The role of infant isolation calls in mother–infant reunions in the little brown bat, Myotis lucifugus (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae)

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Abstract
The role of infant isolation calls (i-calls) in mother–infant communication in Myotis lucifugus, the little brown bat, was investigated in a natural nursery colony near Westport, Ontario. Analysis of isolation calls showed considerable individual variation, compatible with the hypothesis that the calls contain individual signatures. Presentations of isolated infants or recordings of their i-calls elicited specific rather than general responses, and females were selective about the young they would retrieve and nurse. Infants, however, were less selective, attempting to nurse from any convenient female. Retrievals of isolated infants by females was usually preceeded by careful inspection, which included olfactory cues. Our results suggest that female M. lucifugus selectively nurse their own young, having recognized them by a combination of olfactory and acoustic cues. We also describe a short i-call (<10 ms long) that elicits a high level of flight response from newly volant young and appears to be a "distress" call.