The habitat- based relationship between peak frequency and wing morphology in Microchiropterans of the southern Kruger National Park

Our study is an analysis of the aspect ratio, wing loading and call peak frequency of five
species of microchiropterans in Skukuza, Kruger National Park. Bats were caught on
four consecutive nights in February using mist nets erected over and around water
sources. Species of bats with higher peak frequencies grouped together in our analysis
and were also characterized by low wingloadings and aspect ratios as compared with
those bats with lower peak frequencies. These characteristics are indicative of already
observed foraging strategies. Our results therefore supported the notion that bats flying
in open areas tend to have high aspect ratios and wingloadings but low peak frequencies
of calls and that bats which forage in clutter have low aspect ratios and wingloadings but
high peak frequencies of calls.