Stress Physiology, Foraging, and Ecophysiology of Bats in Urban Environments

Urban environments alter various physiological responses of sympatric animals. In this chapter, we provide an overview of stress physiology and the responses of bats to different urban stressors, such as light and noise pollution. We suggest future directions of research connecting urbanisation and stress responses of bats, whose life history traits determine an idiosyncratic response to urbanisation. We review how foraging behaviour and the physiological ecology of bats vary with the urban environment and present data on the effect of roost microclimate on metabolism and water balance of bats. We discuss these findings under an evolutionary lens and conclude that synanthropic species of bats possess preadaptations. These adaptations include resilience to urban stressors, fast flight, use of sheltered roosts, and relatively low metabolic rates to survive and thrive in urban habitats.