Ecology of Bats (eBook, PDF)

Redaktion: Kunz, T. H.

• Format: PDF

Produktbeschreibung

Among living vertebrates bats and birds are unique in their ability to fly, and it is this common feature that sets them apart ecologically from other groups. Bats are in some ways the noctumal equivalents of birds, having evolved and radiated into a diversity of forms to fill many of the same niches. The evolution of flight and echolocation in bats was undoubtedly a prime mover in the diversification of feeding and roosting habits, reproductive strategies, and social behaviors. Bats have successfully colonized almost every continential region on earth (except Antarctica), as weIl as many oceanic islands and archipelagos. They comprise the second largest order of mammals (next to rodents) in number of species and probably exceed all other such groups in overall abundance. Bats exhibit a dietary diversity (including insects, fruits, leaves, flowers, nectar and pollen, fish. other vertebrates, and blood) unparalleled among other living mammals. Their reproductive pattems range from seasonal monestry to polyestry, and mating systems inelude promiscuity, monogamy, and polygyny. The vast majority of what we know about the ecology of bats is derived from studies of only a few of the approximately 850 species, yet in the past two decades studies on bats have escalated to a level where many important empirical pattems and processes have been identified. This knowledge has strengthened our understanding of ecological relationships and encouraged hypothesis testing rather than perpetuated a catalog of miscellaneous observations.

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Produktdetails

• Verlag: Springer US
• Seitenzahl: 450
• Erscheinungstermin: 11. November 2013
• Englisch
• ISBN-13: 9781461334217
• Artikelnr.: 44043623

Inhaltsangabe

1 Roosting Ecology.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Day Roosts.- 3. Night Roosts.- 4. Summary.- 5. References.- 2 Ecology of Bat Reproduction.- 1. Introduction.- 2. The Timing of Breeding Seasons.- 3. Environmental Factors Affecting Specific Reproductive Events.- 4. Summary.- 5. References.- 3 Growth and Survival of Bats.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Prenatal Growth and Development.- 3. Postnatal Growth and Development.- 4. Survival.- 5. Summary.- 6. References.- 4 Evolutionary Alternatives in the Physiological Ecology of Bats.- 1. Introduction.- 2. The Energetics of Bats.- 3. The Water Balance of Bats.- 4. Distributional Limits to Bats.- 5. Summary.- 6. References.- 5 Ecological Aspects of Bat Activity Rhythms.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Methods for Recording the Activity of Bats.- 3. Activity Patterns and Timing of Flight Activity under Natural and Controlled Conditions.- 4. Activity Rhythms during Hibernation.- 5. The Endogenous Origin of Bat Activity Rhythms.- 6. Ecological Adaptation of Circadian Systems and Evolutionary Aspects.- 7. Summary.- 8. References.- 6 Ecological Significance of Chiropteran Morphology.- 1. Introduction.- 2. The Trophic Niche.- 3. Morphology and Community Structure.- 4. Sexual Dimorphism.- 5. Geographic Variation.- 6. Summary.- 7. References.- 7 Echolocation, Insect Hearing, and Feeding Ecology of Insectivorous Bats.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Echolocation Calls.- 3. Hearing and Insect Defense.- 4. Responses of Bats to Insect Hearing.- 5. Bats as Specialists.- 6. Other Considerations.- 7. Summary.- 8. References.- 8 Foraging Strategies of Plant-Visiting Bats.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Food Availability and General Foraging Strategies.- 3. The Foraging Behavior of Plant-Visiting Bats.- 4. Summary and General Conclusions.- 5. References.- 9 Coevolution between Bats and Plants.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Coupled Speciation.- 3. Complex Coadaptations between Bats and Plants.- 4. Ecological Consequences of Bat-Plant Interactions.- 5. Does Coevolution "Matter"?.- 6. Summary.- 7. References.- 10 Ecology of Insects Ectoparasitic on Bats.- 1. Introduction.- 2. LifeCycles.- 3. Host Associations.- 4. Host Location and Dispersal.- 5. Behavior on or Near the Host.- 6. Population Dynamics.- 7. Conclusions.- 8. Appendix.- 9. References.- Author Index.- Species Index.