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Characteristic flight speeds in bats

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Abstract

We present empirical data on flight speed for 30 species of Australian bats representing seven families. These data show five characteristic level flight speeds: ‘minimum’ (V min), ‘best efficiency’ (V eff), ‘most common’ (V mode), ‘maximum cruise’ (V mcr) and ‘maximum spurt’ (V msp). Next, we calculate V min, V eff, ‘maximum aerobic’ (V ae), ‘sustainable anaerobic’ (V san ) and ‘maximum anaerobic’ (V man) flight speeds using a published quasi-steady model. Model predictions were within 0.5 m s−1 of the empirical values for all five characteristic speeds given adequate samples. Model fidelity was cross-checked using flight speed data published for other Old and New World species.

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Abbreviations

BMR :

Basal metabolic rate (Watt)

C D :

Three-dimensional drag coefficient = D/q/S ref

C d :

Two-dimensional drag coefficient

C L :

Three-dimensional lift coefficient = L/q/S ref

C l :

Two-dimensional lift coefficient

c w :

Wing reference chord measured parallel to sagittal plane = S/b

D :

Drag (N)

f w :

Wingbeat frequency (Hz)

g :

Acceleration due to gravity = 9.81 m s−2

h 0 :

Heave amplitude (nondimensional) = θ W b/2 c w

K :

Metabolic power factor accounting for blood circulation and respiration

L :

Lift (N)

m bat :

Bat mass (kg)

m muscle :

Mass of bat’s flight muscles (kg)

P :

Power

P aero :

Aerodynamic power, equivalent to mechanical power (W)

P flight-anaerobic :

Power at maximum anaerobic effort (W)

q :

Dynamic air pressure = 0.5 ρ V 2 (N m−2)

RMR :

Resting metabolic rate (Watt)

Re :

Reynolds number

S :

Area of a lifting or dragging surface or body (m2)

S ref :

Reference wing-head-body-ear-tail area (m2)

S w :

Wing-head-body-ear planform area (m2)

V :

Bat true flight speed in level, unaccelerated flight (m s−1)

V*:

Bat flight speed calculated from the aerodynamic model (m s−1)

Vol b max :

Maximum blood flow (ml min−1)

η:

Muscle mechanical efficiency

α:

Wing angle of attack (degrees)

θ W :

Wingbeat amplitude—empirical above or below the body axis reference dorsal plane (degrees)

ρ:

Air density = 1.2256 kg m−3 at sea level and 15 °C

Ae:

Maximum aerobic effort

Eff:

Best efficiency; abbreviated as ‘end’ indicating ‘endurance’ in our previous publications

h/t :

Planform of tail membrane

ind:

Induced

man:

Maximum anaerobic effort

mcr:

Maximum cruise

met:

Metabolic

mech:

Mechanical

min:

Minimum

mode:

Most commonly measured

msp:

Maximum spurt

pro:

Profile

para:

Parasitic

san:

Sustainable anaerobic effort

w :

Wing (includes wing, head, body and ears unless specified)

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Acknowledgments

We thank Dr. E. C. McKenzie of Oregon State University who provided specialist advice on muscle physiology, C. Bullen and M. McKenzie who assisted with the field work. We thank three anonymous reviewers for advising improvements to an earlier draft. We also wish to thank the Western Australian Department of Parks and Wildlife for providing laboratory facilities used during the preparation of this manuscript. Fieldwork was partially funded by the Department of Parks and Wildlife.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Bat Call WA Pty Ltd, 43 Murray Drive, Hillarys, WA, 6025, Australia

    R. D. Bullen

  2. Department of Parks and Wildlife, PO Box 51, Wanneroo, 6946, Australia

    N. L. McKenzie

  3. Department of Zoology, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Rio Claro, Sao Paulo, CP199, Brazil

    A. P. Cruz-Neto

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  1. R. D. Bullen
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Correspondence to R. D. Bullen.

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Bullen, R.D., McKenzie, N.L. & Cruz-Neto, A.P. Characteristic flight speeds in bats. CEAS Aeronaut J 7, 621–643 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13272-016-0212-5

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