The effects of reproductive state on digestive efficiency in three sympatric bat species of the same guild

摘要: The functional link between food as an energy source and metabolizable is the digestive tract. organs may change in size, structure, or retention time response to energetic demands of animal. Very efficient tracts be better at processing but require higher investments for maintenance even when post-absorptive. These costs influence resting metabolic rate (RMR) that defined necessary fuel vital functions a In bats trade-off necessity highly tract moderate particularly important. We hypothesized low RMR coincides with efficiency (defined apparent coefficient (MEC)) phases increased demand are compensated by efficiency. measured MEC species Myotis nattereri, M. bechsteinii, Plecotus auritus. support our hypothesis, nattereri has lowest mass-specific three MEC. However, did not during differing any bat species, probably because operate limit their sustainable demand.