Evaluation of morphological indices and total body electrical conductivity to assess body composition in big brown bats

Pearce, R. D.; O'Shea, T. J.; Wunder, B. A.

Abstract:

Bat researchers have used both morphological indices and total body electric conductivity (TOBEC) as proxies for body condition in a variety of studies, but have typically not validated these indices against direct measurement of body composition. We quantified body composition (total carcass lipids) to determine if morphological indices were useful predictors of body condition in big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus). We also evaluated body composition indirectly by TOBEC using EM-SCAN?? technology. The most important predictors of body composition in multiple regression analysis were body mass-to-forearm ratio (partial r2 = 0.82, P < 0.001) followed by TOBEC measurement (partial r2 = 0.08, P < 0.001) and to a minor extent head length (partial r2 = 0.02, P < 0.05). Morphological condition indices alone may be adequate for some studies because of lower cost and effort. Marking bats with passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags affected TOBEC measurements. ?? Museum and Institute of Zoology PAS.

Genre:

Article

ProdID:

70000250

Citation Author:

Pearce, R. D.; O'Shea, T. J.; Wunder, B. A.

Citation Contributing Office:

Citation Datum:

Citation Day:

Citation Edition:

Citation Editor:

Citation End Page:

159

Citation Issue:

Citation Keywords:

Citation Language:

English

Citation Larger Work Title:

Acta Chiropterologica

Citation LatN:

Citation LatS:

Citation LonE:

Citation LonW:

Citation Month:

Citation No Pagination:

Citation Number Of Pages:

Citation Online Only Flag:

Citation Phsyical Description:

Citation Projection:

Citation Public Comments:

Citation Publisher:

Citation Series:

Citation Series Code:

Citation Series Number:

Citation Search Results Text:

Evaluation of morphological indices and total body electrical conductivity to assess body composition in big brown bats; 2008; Article; Journal; Acta Chiropterologica; Pearce, R. D.; O‘Shea, T. J.; Wunder, B. A.