Can External Radiotransmitters be used to Assess Body Temperature and Torpor in Bats?

UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
Matina C. Kalcounis-Rüppell, Professor (Creator)
Institution
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/

Abstract: We tested externally applied, temperature-sensitive, radiotransmitters for determining the body temperature of big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus) in various ambient temperatures (2- 260C). There was a slight, but significant, effect of ambient temperature on skin temperature (measured by the transmitters), but skin temperature accurately reflected rectal temperature in torpid and active bats, and it was never >3.30C below rectal temperature. External radiotransmitters are, thus, useful in studies of torpor in bats, even when only small decreases in body temperature occur.

Additional Information

Publication
Journal of Mammalogy, 77(4): 1102-1106, 1996
Language: English
Date: 1996
Keywords
Eptesicus fuscus, bats, heterothermy, body temperature, radiotelemetry, torpor

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