TY - JOUR

T1 - The cost of hovering and forward flight in a nectar-feeding bat, Glossophaga soricina, estimated from aerodynamic theory.

AU - Norberg, U M

AU - Kunz, T H

AU - Steffensen, J F

AU - Winter, Y

AU - von Helversen, O

N1 - Keywords: Animals; Chiroptera; Diet; Energy Metabolism; Flight, Animal; Models, Theoretical; Oxygen Consumption

PY - 1993

Y1 - 1993

N2 - Energy expenditure during flight in animals can best be understood and quantified when both theoretical and empirical approaches are used concurrently. This paper examines one of four methods that we have used to estimate the cost of flight in a neotropical nectar-feeding bat Glossophaga soricina (Phyllostomidae), namely the use of kinematic and morphological data and aerodynamic theory to estimate the mechanical power requirements (power output) for hovering and horizontal forward flight. A hot-wire anemometer was used to measure induced velocity (the velocity of air accelerated by the wings) during hovering in order to estimate induced power. Our estimate of aerodynamic power (the sum of induced, profile and parasite powers) required for a 0.0105 kg G. soricina to hover is 0.15 W and our estimate of the inertial power (the power required to oscillate the wings) is 0.19 W. Thus, the total mechanical power for hovering is 0.34 W or 32.4 W kg-1. The mechanical power required for horizontal forward flight, near the minimum power flight speed (4.2 ms-1) for a 0.0117 kg bat is 0.14 W (12.3 W kg-1), of which 0.10 W is aerodynamic power and 0.042 W is inertial power. Comparison with our results on metabolic power requirements estimated from nectar intake gives a mechanical efficiency of 0.15 for hovering flight and 0.11 for forward flight near the minimum power speed.

AB - Energy expenditure during flight in animals can best be understood and quantified when both theoretical and empirical approaches are used concurrently. This paper examines one of four methods that we have used to estimate the cost of flight in a neotropical nectar-feeding bat Glossophaga soricina (Phyllostomidae), namely the use of kinematic and morphological data and aerodynamic theory to estimate the mechanical power requirements (power output) for hovering and horizontal forward flight. A hot-wire anemometer was used to measure induced velocity (the velocity of air accelerated by the wings) during hovering in order to estimate induced power. Our estimate of aerodynamic power (the sum of induced, profile and parasite powers) required for a 0.0105 kg G. soricina to hover is 0.15 W and our estimate of the inertial power (the power required to oscillate the wings) is 0.19 W. Thus, the total mechanical power for hovering is 0.34 W or 32.4 W kg-1. The mechanical power required for horizontal forward flight, near the minimum power flight speed (4.2 ms-1) for a 0.0117 kg bat is 0.14 W (12.3 W kg-1), of which 0.10 W is aerodynamic power and 0.042 W is inertial power. Comparison with our results on metabolic power requirements estimated from nectar intake gives a mechanical efficiency of 0.15 for hovering flight and 0.11 for forward flight near the minimum power speed.

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 8228780

VL - 182

SP - 207

EP - 227

JO - Journal of Experimental Biology

JF - Journal of Experimental Biology

SN - 0022-0949

ER -