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¹Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, United States of America. gmccrack@utk.edu

|September 7, 2012

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Brazilian free-tailed bats (Tadarida brasiliensis) help control pest populations by preying on corn earworm (CEW) moths. Their feeding patterns track local moth abundance, highlighting bats

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Area of Science:

Ecology
Zoology
Conservation Biology

Background:

Generalist predators play a crucial role in regulating prey populations by effectively tracking and consuming available prey.
Bats, as generalist predators, have been linked to the migration, abundance, and crop infestation patterns of insect pests.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the association between Brazilian free-tailed bat (Tadarida brasiliensis) consumption of corn earworm (CEW) moths (Helicoverpa zea) and seasonal fluctuations in CEW populations.
To confirm opportunistic feeding of bats on a major insect pest and support ecological models of bat ecosystem services.
To determine if bats track local CEW abundance within a broader landscape.

Main Methods:

Utilized a qPCR fecal DNA assay to quantify bat consumption of CEW moths.
Conducted regression analysis correlating CEW consumption with moth abundance at four insect trapping sites.
Performed captive feeding experiments to assess the qPCR assay's accuracy in measuring prey numbers or biomass.

Main Results:

Documented a significant association between Brazilian free-tailed bat numbers and seasonal variations in CEW moth populations.
Regression analysis indicated that bats track local CEW abundance within the regional landscape.
qPCR assay results did not directly correlate with seasonal or local CEW abundance, and captive feeding experiments showed it's not a direct measure of prey consumed.

Conclusions:

Brazilian free-tailed bats opportunistically feed on corn earworm moths, a destructive insect pest.
Bats demonstrate an ability to track local prey abundance, contributing to biological control.
Findings support the ecological role of bats as generalist predators and emphasize the importance of conserving them for ecosystem services.