Heart rate supports accelerometry as a reliable predictor of energy expenditure in bats
8 affiliations
- 1Pathos Wildlife, Fiskeville, RI 02823, USA
- 2Department of Natural Resources Science, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA
- 3Department of Biological Sciences, Southeastern Louisiana University, Hammond, LA 70402, USA
- 4Veterinary Clinical Science Department, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
- 5Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Ancon, 0843-03092, Panamá
- 6Universidad de Costa Rica, Sede Rodrigo Facio, San José, San Pedro 11501-2060, Costa Rica
- 7Bat Conservation International, Austin, TX 78746, USA
- 8Department of Migration, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Radolfzell, 78315, Germany
Abstract
Measuring the energetic cost of behavior is essential for understanding decision-making in wild animals. This is particularly true for bats, where life near their energetic ceiling has resulted in a diversity of behaviors to compensate for social and environmental unpredictability. Although GPS and tri-axial accelerometry have improved movement-based estimates of energy expenditure in the field, complex flight kinematics in bats may violate key assumptions accelerometry-based estimates rely on. To test whether energy expenditure is predicted by acceleration-based movement in bats, we deployed heart rate loggers alongside GPS with tri-axial accelerometers on free-ranging greater spear-nosed bats (Phyllostomus hastatus) in Panamá. We hypothesized that heart rate would positively reflect increases in vectorial dynamic body acceleration (VeDBA), a commonly used proxy for energy expenditure, and that including information on behavior would enhance this relationship. We also hypothesized that heart rate and VeDBA would reflect theoretical speed–power curves of flight. We found that VeDBA had a strong positive relationship with heart rate, and model accuracy improved when behavioral states of flying and not flying were defined. Additionally, incorporating behavioral duration and sequence number improved predictions, showing that temporal context and activity patterns further refine estimates of energy expenditure. The relationship between VeDBA and airspeed resembled the mechanical power curve previously estimated for P. hastatus, supporting the relevance of aerodynamic theory in interpreting bat energetics. Overall, acceleration-based estimates reliably predict energy expenditure in free-ranging P. hastatus, and incorporating behavior improves model accuracy and ecological relevance, providing a powerful tool for understanding energy allocation in wild bats.
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BibTeX
@article{bayer2026heart,
title = {{Heart rate supports accelerometry as a reliable predictor of energy expenditure in bats}},
author = {Travis D. Bayer and M. Graciela Aguilar and Leslye M. Barría and Luisa F. Gómez-Feuillet and James P. Lee and M. Teague O'Mara},
journal = {The Journal of Experimental Biology},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1242/jeb.251521},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.251521},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Heart rate supports accelerometry as a reliable predictor of energy expenditure in bats
AU - Travis D. Bayer
AU - M. Graciela Aguilar
AU - Leslye M. Barría
AU - Luisa F. Gómez-Feuillet
AU - James P. Lee
AU - M. Teague O'Mara
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/22
JO - The Journal of Experimental Biology
DO - 10.1242/jeb.251521
UR - https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.251521
AB - Measuring the energetic cost of behavior is essential for understanding decision-making in wild animals. This is particularly true for bats, where life near their energetic ceiling has resulted in a diversity of behaviors to compensate for social and environmental unpredictability. Although GPS and tri-axial accelerometry have improved movement-based estimates of energy expenditure in the field, complex flight kinematics in bats may violate key assumptions accelerometry-based estimates rely on. To test whether energy expenditure is predicted by acceleration-based movement in bats, we deployed heart rate loggers alongside GPS with tri-axial accelerometers on free-ranging greater spear-nosed bats (Phyllostomus hastatus) in Panamá. We hypothesized that heart rate would positively reflect increases in vectorial dynamic body acceleration (VeDBA), a commonly used proxy for energy expenditure, and that including information on behavior would enhance this relationship. We also hypothesized that heart rate and VeDBA would reflect theoretical speed–power curves of flight. We found that VeDBA had a strong positive relationship with heart rate, and model accuracy improved when behavioral states of flying and not flying were defined. Additionally, incorporating behavioral duration and sequence number improved predictions, showing that temporal context and activity patterns further refine estimates of energy expenditure. The relationship between VeDBA and airspeed resembled the mechanical power curve previously estimated for P. hastatus, supporting the relevance of aerodynamic theory in interpreting bat energetics. Overall, acceleration-based estimates reliably predict energy expenditure in free-ranging P. hastatus, and incorporating behavior improves model accuracy and ecological relevance, providing a powerful tool for understanding energy allocation in wild bats.
SN - 0022-0949
SN - 1477-9145
ER -