Habitat aridity and intraspecific differences in the urine concentrating ability of insectivorous bats

https://doi.org/10.1016/0300-9629(82)90152-9Get rights and content

Abstract

  • 1.

    1. The mean maximum urine concentrating abilities of geographically separated populations of Antrozous pallidus, Myotis lucifugus, and Tadarida brasiliensis were determined from renal structure.

  • 2.

    2. Differences in the ability to conserve urinary water were found among populations of a species, and were directly related to the habitat aridity as measured by the potential evapotranspiration to precipitation ratio.

  • 3.

    3. Annual precipitation in the habitat was highly correlated to the bat's ability to concentrate urine. Seasonal variations in habitat temperature had no effect on urine concentrating ability.

References (20)

  • R.W Barbour et al.

    Bats of America

    (1969)
  • R.W Barbour et al.

    The status of Myotis occultus

    J. Mammal.

    (1970)
  • J.E Bassett

    Control of postprandial water loss in Myotis lucifugus lucifugus

    Comp. Biochem. Physiol.

    (1980)
  • J.E Bassett et al.

    Subspecific differences in the urine concentrating ability of Myotis lucifugus

    J. Mammal.

    (1979)
  • R Beeuwkes

    The vascular organization of the kidney

    A. Rev. Physiol.

    (1980)
  • B.H Blake

    The effects of kidney structure and the annual cycle on water requirements in golden-mantled ground squirrels and chipmunks

    Comp. Biochem, Physiol.

    (1977)
  • E.L Cockrum

    Migration in the guano bat, Tadarida brasiliensis

    Misc. Pubis Mus. nat. Hist. Univ. Kansas

    (1969)
  • J.S Findley et al.

    Taxonomic relationships of bats of the species Myotis fortidens, M. lucifugus, and M. occultas

    J. Mammal.

    (1967)
  • K.N Geluso

    Urine concentration cycles of insectivorous bats in the laboratory

    J. comp. Physiol.

    (1975)
  • K.N Geluso

    Urine concentrating ability and renal structure of insectivorous bats

    J. Mammal.

    (1978)
There are more references available in the full text version of this article.

Cited by (0)

View full text
Copyright © 1982 Published by Elsevier Inc.