In-flight thermoregulation in batsBats find themselves in a unique thermal environment. Since they are primarily active at night their wings are vulnerable to substantial radiative and conductive heat loss, even in warm ambient conditions. Despite this, bat wing muscles are so poorly insulated as to be clearly visible through the skin, and the distal muscles cool substantially during flight. We are exploring in a comparative framework how environmental conditions, different aspects of wing morphology, and flight behavior influence regional heterothermy in diverse bats.
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Bat flight mechanics and wing morphologyBat wings are beautiful, complex, and dynamic. We are interested in how bat wings function during flight, and we have current projects looking at wingbeat kinematics, wing muscle activity during flight, the contractile properties of key flight muscles, and the material properties and organization of the wing membrane.
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Urban wildlife
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Bats are abundant mammals in Houston and throughout North America; huge colonies of Mexican free-tailed bats roost under bridges and in other human-made structures throughout the city. We are exploring the impact of features of the urban environment on bat physiology and survival. We are particularly interested in yearround bat residents of the city and how they cope with extreme summer heat and cooler winters, including extreme cold events.
We are currently assessing the spatial distribution of bats in and around the city of Houston using mobile acoustic surveys. If you're in the Houston area and would like to participate in data collection, please email us! |
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