Influence of air temperature on ventilation rates and thermoregulation of a flying bat

FARABAUGH. Influence of air temperature on ventilation rates and thermoregulation of a flying bat. Am. J. Physiol. 260 (Reg-ulatory Integrative Comp. Physiol. 29): R960-R968, 1991.-To assess the involvement of the ventilatory system in thermoreg-ulation during flight, breathing frequencies and tidal volumes were measured from three Phyllostomus hastatus undertaking steady wind tunnel flights at a constant speed over a range of air temperatures (T,) from 17.7 to 31.1”C. Mean breathing frequency was independent of T,, and tidal volume increased only modestly with increasing T,. Consequently, minute ven-tilation rate increased insignificantly over the range of T, values investigated. Mean rectal temperature showed a direct linear relation to T, and increased significantly from 39.1 to 41.9”C over the range of T, values investigated. The highest rectal temperatures measured from flying P. hastatus are-3°