Gonzalez-Terrazas Tania P, Martel Carlos, Milet-Pinheiro Paulo, Ayasse Manfred, Kalko Elisabeth K V, Tschapka Marco
Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics , University of Ulm , Albert-Einstein Allee 11, 89069 Ulm , Germany.
Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, University of Ulm, Albert-Einstein Allee 11, 89069 Ulm, Germany; Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Balboa, Panamá, República de Panamá.
R Soc Open Sci. 2016 Aug 10;3(8):160199. doi: 10.1098/rsos.160199. eCollection 2016 Aug.
Nectar-feeding bats depend mainly on floral nectar to fulfil their energetic requirements. Chiropterophilous flowers generally present strong floral scents and provide conspicuous acoustic echoes to attract bats. While floral scents are assumed to attract bats over long distances, acoustic properties of flower structures may provide detailed information, thus supporting the localization of a flower at close ranges. So far, to our knowledge, there is no study trying to understand the relative importance as well as the combination of these generally coupled cues for detection (presence) and localization (exact position) of open flowers in nature. For a better comprehension of the significance of olfaction and echolocation in the foraging behaviour of nectar-feeding bats, we conducted two-choice experiments with . We tested the bats' behaviour in three experimental scenarios with different cues: (i) olfaction versus echolocation, (ii) echolocation versus echolocation and olfaction, and (iii) olfaction versus echolocation and olfaction. We used the floral scent of the bat-pollinated cactus as olfactory cue and an acrylic paraboloid as acoustic cue. Additionally, we recorded the echolocation behaviour of the bats and analysed the floral scent of . When decoupled cues were offered, bats displayed no preference in choice for any of the two cues. However, bats reacted first to and chose more often the coupled cues. All bats echolocated continuously and broadcast a long terminal group before a successful visit. The floral scent bouquet of is composed of 20 compounds, some of which (e.g. methyl benzoate) were already reported from chiropterophilous plants. Our investigation demonstrates for the first time to our knowledge, that nectar-feeding bats integrate over different sensory modes for detection and precise localization of open flowers. The combined information from olfactory and acoustic cues allows bats to forage more efficiently.
以花蜜为食的蝙蝠主要依靠花蜜来满足其能量需求。虫媒花通常具有浓郁的花香，并能产生明显的声学回声以吸引蝙蝠。虽然花香被认为能在远距离吸引蝙蝠，但花结构的声学特性可能提供详细信息，从而有助于在近距离定位花朵。据我们所知，到目前为止，尚无研究试图了解这些通常相互关联的线索对于自然界中开放花朵的检测（存在）和定位（精确位置）的相对重要性以及它们的组合情况。为了更好地理解嗅觉和回声定位在以花蜜为食的蝙蝠觅食行为中的重要性，我们用……进行了双选实验。我们在三种不同线索的实验场景中测试了蝙蝠的行为：（i）嗅觉与回声定位，（ii）回声定位与回声定位和嗅觉，以及（iii）嗅觉与回声定位和嗅觉。我们使用蝙蝠传粉的仙人掌的花香作为嗅觉线索，用丙烯酸抛物面作为声学线索。此外，我们记录了蝙蝠的回声定位行为，并分析了……的花香。当提供解耦线索时，蝙蝠对两种线索中的任何一种都没有表现出偏好。然而，蝙蝠首先对耦合线索做出反应，并且更频繁地选择耦合线索。所有蝙蝠在成功访问之前都会持续发出回声定位信号并发出一个长的终端组。……的花香由20种化合物组成，其中一些（如苯甲酸甲酯）已在虫媒植物中被报道过。据我们所知，我们的研究首次表明，以花蜜为食的蝙蝠会整合不同的感官模式来检测和精确定位开放的花朵。嗅觉和声学线索的综合信息使蝙蝠能够更高效地觅食。
