A new study from the University of Helsinki using miniaturized satellite-based tags revealed that during drier periods desert bats must fly further and longer to fulfil their nightly needs. According to researchers, this signals their struggle in facing dry periods.
A new study from the University of Helsinki using miniaturized satellite-based tags revealed that during drier periods desert bats must fly further and longer to fulfil their nightly needs. According to researchers, this signals their struggle in facing dry periods.
Wildlife tracking has revolutionized the study of animal movement and their behavior. Yet, tracking small, flying animals such as desert bats remained challenging. Now a new generation of miniaturized satellite-based tags is allowing unique insights into the life of these mysterious mammals.
Researchers used one gram GPS devices to reconstruct the movements of yellow-winged bats, one of two false vampire bats occurring in Africa and one of the few desert bats large enough to carry this innovative technology.
“GPS tags have seen up to now a limited use with insectivorous bats due to weight constraints and low success in data collection – we achieved great results in tracking such a light species”, says Irene Conenna, a PhD candidate at the Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences and the lead author of the study.
Read more at: University of Helsinki
Bats are some of the most successful desert mammals. (Photo Credit: ADRIÀ LÓPEZ-BAUCELLS)
