Thermoregulation and Diurnal Roost Selection of Boreal Bats During
Pre-Hibernation Period
- Kati Suominen,
- Niclas Fritzén,
- Mari Aas Fjelldal,
- Anna Blomberg,
- Minna Viljamaa,
- Thomas Lilley
Minna Viljamaa
University of Helsinki Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences
Author ProfileAbstract
Living in a seasonal environment poses challenges for small mammals,
such as bats, reliant on insects as their primary food source. Bats may
adeptly navigate these energetic challenges by reducing their metabolism
and body temperature, entering a state of torpor. Particularly during
the winter, bats remain torpid for extended periods, but are dependent
on sufficient energy reserves to survive until spring. With the onset of
autumn and declining temperature, bats face the challenge of building
their fat deposits during a time of decreasing food availability. Bats
may therefore transition to cooler roosts to initiate torpor, thereby
reducing energy expenditure. However, little is still known about torpor
use or roost selection by bats in autumn. This study explores the
factors influencing roost selection and torpor use and --duration in two
bat species during this critical transition period between the breeding
and overwintering season. We show that date in autumn is a stronger
driver of torpor use than prevailing ambient temperature, and that bats
employ specific strategies in which they first increase daytime torpor
use before also increasing the use of nighttime torpor during the
pre-hibernation fattening period, most likely to facilitate rapid fat
accumulation. Notably, bats commenced nighttime torpor use after
spending entire days in torpor. These findings underscore the dynamic
nature of torpor and the energy-saving strategies employed during the
crucial pre-hibernation period, marking the transition from summer to
winter.Submission Checks Completed
Assigned to Editor
22 Apr 2024Reviewer(s) Assigned
24 Jun 2024Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
31 Jul 20241st Revision Received
02 Aug 2024Submission Checks Completed
02 Aug 2024Assigned to Editor
02 Aug 2024Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
20 Aug 2024Reviewer(s) Assigned
31 Oct 2024Editorial Decision: Accept