Does anyone know of any long-term study on the evolution of the diet of insectivorous bats that correlating the wear teeth state with their diet.
Very interesting question Paulo! Anne-Jifke might be able to provide you with helpful data.
Paulo,
You might contact Patricia Freeman at the University of Nebraska Lincoln. She has looked at bug-bat teeth re: efficiency of fracturing insect cuticle. She may have some obscure publications/citations re: tooth wear for you to chase down.
Thank you all. This Myotis bechsteinii, should not eat the same as eating at some years ago, when he had good teeth!?
If small insectivorous bats feed on softer-bodied insects such as lepidopterans or dipeterans, then tooth wear would likely not have as big of an influence on prey type. However, if a species relies on the cusps of the teeth to dissect hard exoskeletons of beetles or other arthropods (e.g., scorpions), then there may be a shift in diet. Further, I would imagine diet would depend on what is available during the night and throughout the year; particularly insectivorous bats in temperate regions.
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