Contrasting Torpor Use by Reproductive Male Common Noctule Bats in the Laboratory and in the Field
Synopsis Metabolic processes of animals are often studied in controlled laboratory settings. However, these laboratory settings often do not reflect the animals’ natural environment. Thus, results of metabolic measurements from laboratory studies must be cautiously applied to free-ranging animals. R...
Published in: | Integrative And Comparative Biology |
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Oxford University Press (OUP)
2023
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Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/icb/icad040 https://academic.oup.com/icb/advance-article-pdf/doi/10.1093/icb/icad040/50663524/icad040.pdf https://academic.oup.com/icb/article-pdf/63/5/1087/54334819/icad040.pdf |
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croxfordunivpr:10.1093/icb/icad040 2024-09-15T18:27:25+00:00 Contrasting Torpor Use by Reproductive Male Common Noctule Bats in the Laboratory and in the Field Keicher, Lara Shipley, J Ryan Schaeffer, Paul J Dechmann, Dina K N Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes 2023 http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/icb/icad040 https://academic.oup.com/icb/advance-article-pdf/doi/10.1093/icb/icad040/50663524/icad040.pdf https://academic.oup.com/icb/article-pdf/63/5/1087/54334819/icad040.pdf en eng Oxford University Press (OUP) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Integrative And Comparative Biology volume 63, issue 5, page 1087-1098 ISSN 1540-7063 1557-7023 journal-article 2023 croxfordunivpr https://doi.org/10.1093/icb/icad040 2024-07-15T04:23:26Z Synopsis Metabolic processes of animals are often studied in controlled laboratory settings. However, these laboratory settings often do not reflect the animals’ natural environment. Thus, results of metabolic measurements from laboratory studies must be cautiously applied to free-ranging animals. Recent technological advances in animal tracking allow detailed eco-physiological studies that reveal when, where, and how physiological measurements from the field differ from those from the laboratory. We investigated the torpor behavior of male common noctule bats (Nyctalus noctula) across different life history stages using two approaches: in controlled laboratory experiments and in the field using calibrated heart rate telemetry. We predicted that non-reproductive males would extensively use torpor to conserve energy, whereas reproductive males would reduce torpor use to promote spermatogenesis. We did not expect differences in torpor use between captive and wild animals as we simulated natural temperature conditions in the laboratory. We found that during the non-reproductive phase, both captive and free-ranging bats used torpor extensively. During reproduction, bats in captivity unexpectedly also used torpor throughout the day, while only free-ranging bats showed the expected reduction in torpor use. Thus, depending on life history stage, torpor behavior in the laboratory was markedly different from the wild. By implementing both approaches and at different life history stages, we were able to better explore the limitations of eco-physiological laboratory studies and make recommendations for when they are an appropriate proxy for natural behavior. Article in Journal/Newspaper Nyctalus noctula Oxford University Press Integrative And Comparative Biology |
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Open Polar |
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Oxford University Press |
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croxfordunivpr |
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English |
description |
Synopsis Metabolic processes of animals are often studied in controlled laboratory settings. However, these laboratory settings often do not reflect the animals’ natural environment. Thus, results of metabolic measurements from laboratory studies must be cautiously applied to free-ranging animals. Recent technological advances in animal tracking allow detailed eco-physiological studies that reveal when, where, and how physiological measurements from the field differ from those from the laboratory. We investigated the torpor behavior of male common noctule bats (Nyctalus noctula) across different life history stages using two approaches: in controlled laboratory experiments and in the field using calibrated heart rate telemetry. We predicted that non-reproductive males would extensively use torpor to conserve energy, whereas reproductive males would reduce torpor use to promote spermatogenesis. We did not expect differences in torpor use between captive and wild animals as we simulated natural temperature conditions in the laboratory. We found that during the non-reproductive phase, both captive and free-ranging bats used torpor extensively. During reproduction, bats in captivity unexpectedly also used torpor throughout the day, while only free-ranging bats showed the expected reduction in torpor use. Thus, depending on life history stage, torpor behavior in the laboratory was markedly different from the wild. By implementing both approaches and at different life history stages, we were able to better explore the limitations of eco-physiological laboratory studies and make recommendations for when they are an appropriate proxy for natural behavior. |
author2 |
Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Keicher, Lara Shipley, J Ryan Schaeffer, Paul J Dechmann, Dina K N |
spellingShingle |
Keicher, Lara Shipley, J Ryan Schaeffer, Paul J Dechmann, Dina K N Contrasting Torpor Use by Reproductive Male Common Noctule Bats in the Laboratory and in the Field |
author_facet |
Keicher, Lara Shipley, J Ryan Schaeffer, Paul J Dechmann, Dina K N |
author_sort |
Keicher, Lara |
title |
Contrasting Torpor Use by Reproductive Male Common Noctule Bats in the Laboratory and in the Field |
title_short |
Contrasting Torpor Use by Reproductive Male Common Noctule Bats in the Laboratory and in the Field |
title_full |
Contrasting Torpor Use by Reproductive Male Common Noctule Bats in the Laboratory and in the Field |
title_fullStr |
Contrasting Torpor Use by Reproductive Male Common Noctule Bats in the Laboratory and in the Field |
title_full_unstemmed |
Contrasting Torpor Use by Reproductive Male Common Noctule Bats in the Laboratory and in the Field |
title_sort |
contrasting torpor use by reproductive male common noctule bats in the laboratory and in the field |
publisher |
Oxford University Press (OUP) |
publishDate |
2023 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/icb/icad040 https://academic.oup.com/icb/advance-article-pdf/doi/10.1093/icb/icad040/50663524/icad040.pdf https://academic.oup.com/icb/article-pdf/63/5/1087/54334819/icad040.pdf |
genre |
Nyctalus noctula |
genre_facet |
Nyctalus noctula |
op_source |
Integrative And Comparative Biology volume 63, issue 5, page 1087-1098 ISSN 1540-7063 1557-7023 |
op_rights |
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1093/icb/icad040 |
container_title |
Integrative And Comparative Biology |
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1810468646735052800 |