A study on the wing-loading and aspect-ratio for fruit bats of family pteropodidae

• Main Author: Vijaya, Menon
• Format: Final Year Project Report
• Language: English; English
• Published: Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) 2007
• Subjects: QL Zoology; SF Animal culture
• Online Access: http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/19985/1/Vijaya%2824%20pages%29.pdf; http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/19985/2/Vijaya%20%28fulltext%29.pdf; http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/19985/

This study was conducted as an attempt to describe habitat use by fruit bats from data analysis of wing-loading and aspect-ratio. Study of wing-loading and aspect-ratio was successful in describing habitat use of fruit bats. The study revealed that the family Pteropodidae had relatively high wing-loadings and low aspect-ratio. There were also high degree of overlap in wing-loading and aspect-ratio within the fruit bat family which indicated overlap in habitat usage. Species that were of low wing-loading and aspect-ratio are able to use both cluttered and uncluttered habitat. This could be a strategy to reduce competition. Where else, species with higher wing-loading and aspect-ratio are only confined to uncluttered habitat. The value of these flight indices were also related to the load the bats carry and the distance they travel. Wing-loading and aspect-ratio were able to explain the flight behavior such as maneuverability, speed and agility of the animal.