Data from: First three-dimensional tracks of bat migration reveal large amounts of individual behavioral flexibility

O'Mara MT, Wikelski M, Kranstauber B, Dechmann DKN. 2019. Data from: First three-dimensional tracks of bat migration reveal large amounts of individual behavioral flexibility. Movebank Data Repository. https://doi.org/10.5441/001/1.5d736bf0

Abstract

It is generally assumed that small migrating birds and bats explore wind conditions and then choose a flight altitude, which they then maintain. Because of their high metabolism and flight costs, bats should also minimize energy expenditure during migratory flight, but we know little of how individuals make their migratory journeys. We followed migrating common noctules (Nyctalus noctula) fitted with miniaturized barometric pressure radio transmitters by airplane to record three dimensional migratory movements. Mean airspeeds were 7.2-15.9 m/s and overall climb rates were faster than overall descent rates. While all bats migrated in the same northeasterly direction, they showed flexibility in their altitudes, distances and stopover sites both within and among individuals. This suggests that individuals make decisions to take advantage of wind, landscape, and navigational conditions or other, yet unknown factors, to optimize their nightly flights. Our results once more confirm that the flexibility and behavioral repertoire of individuals in the wild is greater than we assume.

Keywords

Nyctalus noctula, animal movement, animal tracking, bat, common noctule, flight altitude, Germany, Nyctalus noctula, radio telemetry

Taxa

Taxon

Nyctalus noctula

Common Noctule, Noctule

Sensors

Sensor

GPS

DOIs of related Publications

https://doi.org/10.1002/ecy.2762

URI

https://datarepository.movebank.org/handle/10255/move.840

BibTex

@misc{001/1_5d736bf0,
  title = {Data from: First three-dimensional tracks of bat migration reveal large amounts of individual behavioral flexibility},
  author = {O'Mara, MT and Wikelski, M and Kranstauber, B and Dechmann, DKN},
  year = {2019},
  URL = {http://dx.doi.org/10.5441/001/1.5d736bf0},
  doi = {doi:10.5441/001/1.5d736bf0},
  publisher = {Movebank data repository}
}

RIS

TY  - DATA
ID  - doi:10.5441/001/1.5d736bf0
T1  - Data from: First three-dimensional tracks of bat migration reveal large amounts of individual behavioral flexibility
AU  - O'Mara, M. Teague
AU  - Wikelski, Martin
AU  - Kranstauber, Bart
AU  - Dechmann, Dina K.N.
Y1  - 2019/05/28
KW  - Nyctalus noctula
KW  - animal migration
KW  - animal movement
KW  - animal tracking
KW  - bat
KW  - common noctule
KW  - flight altitude
KW  - Germany
KW  - Nyctalus noctula
KW  - radio telemetry
KW  - Nyctalus noctula
PB  - Movebank data repository
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.5441/001/1.5d736bf0
DO  - doi:10.5441/001/1.5d736bf0
ER  -

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