Research Focus
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Ontogeny & Evolution of Flight
| Developmental and evolutionary patterns became formally linked when Haeckel exclaimed "Ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny," as his Biogenetic Law in the mid 1800s. Although erroneous, this statement integrated the concept of developmental homology with Darwin's descent with modification; thus, developmental patterns invoke phylogenetic relationships. Furthermore, the evolution of morphological novelty is fundamentally based on, and some would argue, fully attributable to, shifts in developmental patterns. Bats are an excellent test case for such theoretical investigations as they manifest one of the most extreme morphological novelties in mammals, true-powered flight. Bats also exhibit high species diversity, providing a rich theater for investigation. Using cleared and stained specimens of fetal and juvenile bats, in combination with slow- and high-speed video analysis, we seek to understand what developmental shifts and functional morphology must have occurred to evolve a winged mammal from a nonvolant ancestor. |
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| 'Ontogeny does not recapitulate phylogeny, it creates it.' Garstang 1922 | |
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Ecology, Climate Change & Rocky Mountain Bats
This research involves many aspects of bat ecology including water source use patterns in relation to community and population ecology and climate change, roost site selection and microclimates, foraging patterns in relation to natural and anthropogenic changes in landscapes such as forest thinning and wildfires, conservation and management of bat maternity colonies in regards to human uses of natural environments, such as rock climbing. |
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Ecological Morphology of Rocky Mountain Bats
Ecomorphology involves how morphological adaptations allow for bat species within the ensemble to partition resources allowing for coexistence. We also quantify how juvenile bats change morphologically during growth and development resulting in a change in niche-space that eventually converges with adults. Recent discovery that vespertilionid bats can use their tail-membrane as a flapping wing changes the way we think about habitat access and use among species.
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Ecology of Bats in South Africa
In collaboration with ongoing research by Dr. John Winkelmann (Gettysburg College, PA) and Dr. Frank Bonaccorso (USGS, Hawaii National Park) concerning sycamore fig seed dispersal and germination effects by Epauletted fruit bats (Epomophorus spp.) in Kruger National Park, South Africa, Adams has begun a project concerning the ecomorphological differences between E. wahlbergi and E. crypturus. We are filming mating calls of each species to determine how reproductive isolation is maintained as well as quantifying ecomorphology. In 2010 we began an analysis of the distribution and abundance of insectivorous bats in Kruger National Park, South Africa.
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Ecology of Bats in Sichuan Province, China
In collaboration with Professor Tang Ya at Sichuan University, the Chengdu Giant Panda Research and Breeding Base, Animals Asia Moonbear Rehabilitation Base, and Longxi Hongkou Nature Reserve, Laura Heiker (PhD student) and Rick Adams are quantifying the effects of urbanization and industrial revolution effects on bat species richness and abundance.
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