DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Ecomorphological Analysis of Nectar-Feeding Performance in Flower-Visiting Bats

Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown OH

Investigators

Abstract

Bats are critical for the pollination of hundreds of different plant species in environments from arid deserts to tropical rainforests. Some New World bats exist entirely on nectar and pollen, while others visit flowers to supplement their regular diets of fruit or insects. The shape of the skull is associated with the relative reliance on nectar in the diet. This study investigates nectar-feeding ability (performance) among six species of bats that range from occasional flower visitors to nectar specialists. Feeding performance is measured by filming captive bats feeding at artificial flowers that differ in both shape and nectar availability. These experiments evaluate the impact of flower shape on feeding performance, the maximum distance bats can extend the tongue, and how well bats can extract small amounts of nectar. The feeding experiments are coupled with a detailed analysis of skull and tongue structure to establish associations between anatomy and feeding performance. This research contributes to our understanding of the biological and functional importance of anatomical diversity, and adds to the picture of how these bats function within their ecosystems. By constraining behavioral capabilities, anatomical differences ultimately help sculpt ecological patterns of resource use and mediate the interactions between bats and flowers. This combination of anatomical and behavioral data will provide new insights into the diversity, evolution, and ecology of these important pollinators.