High-Resolution GPS Tracking of Perch-Hunting Bats, Rhinolophus nippon, during Nightly Foraging Behavior.

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Zoology
• Bioacoustics

Background:

• The echolocation and auditory systems of greater horseshoe bats (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum) are well-studied.
• Detailed understanding of wild ecology and nocturnal foraging movements in Rhinolophus species remains limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the spatiotemporal movement patterns of the Japanese greater horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus nippon) during foraging.
• To analyze nocturnal flight paths and identify behaviors associated with foraging and commuting.

Main Methods:

• Utilized high-resolution GPS data loggers to track nightly flight paths of R. nippon.
• Applied hidden Markov modeling to classify flight paths into commuting and area-restricted behavior (foraging).

Main Results:

• R. nippon forages with short, repeated stops, averaging 300m between sites.
• One bat traveled 23.6 km from its roost, potentially due to mating season social behavior.
• Bats use forest roads on slopes for commuting, benefiting from ground and tree line echoes for navigation.

Conclusions:

• Forest roads are significant for nocturnal movement and navigation in echolocating bats.
• Bat movement ecology in Japan requires further urgent research.
• Understanding foraging strategies and movement patterns is key to bat conservation.