Rmr. Barclay et al., Foraging behaviour of the large-footed myotis, Myotis moluccarum (Chiroptera : Vespertilionidae) in south-eastern Queensland, AUST J ZOOL, 48(4), 2000, pp. 385-392
Because of differences in the time, energy, and nutrient demands on male an
d female mammals during reproduction, differences in foraging behaviour can
be expected between the sexes and over time. Using radio-telemetry, we stu
died the foraging behaviour of male and female large-footed bats (Myotis mo
luccarum) in south-eastern Queensland during the lactation and post-lactati
on periods. Individuals commuted over 10 km from their diurnal roost to for
age over a large reservoir. There were typically one or two foraging trips
per individual per night for a total foraging time averaging 7 h. Females f
oraged longer than did males, due to longer second foraging bouts. Males fo
raged for longer during the lactation period than during the post-lactation
period, whereas there was no difference for females, possibly due to the f
act that post-lactating females are pregnant with a second litter and thus
may not experience a large reduction in energy demand. Males of this harem-
forming species did not appear to defend foraging territories and females d
id not forage near their harem male.