WING TEMPERATURE IN FLYING BATS MEASURED BY INFRARED THERMOGRAPHY

Abstract 1. 1. we collected data on the wing temperature of flying bats using infrared thermal imaging to assess the thermoregulatory function of wing membranes. 2. 2. Thermographic images of two Egyptian Fruit Bats, Rousettus aegyptiacus were captured as they flew along a 12 m length of corridor. 3. 3. Body temperature was measured before the first flight and immediately after flight sequences using a rectal thermister probe. 4. 4. Temperatures across the wing ranged from 34°C near the forearm muscle mass, to less than 24°C at the trailing edge (mean ambient temperature 23°C). The majority of the wing was 1–2°C above ambient temperature. 5. 5. We found small, but significant changes in body temperature during flight. These changes did not correlate with changes in wing temperature.

[1]  J. E. Heath,et al.  Vasomotion in the bat wing: a thermoregulatory response to internal heating. , 1970, Comparative biochemistry and physiology.

[2]  R. Suthers,et al.  Respiration, Wing-Beat and Ultrasonic Pulse Emission in an Echo-Locating Bat , 1972 .

[3]  Gareth Jones,et al.  Scaling of wingbeat and echolocation pulse emission rates in bats: why are aerial insectivorous bats so small? , 1994 .

[4]  R. E. Carpenter.  FLIGHT PHYSIOLOGY OF FLYING FOXES, PTEROPUS POLIOCEPHALUS , 1985 .

[5]  Ls Hall,et al.  Histological Observations on the Wing of the Grey-Headed Flying-Fox (Pteropus-Poliocephalus) (Chiroptera, Pteropodidae) , 1994 .

[6]  L. Martineau,et al.  The cooling power of pigeon legs , 1988 .

[7]  J. Rayner,et al.  Ecological Morphology and Flight in Bats (Mammalia; Chiroptera): Wing Adaptations, Flight Performance, Foraging Strategy and Echolocation , 1987 .

[8]  Roger E. Carpenter,et al.  FLIGHT PHYSIOLOGY OF INTERMEDIATE-SIZED FRUIT BATS (PTEROPODIDAE) , 1986 .

[9]  P. Butler,et al.  Respiratory and Cardiovascular Responses of the Pigeon to Sustained, Level Flight in a Wind-Tunnel , 1977 .

[10]  O. Henson,et al.  Respiratory muscle activity in relation to vocalization in flying bats. , 1995, The Journal of experimental biology.

[11]  A. Cossins,et al.  Temperature Biology of Animals , 1987 .

[12]  J. Speakman,et al.  No cost of echolocation for bats in flight , 1991, Nature.

[13]  D. M. Gates,et al.  THERMODYNAMIC EQUILIBRIA OF ANIMALS WITH ENVIRONMENT , 1969 .

[14]  J. Nelson,et al.  Body Temperature, Oxygen Consumption, and Heart Rate in Three Species of Australian Flying Foxes , 1964, Physiological Zoology.

[15]  Colin J Pennycuick,et al.  Bird flight performance: a practical calculation manual , 1992 .

[16]  T. Garland,et al.  PHYLOGENY AND COADAPTATION OF THERMAL PHYSIOLOGY IN LIZARDS: A REANALYSIS , 1991, Evolution; international journal of organic evolution.

[17]  R. B. Cowles.  Vascular Changes in the Wings of Bats. , 1947, Science.

[18]  W. G. Reeder,et al.  Aspects of Thermoregulation in Bats , 1951 .

[19]  V. Tucker.  Oxygen Consumption of a Flying Bird , 1966, Science.