Hearing sensitivity: An underlying mechanism for niche differentiation in gleaning bats | Zendy

Inga Geipel | Zendy; Ella Zoe Lattenkamp | Zendy; M. May Dixon | Zendy; Lutz Wiegrebe | Zendy; Rachel A. Page | Zendy

AI Assistant Blog Pricing

Home ZAIA Blog

Open Access

Hearing sensitivity: An underlying mechanism for niche differentiation in gleaning bats

Author(s) -

Inga Geipel,

Ella Zoe Lattenkamp,

M. May Dixon,

Lutz Wiegrebe,

Rachel A. Page

Publication year - 2021

Publication title -

proceedings of the national academy of sciences

Language(s) - English

Resource type - Journals

SCImago Journal Rank - 5.011

H-Index - 771

eISSN - 1091-6490

pISSN - 0027-8424

DOI - 10.1073/pnas.2024943118

Subject(s) - human echolocation , foraging , biology , audiogram , niche , ecology , ecological niche , niche differentiation , sensory system , evolutionary biology , neuroscience , hearing loss , habitat , audiology , medicine

Significance While numerous studies have focused on the ecological factors allowing for niche differentiation and thus species coexistence, the role of differentiation in species’ sensory abilities has received less attention. We measured auditory brainstem responses from 12 bat species that make their living gleaning prey off surfaces in the rainforest understory. In the lower-frequency ranges, auditory sensitivity reflected the foraging demands of each species, many of which find prey by attending to prey-produced noises such as prey mating calls and prey locomotion sounds. Our results suggest that interspecific differences in hearing abilities and thus the differential ability to hear prey-produced sounds could be an important mechanism contributing to niche differentiation.

The content you want is available to Zendy users.

Already have an account? Click here to sign in.

Having issues? You can contact us here

Accelerating Research