In my research, I am integrating studies of physiology, behavior, ecology, and natural history of vertebrates with the ultimate goal of understanding the ecological and evolutionary patterns of their diversity. Among terrestrial vertebrates, bats are especially well-suited because they are distributed worldwide, highly speciose, and unsurpassed in ecological diversity among mammals. These characteristics are best manifested in tropical forests, where more than 100 species may coexist, and where bats have evolved a wide range of foraging strategies and diets. There, bats play indispensable roles by dispersing large quantities of seeds, pollinating flowers, and controlling insect populations. Recent advances of observational technologies permit investigation of bat behavior that previously could not be addressed.
Standardized protocols allow direct comparisons across sites.
Representative species are examined to see how bats are linked to critical resources such as food, roost sites, and habitats. Through its long history of bat research, BCI has become the site of the best-characterized tropical bat community worldwide. I am particularly interested in monitoring long-term dynamics in selected communities. Organisation and diversity of tropical bat communities through space and time. How echolocating bats approach and acquire food.