Data from: First three-dimensional tracks of bat migration reveal large amounts of individual behavioral flexibility
Data from: First three-dimensional tracks of bat migration reveal large amounts of individual behavioral flexibility
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Date
2019-05-28
Citation
O'Mara MT, Wikelski M, Kranstauber B, Dechmann DKN. 2019. Data from: First three-dimensional tracks of bat migration reveal large amounts of individual behavioral flexibility. Movebank Data Repository. https://doi.org/10.5441/001/1.5d736bf0Abstract
It is generally assumed that small migrating birds and bats explore wind conditions and then choose a flight altitude, which they then maintain. Because of their high metabolism and flight costs, bats should also minimize energy expenditure during migratory flight, but we know little of how individuals make their migratory journeys. We followed migrating common noctules (Nyctalus noctula) fitted with miniaturized barometric pressure radio transmitters by airplane to record three dimensional migratory movements. Mean airspeeds were 7.2-15.9 m/s and overall climb rates were faster than overall descent rates. While all bats migrated in the same northeasterly direction, they showed flexibility in their altitudes, distances and stopover sites both within and among individuals. This suggests that individuals make decisions to take advantage of wind, landscape, and navigational conditions or other, yet unknown factors, to optimize their nightly flights. Our results once more confirm that the flexibility and behavioral repertoire of individuals in the wild is greater than we assume.
Keywords
Nyctalus noctula,animal movement,animal tracking,bat,common noctule,flight altitude,Germany,Nyctalus noctula,radio telemetry
DOIs of related Publications
BibTex
@misc{001/1_5d736bf0,
title = {Data from: First three-dimensional tracks of bat migration reveal large amounts of individual behavioral flexibility},
author = {O'Mara, MT and Wikelski, M and Kranstauber, B and Dechmann, DKN},
year = {2019},
URL = {http://dx.doi.org/10.5441/001/1.5d736bf0},
doi = {doi:10.5441/001/1.5d736bf0},
publisher = {Movebank data repository}
}RIS
TY - DATA ID - doi:10.5441/001/1.5d736bf0 T1 - Data from: First three-dimensional tracks of bat migration reveal large amounts of individual behavioral flexibility AU - O'Mara, M. Teague AU - Wikelski, Martin AU - Kranstauber, Bart AU - Dechmann, Dina K.N. Y1 - 2019/05/28 KW - Nyctalus noctula KW - animal migration KW - animal movement KW - animal tracking KW - bat KW - common noctule KW - flight altitude KW - Germany KW - Nyctalus noctula KW - radio telemetry KW - Nyctalus noctula PB - Movebank data repository UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.5441/001/1.5d736bf0 DO - doi:10.5441/001/1.5d736bf0 ER -