Ecophysiology
The Mammalian Ecology Group examines the digestive and metabolic physiology of bats, shrews, dormouse and voles using investigation methods in the field and laboratory such as telemetry, feeding experiments, and basal metabolic rate measurements. The focus is on analysis of the basic metabolism, energy, thermoregulation, food intake, and digestion.
Metabolism, thermoregulation, and digestion research is conducted to determine the basic metabolism, thermoregulatory behaviour and food utilization by bats and small mammals. The seasonal basal metabolic rate (BMR) largely determines the food and energy needs of bats and small mammals. Species-specific adjustments depending on the particular food acquisition strategies are to be expected. For the metabolic-physiological study bats and small mammals are captured in the wild and respiratory gas analysis takes place in the laboratory (Cooperation with the Institute of Experimental Ecology, University of Ulm). Thermoregulatoy behaviour is assessed by small temperature-sensitive radio transmitters. Supplementary to this we conduct feeding experiments with fluorescence-labelled food to determine the intestinal transit time and digestion efficiency of insectivorous mammals and identify seasonal-, species-, sex-, and age-specific differences. The relationship between metabolism, energy demand, digestion and habitat use of bats and small mammals has not been studied in this form, and results extend the existing knowledge relevant to the physiological ecology of mammals.