Echolocation and flight morphology of forest bats in south-western Australia

We characterise the search-mode echolocation sequences of the nine bat species occupying the temperate forests in south-western Australia in terms of pulse peak frequency, fineness-of-tuning, duration, bandwidth, shape and repetition rate. The first two parameters provide unambiguous species recognition. We also estimate flight performance variables for each species (aspect ratio, wing loading, tail-ear area ratio and wingbeat frequency), then relate the airframe and echolocation variables to species foraging strategies and microhabitats.