10/10 🧵Read the full paper to dive deeper into our methods & findings! doi.org/10.1093/jmam... if you don't have access to it, you can request it via Researchgate. www.researchgate.net/publication/...

9/10 🧵In conclusion: Tongue extension seems to be a better predictor of nectar extraction efficiency than tongue morphology itself. More species data are needed to generalize, but this study sheds new light on bat-flower co-evolution! #Science #Biodiversity

8/10 🧵Despite these behavioral and morphological differences, our results suggest that both "pump-like" and "mop-like" tongues are surprisingly comparable in their nectar extraction abilities across various floral shapes. Adaptation in action!

7/10 🧵Glossophagines (mop-tongues) increased their visit duration to get more nectar from deeper flowers. But Lonchophylla robusta (pump-tongue) actually decreased visit duration with deeper nectar, showing a sharper drop in consumption. Fascinating behavioral differences!

6/10 🧵Key finding 2: Nectar depth is a challenge for all! As nectar got deeper, extraction efficiency declined at a similar rate for all species. But how they dealt with it was different...

5/10 🧵Even within the Anoura species, individuals with longer tongues were more efficient at extracting nectar. This suggests that tongue length is a crucial factor for these amazing pollinators!

4/10 🧵Key finding 1: Tongue extension matters! We found a strong link between maximum tongue extension and nectar extraction efficiency across all species. Lonchophylla robusta, with intermediate tongue extension, showed intermediate efficiency.

3/10 🧵We studied 3 co-existing species in the Ecuadorian Andes: 2 glossophagines (Anoura caudifer, A. cultrata) and 1 lonchophylline (Lonchophylla robusta). Using flight-cage experiments, we measured tongue extension & nectar extraction efficiency across different flower types.

2/10 🧵 In the bat family Phyllostomidae, nectarivory evolved twice, leading to two distinct tongue types: the "mop-like" (lapping) tongues of glossophagines & the "pump-like" (grooved) tongues of lonchophyllines. What does this mean for efficiency?

This ancient bat colony collapse underscores the importance of cave stability for biodiversity. With ongoing environmental changes, understanding these past events is crucial for present-day conservation efforts. Read the full story: royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/... #ClimateChange

The likely culprit? We suggest structural changes in the cave over time led to the loss of crucial "heat traps," making it unsuitable for these temperature-dependent bats. This highlights the fragility of these unique roosting sites. #CaveEcology #Microclimate #Conservation

Shockingly, fossil evidence from Cueva Matos reveals the presence of 10 bat species, compared to only 3 today! Notably, nearly 90% of the lost species were specialists that rely on hot cave environments. #Extirpation #FossilRecord

Bats and birds both evolved flight and rely on similar resources. LongBAT & the bird census together will help us understand how these groups respond to environmental changes. Follow our project for updates! #STRI #Research stri.si.edu/story/batbir...

Our team uses mistnetting and acoustic monitoring to record bat echolocation calls, providing crucial data on bat populations in Soberanía National Park. Learn more about our methods and goals! #BatResearch #AcousticMonitoring #Mistnetting #Wildlife stri.si.edu/story/batbir...