Faecal analyses and alimentary tracers reveal the foraging ecology of two sympatric bats.

摘要: We used three complementary methods to assess the diet of two insectivorous bat species: one an obligate aerial hunter, Miniopterus natalensis, and other Myotis tricolor whose morphology taxonomic affiliation trawling bats suggests it may be a trawler (capturing insects from water surface with its feet tail). visual inspection, stable isotope values fatty acid profiles insect fragments in faeces sampled across five sites determine contribution aquatic terrestrial arthropods diets species. The niche widths M. were generally wider than those natalensis but much overlap, both taking insects, albeit different proportions. had high proportions acids (20:5ω3 22:6ω3) that are only obtainable insects. Furthermore, higher striders (Gerridae) whirligig beetles (Gyrinidae), via trawling, natalensis. These results suggest species flexible their consumption prey use hawking or at least gleaning, take surfaces. resultant spatial segregation sufficiently differentiate niches species, allowing them co-exist. our emphasize using combination analyse cryptic animals yields greater insights into animal foraging ecology any on own.