Abstract

During flight, echo-locating bats must adjust their pulmonary ventilation to satisfy a variety of requirements. The basic role of respiration, in gas exchange and in the maintenance of physiological homeostasis under exercise stress, must be achieved in a way that is compatible not only with the rhythmic contraction of powerful flightmuscles but also with the continual production of high-intensity vocalizations necessary for acoustic orientation. Moreover, the demand for accurate navigational information is often greatest during the stresses of rapid erratic flight. At such times bats continually emit brief, high-intensity orientation sounds at repetition rates varying from a few to many per second. Nothing is known regarding the relationship between respiration, sound production and wing movements during flight, or the extent to which changes in pulse-repetition rate affects respiration.