Contrasting laboratory and field outcomes of bat-moth interactions

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Animal Behavior
• Bioacoustics

Background:

• Predator-prey interactions are crucial but challenging to study in natural settings.
• Laboratory experiments suggest moth ultrasound production deters bats, but field relevance is unclear.
• Bat-moth interactions involve complex sensory and behavioral adaptations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if laboratory findings on bat-moth interactions align with field observations.
• To compare the effectiveness of different moth anti-bat tactics against two bat species.
• To determine the factors influencing the dietary composition of insectivorous bats.

Main Methods:

• Conducted behavioral experiments to assess bat capture success rates with moths exhibiting different anti-bat strategies.
• Utilized next-generation DNA sequencing to analyze the gut contents of wild bats.
• Correlated experimental capture data with field-based dietary analysis.

Main Results:

• Bats had lower success rates capturing moths that produced anti-bat clicks compared to silent moths.
• No significant difference in capture success was observed between silent eared and earless moths in experiments.
• Field data showed a higher proportion of silent eared moths in bat diets than earless or clicking moths, likely due to abundance.

Conclusions:

• Laboratory behavioral outcomes do not fully predict field-based predator-prey dynamics.
• Moth defensive strategies, bat counter-tactics, and prey availability jointly shape insectivorous bat diets.
• Integrating behavioral experiments with molecular techniques is essential for understanding complex ecological interactions.