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Assessingthe potential impacts of radio transmitters on bat flight and behavior in a controlled environment
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2019
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Telemetry is an effective method for collecting movement data, however, transmitters have the potential to negatively impact the maneuverability and behavior of wildlife, particularly volant species. Despite concerns, no studies to date have assessed the potential effect of transmitters on bats. Thus, we conducted a behavioral study on evening bats (Nycticeius humeralis) in a controlled environment. We found that transmitters affected both flight and behavior. There was an initial 20% reduction in the number of bats that flew once the transmitter was attached. Of the bats that did fly, we observed decreases in tortuosity by 30%, in distance flown by 67%, in the proportion of active behavior by 78%, and in the number of drinking attempts by 63%. Furthermore, these impacts did not diminish over time (3-day period), suggesting that bats are not habituating to the transmitter. This could have consequences for telemetry survey data collection and interpretation.
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Smith_tcu_0229M_10978.pdf
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1 online resource (v, 46 pages) :
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Environmental and Sustainability Sciences