Sensory hairs

Bats have tiny sensory hairs lining their wings, and the density and distribution of these hairs varies among species. What do these hairs do? Are they used to sense strain along the wing? Can they sense turbulence or changes in air flow? How do bats alter their flight patterns when these hairs aren’t present?

In my research, I try to answer these questions by working with bats in the lab and the field. By recording flying bats under varying conditions, I can calculate their kinematics and infer their dynamics, guiding us toward a better understanding of how bats are able to control their flight.

Brooke Quinn

PhD candidate at Brown University Department of Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology