Habitat use and response to patches of prey by desert insectivorous bats

Abstract

I examined the habitat use patterns of an Arizona insectivorous bat community using ultrasonic sensing equipment which allowed field identification of bat species based on their echolocation calls. Response to prey patchiness by the species encountered was tested using ultraviolet lights to attract swarms of insects. No partitioning of habitat or time was observed, there being a high degree of species overlap, and many species of bats appeared to be positively associated. All species responded to light-induced prey patches on at least some occasions. Analysis of prey populations indicated that food, though abundant, was extremely patchy in distribution, both spatially and temporally. These data indicate a bat community in which species are highly adapted to an abundant, but patchy food source.