Biosecurity Sciences Laboratory, Department of Employment, Biosecurity Queensland, Economic Development & Innovation, Coopers Plains, Queensland, Australia.
PLoS One. 2011 Feb 16;6(2):e14696. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0014696.
Understanding the long-distance movement of bats has direct relevance to studies of population dynamics, ecology, disease emergence, and conservation.
METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We developed and trialed several collar and platform terminal transmitter (PTT) combinations on both free-living and captive fruit bats (Family Pteropodidae: Genus Pteropus). We examined transmitter weight, size, profile and comfort as key determinants of maximized transmitter activity. We then tested the importance of bat-related variables (species size/weight, roosting habitat and behavior) and environmental variables (day-length, rainfall pattern) in determining optimal collar/PTT configuration. We compared battery- and solar-powered PTT performance in various field situations, and found the latter more successful in maintaining voltage on species that roosted higher in the tree canopy, and at lower density, than those that roost more densely and lower in trees. Finally, we trialed transmitter accuracy, and found that actual distance errors and Argos location class error estimates were in broad agreement.
CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: We conclude that no single collar or transmitter design is optimal for all bat species, and that species size/weight, species ecology and study objectives are key design considerations. Our study provides a strategy for collar and platform choice that will be applicable to a larger number of bat species as transmitter size and weight continue to decrease in the future.
了解蝙蝠的远距离迁徙与种群动态、生态学、疾病出现和保护等方面的研究直接相关。
方法/主要发现：我们针对自由生活和圈养的果蝠（翼手目：果蝠科：果蝠属）开发并测试了几种项圈和平台终端发射机（PTT）组合。我们研究了发射机的重量、尺寸、外形和舒适度，这些是最大限度提高发射机活动能力的关键决定因素。然后，我们测试了与蝙蝠相关的变量（物种大小/体重、栖息地和行为）和环境变量（日照长度、降雨模式）在确定最佳项圈/PTT 配置中的重要性。我们比较了在不同野外情况下电池和太阳能供电的 PTT 性能，发现后者在为那些栖息在树冠高处、密度较低的物种维持电压方面更为成功，而那些栖息在树冠高处、密度较低的物种则更为成功。最后，我们测试了发射机的准确性，发现实际距离误差和 Argos 位置类误差估计值基本一致。
结论/意义：我们得出的结论是，没有一种项圈或发射机设计适用于所有蝙蝠物种，而物种大小/体重、物种生态学和研究目标是关键的设计考虑因素。我们的研究为项圈和平台的选择提供了一种策略，随着未来发射机的尺寸和重量继续减小，这种策略将适用于更多的蝙蝠物种。
