A bat in flight with its wings spread wide against a black background.
 Thermal image of bats in flight showing varying heat signatures against a dark, cooler background.
Photo courtesy of Tom Kunz

Aeroecology focuses on understanding the ecological function and biological importance of organisms that rely on the aerosphere for critical aspects of their life history.  Studying behavior and movement of animals, such as birds, bats, and flying arthropods, in the aerosphere presents considerable challenges, requiring creative integration of novel technological solutions for data acquisition and analysis with sound scientific research. Remote sensing tools, such as NEXRAD Doppler radar, offer considerable promise for investigating aeroecological processes and dynamics at broad spatial and temporal scales.  You can learn more about Aeroecology in our edited book.