaction versus echolocation and olfaction. We used the floral scent of the bat-pollinated cactus Pachycereus pringlei as olfactory cue and an acrylic paraboloid as acoustic cue. Additionally, we recorded the echolocation behaviour of the bats and analysed the floral scent of P. pringlei. When decoupled cues were offered, bats displayed no preference in choice for any of the two cues. However, bats reacted first to and chose more often the coupled cues. All bats echolocated continuously and broadcast a long terminal group before a successful visit. The floral scent bouquet of P. pringlei is composed of 20 compounds, some of which (e.g. methyl benzoate) were already reported from chiropterophilous plants. Our investigation demonstrates for the first time to our knowledge, that nectar-feeding bats integrate over different sensory modes for detection and precise localization of open flowers. The combined information from olfactory and acoustic cues allows bats to forage more efficiently.

Dataset Information

Feeding behavior innovation increases foraging efficiency in the Amur falcon but may be a threat to Asian particolored bats.

Publications

Feeding behavior innovation increases foraging efficiency in the Amur falcon but may be a threat to Asian particolored bats.

Similar Datasets

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