Data from: Resource partitioning by insectivorous bats in Jamaica

In this investigation we use variation in wing morphology, echolocation behaviour, patterns of habitat use and molecular diet analysis to demonstrate that six species of sympatric insectivorous bats in Jamaica showed significant differences that could explain resource partitioning among the species. High intensity echolocating species that used shorter, broadband signals and had shorter, broader wings (Pteronotus macleayii, Pteronotus quadridens, Mormoops blainvillii) foraged most in edge habitats but differed in timing of peak activity there. P. macleayii and M. blainvillii differed in diet but low sample size precluded diet analysis for P. quadridens. High intensity echolocating species that used longer, more narrowband signals and had longer, narrower wings (Molossus molossus, Tadarida brasiliensis), foraged most in open areas, and differed in diet from the other species. Two disparate species were most active in clutter (dense vegetation). Pteronotus parnellii used high duty-cycle echolocation apparently specialized for detecting fluttering targets in clutter. Macrotus waterhousii used low intensity, broadband echolocation calls and presumably uses prey-generated sounds when foraging. These two species also differed in diet. Our data show that differences in morphology and echolocation behaviour coincide with differences in habitat use and diet, resulting in minimal overlap in resource use among species.本研究借助翼形态、回声定位（echolocation）行为、栖息地利用模式与分子饮食分析的差异，证实牙买加境内6种同域分布（sympatric）的食虫蝙蝠（insectivorous bats）存在显著分化，该分化可用于解释物种间的资源分隔（resource partitioning）现象。使用短时长宽带（broadband）信号、翼形短而宽的高回声强度类群（包含Pteronotus macleayii、Pteronotus quadridens、Mormoops blainvillii）主要于边缘生境觅食，但三者的活动高峰时间存在差异；其中P. macleayii与M. blainvillii的饮食组成存在显著区别，但因样本量过小，无法对P. quadridens开展饮食分析。另一类使用长时长窄带（narrowband）信号、翼形长而窄的高回声强度类群（包含Molossus molossus、Tadarida brasiliensis）则主要在开阔区域觅食，且其饮食组成与其余物种差异显著。另有两种分类学上迥异的物种在复杂生境（clutter，即密集植被区域）中活动最为频繁：其中Pteronotus parnellii采用高占空比（high duty-cycle）回声定位策略，显然特化用于探测复杂生境中的振翅目标；Macrotus waterhousii则使用低强度宽带回声定位叫声，推测其觅食时会依托猎物产生的声音完成定位。这两个物种的饮食组成同样存在差异。本研究数据显示，翼形态与回声定位行为的差异与栖息地利用及饮食差异高度契合，最终使得各物种间的资源利用重叠度降至极低水平。