Book Chapter
Resource partitioning by two closely-related sympatric freetail bats, Mormopterus spp.
By
A. E. Reside
;
A. E. Reside
University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic 3010. Current address: CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems, Davies Laboratory, PMB P.O. Aitkenvale, Queensland 4814
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L. F. Lumsden
L. F. Lumsden
Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research, Department of Sustainability and Environment, P.O. Box 137, Heidelberg, Vic 3084
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Published:2011
Citation
A. E. Reside, L. F. Lumsden, 2011. "Resource partitioning by two closely-related sympatric freetail bats, Mormopterus spp.", The Biology and Conservation of Australasian Bats, Bradley Law, Peggy Eby, Daniel Lunney, Lindy Lumsden
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Resource partitioning enables closely-related, morphologically similar species to coexist. We investigated resource partitioning by two closely-related insectivorous bats, the Eastern Freetail Bat Mormopterus sp. 2 and Southern Freetail Bat Mormopterus sp. 4, within the zone of sympatry in northern Victoria. We sampled 36 sites with harp-traps and bat detectors; caught a total of 159 Mormopterus, and identified 961 echolocation passes. Analysis of wing dimensions suggested that Mormopterus sp. 4 was a faster, less manoeuvrable flyer than Mormopterus sp. 2. This was supported by greater activity levels at more open and less structurally complex sites. Mormopterus sp. 2 was significantly more active in riparian habitats, which may be due to a preference for more mesic environments. Observations of flight patterns revealed slight differences in the two species' microhabitat use, however both species flew predominantly in the spaces between trees. Hemiptera was the most consumed arthropod order in the diet of both species. The subtle, yet significant differences in wing morphology were reflected in the slight differences in microhabitat use by the two species, and the presence of superabundant Hemipteran prey may allow the two species to coexist.
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