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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando Gual‐Suárez
- Laboratorio de Ecología y Conservación de Vertebrados Terrestres Instituto de Ecología Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México Circuito Exterior s/n, Ciudad Universitaria04510Mexico City Mexico
| | - Rodrigo A. Medellín
- Laboratorio de Ecología y Conservación de Vertebrados Terrestres Instituto de Ecología Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México Circuito Exterior s/n, Ciudad Universitaria04510Mexico City Mexico
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2
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Milne DJ, Burwell CJ, Pavey CR. Dietary composition of insectivorous bats of the Top End of Australia. AUSTRALIAN MAMMALOGY 2016. [DOI: 10.1071/am15044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Diet and, more broadly, trophic ecology is an important aspect of microbat ecology that provides valuable information on how species interact and persist within the environment. In this study, we assessed the trophic ecology of a microbat assemblage in the wet–dry tropics of northern Australia. On the basis of analysis of stomach and faecal contents, we assessed 23 species representing seven families, including three species (Taphozous kapalgensis, Nyctophilus arnhemensis and Pipistrellus adamsi) for which no previous dietary data are available. Insects were the principal food source of all species in the Top End microbat assemblage. For foraging guilds, a higher percentage of Orthoptera and Coleoptera were present in species from the ‘Uncluttered’ guild whereas a higher percentage of Lepidoptera were taken by bats in the ‘Background clutter’ and ‘Highly cluttered’ guilds. However, there was considerable overlap between microbat diets irrespective of foraging strategy.
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Nakano R, Ihara F, Mishiro K, Toyama M, Toda S. High duty cycle pulses suppress orientation flights of crambid moths. JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2015; 83:15-21. [PMID: 26549128 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2015.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2015] [Revised: 10/23/2015] [Accepted: 11/04/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Bat-and-moth is a good model system for understanding predator-prey interactions resulting from interspecific coevolution. Night-flying insects have been under predation pressure from echolocating bats for 65Myr, pressuring vulnerable moths to evolve ultrasound detection and evasive maneuvers as counter tactics. Past studies of defensive behaviors against attacking bats have been biased toward noctuoid moth responses to short duration pulses of low-duty-cycle (LDC) bat calls. Depending on the region, however, moths have been exposed to predation pressure from high-duty-cycle (HDC) bats as well. Here, we reveal that long duration pulse of the sympatric HDC bat (e.g., greater horseshoe bat) is easily detected by the auditory nerve of Japanese crambid moths (yellow peach moth and Asian corn borer) and suppress both mate-finding flights of virgin males and host-finding flights of mated females. The hearing sensitivities for the duration of pulse stimuli significantly dropped non-linearly in both the two moth species as the pulse duration shortened. These hearing properties support the energy integrator model; however, the threshold reduction per doubling the duration has slightly larger than those of other moth species hitherto reported. And also, Asian corn borer showed a lower auditory sensitivity and a lower flight suppression to short duration pulse than yellow peach moth did. Therefore, flight disruption of moth might be more frequently achieved by the pulse structure of HDC calls. The combination of long pulses and inter-pulse intervals, which moths can readily continue detecting, will be useful for repelling moth pests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryo Nakano
- Breeding and Pest Management Division, NARO Institute of Fruit Tree Science, 2-1 Fujimoto, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8605, Japan; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, ON M1C 1A4, Canada.
| | - Fumio Ihara
- Breeding and Pest Management Division, NARO Institute of Fruit Tree Science, 2-1 Fujimoto, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8605, Japan
| | - Koji Mishiro
- Breeding and Pest Management Division, NARO Institute of Fruit Tree Science, 2-1 Fujimoto, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8605, Japan
| | - Masatoshi Toyama
- Grape and Persimmon Research Division, NARO Institute of Fruit Tree Science, 301-2 Mitsu, Akitsu, Higashi-hiroshima, Hiroshima 739-2494, Japan
| | - Satoshi Toda
- Breeding and Pest Management Division, NARO Institute of Fruit Tree Science, 2-1 Fujimoto, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8605, Japan
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Mora EC, Fernández Y, Hechavarría J, Pérez M. Tone-deaf ears in moths may limit the acoustic detection of two-tone bats. BRAIN, BEHAVIOR AND EVOLUTION 2014; 83:275-85. [PMID: 24942265 DOI: 10.1159/000361035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2013] [Accepted: 08/21/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Frequency alternation in the echolocation of insectivorous bats has been interpreted in relation to ranging and duty cycle, i.e. advantages for echolocation. The shifts in frequency of the calls of these so-called two-tone bats, however, may also play its role in the success of their hunting behavior for a preferred prey, the tympanate moth. How the auditory receptors (e.g. the A1 and A2 cells) in the moth's ear detect such frequency shifts is currently unknown. Here, we measured the auditory responses of the A1 cell in the noctuid Spodoptera frugiperda to the echolocation hunting sequence of Molossus molossus, a two-tone bat. We also manipulated the bat calls to control for the frequency shifts by lowering the frequency band of the search and approach calls. The firing response of the A1 receptor cell significantly decreases with the shift to higher frequencies during the search and approach phases of the hunting sequence of M. molossus; this could be explained by the receptor's threshold curve. The frequency dependence of the decrease in the receptor's response is supported by the results attained with the manipulated sequence: search and approach calls with the same minimum frequency are detected by the moth at the same threshold intensity. The two-tone bat M. molossus shows a call frequency alternation behavior that may enable it to overcome moth audition even in the mid-frequency range (i.e. 20-50 kHz) where moths hear best.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emanuel C Mora
- Research Group in Bioacoustics and Neuroethology, Department of Animal and Human Biology, Faculty of Biology, Havana University, Havana, Cuba
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Sedlock JL, Krüger F, Clare EL. Island bat diets: does it matter more who you are or where you live? Mol Ecol 2014; 23:3684-94. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.12732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2013] [Revised: 02/21/2014] [Accepted: 03/05/2014] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jodi L. Sedlock
- Biology Department; Lawrence University; 711 E. Boldt Way Appleton WI 54911 USA
| | - Frauke Krüger
- Institute of Natural Resource Conservation; University of Kiel; Olshausenstr. 75 24118 Kiel Germany
| | - Elizabeth L. Clare
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences; Queen Mary University of London; Mile End Road London E1 4NS UK
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ter Hofstede HM, Goerlitz HR, Ratcliffe JM, Holderied MW, Surlykke A. The simple ears of noctuoid moths are tuned to the calls of their sympatric bat community. J Exp Biol 2013; 216:3954-62. [DOI: 10.1242/jeb.093294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Summary
Insects with bat-detecting ears are ideal animals for investigating sensory system adaptations to predator cues. Noctuid moths have two auditory receptors (A1 and A2) sensitive to the ultrasonic echolocation calls of insectivorous bats. Larger moths are detected at greater distances by bats than smaller moths. Larger moths also have lower A1 best thresholds, allowing them to detect bats at greater distances and possibly compensating for their increased conspicuousness. Interestingly, the sound frequency at the lowest threshold is lower in larger than smaller moths, suggesting that the relationship between threshold and size might vary across frequencies used by different bat species. Here, we demonstrate that the relationships between threshold and size in moths were only significant at some frequencies, and these frequencies differed between three locations (UK, Canada, Denmark). The relationships were more likely to be significant at call frequencies used by proportionately more bat species in the moths’ specific bat community, suggesting an association between the tuning of moth ears and the cues provided by sympatric predators. Additionally, we found that the best threshold and best frequency of the less sensitive A2 receptor are also related to size, and that these relationships hold when controlling for evolutionary relationships. The slopes of best threshold vs. size differ, however, such that the difference in threshold between A1 and A2 is greater for larger than smaller moths. The shorter time from A1 to A2 excitation in smaller than larger moths could potentially compensate for shorter absolute detection distances in smaller moths.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Holger R. Goerlitz
- University of Bristol, UK; Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Germany
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Yager DD. Predator detection and evasion by flying insects. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2012; 22:201-7. [PMID: 22226428 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2011.12.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2011] [Revised: 12/12/2011] [Accepted: 12/17/2011] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Echolocating bats detect prey using ultrasonic pulses, and many nocturnally flying insects effectively detect and evade these predators through sensitive ultrasonic hearing. Many eared insects can use the intensity of the predator-generated ultrasound and the stereotyped progression of bat echolocation pulse rate to assess risk level. Effective responses can vary from gentle turns away from the threat (low risk) to sudden random flight and dives (highest risk). Recent research with eared moths shows that males will balance immediate bat predation risk against reproductive opportunity as judged by the strength and quality of conspecific pheromones present. Ultrasound exposure may, in fact, bias such decisions for up to 24 hours through plasticity in the CNS olfactory system. However, brain processing of ultrasonic stimuli to yield adaptive prey behaviors remains largely unstudied, so possible mechanisms are not known.
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Affiliation(s)
- David D Yager
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience and Cognitive Science Program, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, United States.
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The relative influence of competition and prey defences on the trophic structure of animalivorous bat ensembles. Oecologia 2010; 166:493-506. [PMID: 21128085 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-010-1854-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2009] [Accepted: 11/12/2010] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Deterministic filters such as competition and prey defences should have a strong influence on the community structure of animals like animalivorous bats which have life histories characterized by low fecundity, low predation risk, long life expectancy and stable populations. We investigated the relative influence of these two deterministic filters on the trophic structure of animalivorous bat assemblages in South Africa. We used null models to test if patterns of dietary overlap were significantly different from patterns expected by chance and multivariate analyses to test the correlations between diet and phenotype (body size, wing morphology and echolocation). We found little evidence that competition structured the trophic niche of coexisting bats. Contrary to predictions from competition, dietary overlap between bats of ensembles and functional groups (open-air, clutter-edge, and clutter foragers) were significantly higher than expected by chance. Instead, we found support for the predictions of the allotonic frequency hypothesis: there were significant relationships between peak echolocation frequency and the proportion of moths in the diets of bats at local and regional scales, and peak echolocation frequency was the best predictor of diet even after we controlled for the influence of body size and phylogeny. These results suggest that echolocation frequency and prey hearing exert more influence on the trophic structure of sympatric animalivorous bats than competition. Nonetheless, differential habitat use and sensory bias may also be major determinants of trophic structure because these are also correlated with frequencies of bat calls.
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ter Hofstede HM, Killow J, Fullard JH. Gleaning bat echolocation calls do not elicit antipredator behaviour in the Pacific field cricket, Teleogryllus oceanicus (Orthoptera: Gryllidae). J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol 2009; 195:769-76. [DOI: 10.1007/s00359-009-0454-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2008] [Revised: 05/26/2009] [Accepted: 05/29/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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Fullard JH, Jackson ME, Jacobs DS, Pavey CR, Burwell CJ. Surviving cave bats: auditory and behavioural defences in the Australian noctuid moth,Speiredonia spectans. J Exp Biol 2008; 211:3808-15. [DOI: 10.1242/jeb.023978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
SUMMARYThe Australian noctuid moth, Speiredonia spectans shares its subterranean day roosts (caves and abandoned mines) with insectivorous bats,some of which prey upon it. The capacity of this moth to survive is assumed to arise from its ability to listen for the bats' echolocation calls and take evasive action; however, the auditory characteristics of this moth or any tropically distributed Australian moth have never been examined. We investigated the ears of S. spectans and determined that they are among the most sensitive ever described for a noctuid moth. Using playbacks of cave-recorded bats, we determined that S. spectans is able to detect most of the calls of two co-habiting bats, Rhinolophus megaphyllusand Miniopterus australis, whose echolocation calls are dominated by frequencies ranging from 60 to 79 kHz. Video-recorded observations of this roost site show that S. spectans adjusts its flight activity to avoid bats but this defence may delay the normal emergence of the moths and leave some `pinned down' in the roosts for the entire night. At a different day roost, we observed the auditory responses of one moth to the exceptionally high echolocation frequencies (150–160 kHz) of the bat Hipposideros ater and determined that S. spectans is unable to detect most of its calls. We suggest that this auditory constraint, in addition to the greater flight manoeuvrability of H. ater, renders S. spectans vulnerable to predation by this bat to the point of excluding the moth from day roosts where the bat occurs.
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Affiliation(s)
- James H. Fullard
- Department of Biology, University of Toronto, 3359 Mississauga Road,Mississauga, Ontario, Canada L5L 1C6
| | - Matt E. Jackson
- Department of Biology, University of Toronto, 3359 Mississauga Road,Mississauga, Ontario, Canada L5L 1C6
| | - David S. Jacobs
- Department of Zoology, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - Chris R. Pavey
- Biodiversity Conservation Division, Department of Natural Resources,Environment and the Arts, P.O. Box 1120, Alice Springs, 0871 Australia
| | - Chris J. Burwell
- Queensland Museum, P.O. Box 3300, South Brisbane, 4101 Australia
- Griffith School of Environment, Griffith University, Nathan, 4111 Australia
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Jacobs DS, Ratcliffe JM, Fullard JH. Beware of bats, beware of birds: the auditory responses of eared moths to bat and bird predation. Behav Ecol 2008. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arn071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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