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Haarsma AJ, Jongejans E, Duijm E, van der Graaf C, Lammers Y, Sharma M, Siepel H, Gravendeel B. Female pond bats hunt in other areas than males and consume lighter prey when pregnant. J Mammal 2023; 104:1191-1204. [PMID: 38059006 PMCID: PMC10697422 DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyad096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Animals with large energy requirements are forced to optimize their hunting strategy, which may result in differentiation of the diet between sexes and across seasons. Here, we examined spatiotemporal variation in the diet of both sexes of the Pond Bat Myotis dasycneme, a species known to have spatial segregation of sexes when the young are born and lactating. Fecal pellets were collected from live animals for a period of 15 years at various locations in the Netherlands. A total of 535 pellets were successfully analyzed by microscopy and an additional 160 pellets by DNA metabarcoding. Morphological and molecular analyses showed that the diet of pregnant and lactating pond bats differed significantly from the diet of females with no reproductive investment. Further analyses of the data showed that pregnant female pond bats are highly dependent on small prey and pupae, mainly nonbiting midges and mosquitoes (Diptera: Chironomidae and Culicidae). These insects can be found in large quantities in peatlands intersected with shallow waterways, the habitat type in which female pond bats were observed more often than males. Our results suggest that during pregnancy the spatial segregation of sexes coincides with sex-specific diets, which might reflect habitat selection based on energy requirements, in addition to lowered intraspecific competition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne-Jifke Haarsma
- Radboud University, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Evolutionary Ecology Group, Darwinweg 2, 2333 CR Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Eelke Jongejans
- Radboud University, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Netherlands Institute of Ecology, Department of Animal Ecology, Droevendaalsesteeg 10, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Elza Duijm
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Evolutionary Ecology Group, Darwinweg 2, 2333 CR Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Carolien van der Graaf
- Bat Research Consultancy Vroegvlieger, Ellekomstraat 70, 2573 XG Den Haag, The Netherlands
| | - Youri Lammers
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Evolutionary Ecology Group, Darwinweg 2, 2333 CR Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Milan Sharma
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Evolutionary Ecology Group, Darwinweg 2, 2333 CR Leiden, The Netherlands
- HZ University of Applied Sciences, Life Sciences cluster, Edisonweg 4, 4382 NW Vlissingen, The Netherlands
| | - Henk Siepel
- Radboud University, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Barbara Gravendeel
- Radboud University, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Evolutionary Ecology Group, Darwinweg 2, 2333 CR Leiden, The Netherlands
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Raposeira H, Horta P, Heleno R, Rebelo H. Changing with the times: Seasonal environmental gradients unveil dynamic bat assemblages and vulnerability. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e10246. [PMID: 37470030 PMCID: PMC10352094 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Revised: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Uncovering the temporal and spatial dynamics of biological communities in response to biotic and abiotic drivers is essential to predict the effects of environmental change on biodiversity. Similarly, estimating species vulnerability in the face of such dynamics is crucial for implementing effective conservation actions. We explored how bat diversity changes over the year across an altitudinal gradient and identified the environmental drivers that shape bat communities. By analysing species' marginality within the biophysical niche space, we evaluated bats' vulnerability to foreseeable environmental changes. Our results suggest that altitude, the proportion of forest cover and shrub cover are the main drivers shaping bat communities year-round. Additionally, while some bat species are restricted to a single ecological assemblage (or ecological preferences group), others show greater plasticity throughout the year. Importantly, we found that although bats associated with highland habitats and forests could be particularly vulnerable to environmental changes (in particular Myotis mystacinus), this vulnerability correlates poorly with their national conservation status. We suggest that species' ecological plasticity is critical for the resilience of biological communities exposed to environmental changes and should be considered when planning tailored conservation strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helena Raposeira
- CIBIO, Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, InBIO Associated LaboratoryUniversity of PortoVairãoPortugal
- Department of Biology, Faculty of SciencesUniversity of PortoPortoPortugal
- OII – Observatory Inovation ResearchLinharesPortugal
- Department of Life Sciences, TERRA Associate Laboratory, Center for Functional EcologyUniversity of CoimbraCoimbraPortugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land PlanningCIBIOVairãoPortugal
| | - Pedro Horta
- CIBIO, Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, InBIO Associated LaboratoryUniversity of PortoVairãoPortugal
- Department of Biology, Faculty of SciencesUniversity of PortoPortoPortugal
- OII – Observatory Inovation ResearchLinharesPortugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land PlanningCIBIOVairãoPortugal
| | - Ruben Heleno
- Department of Life Sciences, TERRA Associate Laboratory, Center for Functional EcologyUniversity of CoimbraCoimbraPortugal
| | - Hugo Rebelo
- CIBIO, Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, InBIO Associated LaboratoryUniversity of PortoVairãoPortugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land PlanningCIBIOVairãoPortugal
- ESS, Instituto Politécnico de SetúbalSetúbalPortugal
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3
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Marsden GE, Vosloo D, Schoeman MC. Urban tolerance is phylogenetically constrained and mediated by pre-adaptations in African bats. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e9840. [PMID: 36911303 PMCID: PMC9994473 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2022] [Revised: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2023] Open
Abstract
With increasing urbanization, particularly in developing countries, it is important to understand how local biota will respond to such landscape changes. Bats comprise one of the most diverse groups of mammals in urban areas, and many species are threatened by habitat destruction and land use change. Yet, in Africa, the response of bats to urban areas is relatively understudied. Therefore, we collated data on urban presence, phylogenetic relationship, and ecological traits of 54 insectivorous bats in Africa from available literature to test if their response to urbanization was phylogenetically and/or ecologically driven. Ancestral state reconstruction of urban tolerance, defined by functional group and presence observed in urban areas, suggests that ancestral African bat species could adapt to urban landscapes, and significant phylogenetic signal for urban tolerance indicates that this ability is evolutionarily conserved and mediated by pre-adaptations. Specifically, traits of high wing loading and aspect ratio, and flexible roosting strategies, enable occupancy of urban areas. Therefore, our results identify the traits that predict which bat species will likely occur in urban areas, and which vulnerable bat clades conservation efforts should focus on to reduce loss of both functional and phylogenetic diversity in Africa. We, additionally, highlight several gaps in research that should be investigated in future studies to provide better monitoring of the impact urbanization will have on African bats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Genevieve E Marsden
- Centre for Functional Biodiversity, School of Life Sciences University of KwaZulu-Natal Durban South Africa
| | - Dalene Vosloo
- Centre for Functional Biodiversity, School of Life Sciences University of KwaZulu-Natal Durban South Africa
| | - M Corrie Schoeman
- School of Life Sciences University of KwaZulu-Natal Durban South Africa
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Do Suburban Populations of Lizards Behave Differently from Forest Ones? An Analysis of Perch Height, Time Budget, and Display Rate in the Cuban Endemic Anolis homolechis. DIVERSITY 2023. [DOI: 10.3390/d15020261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/16/2023]
Abstract
Urbanization transforms natural ecosystems into novel habitats, which can result in negative consequences for biodiversity. Therefore, it is important to understand the mechanisms of maintenance of native species in urbanized environments, including behavior—which can act as a fast response to rapid environmental changes. We compared some behavioral traits between two suburban and two forest populations of Anolis homolechis. Direct observations of 779 individuals revealed that perch height was positively influenced by body size, but not by sex. Suburban individuals perched higher than forest ones, and even more so in the afternoon compared to the morning; a behavior that was not observed in forests populations. These differences might be due to a change from foraging activities in the morning to vigilance, display, and/or thermoregulation in the afternoon, promoted by suburban habitat conditions (e.g., higher predator abundance, open habitat structure, and urban heat). Video recordings of 81 focal individuals showed that males were more active than females (i.e., spending less time in stationary behavior and having a higher display rate), with no significant effect of habitat type. As some of our results diverge from previous studies on invasive anoles, we recommend extending comparative studies of urban and non-urban populations to other native Anolis.
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Timofieieva O, Vlaschenko A, Laskowski R. Could a city-dwelling bat (Pipistrellus kuhlii) serve as a bioindicator species for trace metals pollution? THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 857:159556. [PMID: 36270360 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Revised: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Bats are an endangered group of mammals that are very sensitive to environmental stresses. One of such stress factor is trace metals pollution which threatens populations of insectivorous bats due to their top position in the food webs and exceptionally long life span. In our research Pipistrellus kuhlii was tested as a promising indicator species (urban-dwelling, sedentary, with limited daily home-range) for trace metal exposure of bats. We measured concentrations of Pb, Cu, Zn and Cd in internal and external tissues of bats from the industrial city Mariupol and the village Karlovka, Ukraine, to answer the following questions: (1) Do metal concentrations in soil samples differ between urban and rural areas, and between populations of P. kuhlii from those areas? (2) Does metal contamination differ between individuals of different sexes and ages? (3) Whether fur and/or wing membrane, the two tissues that can be collected from live bats, can be used as proxies of metal contamination in internal tissues (liver, kidney, lung, forearm bones) of P. kuhlii? Metal concentrations in soil samples were significantly higher in the city. Bats from the city accumulated significantly more Cd, Pb and Zn in external tissues than those from the rural area. Females accumulated more Cd than males, and this-year-born did not differ significantly from adult individuals. We did not find, however, significant positive correlations between metal concentrations in external and internal tissues, indicating that external tissues cannot serve as an indicator of the metal contamination of internal tissues in P. kuhlii.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olha Timofieieva
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Kraków, Poland.
| | - Anton Vlaschenko
- Bat Rehabilitation Center of Feldman Ecopark, 62340 Lisne, Kharkiv Region, Ukraine; Institute of Natural Sciences, H.S. Skovoroda Kharkiv National Pedagogical University, Valentynivska st., 2, Kharkiv 61168, Ukraine
| | - Ryszard Laskowski
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
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Graham A, Nguyen J, Sasaki K. Woodland Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina) Abundance Declines with Increasing Urban Land Use in the Piedmont. ICHTHYOLOGY & HERPETOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1643/h2022001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ashley Graham
- Winthrop University Department of Biology,
701 Oakland Ave, Rock Hill, South Carolina 29733; (AG) ; and (KS) . ORCID: (AG) 0000-0002-0073-6056
| | - Jack Nguyen
- Winthrop University Department of Biology,
701 Oakland Ave, Rock Hill, South Carolina 29733; (AG) ; and (KS) . ORCID: (AG) 0000-0002-0073-6056
| | - Kiyoshi Sasaki
- Winthrop University Department of Biology,
701 Oakland Ave, Rock Hill, South Carolina 29733; (AG) ; and (KS) . ORCID: (AG) 0000-0002-0073-6056
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7
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Fialas PC, Gilmour LRV, Vickress S, Underwood E, Williams CA, Miller H, Lintott PR. Sexual segregation occurs in bats within fragmented remnant woodlands in an agricultural landscape. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e9350. [PMID: 36203639 PMCID: PMC9526024 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2022] [Revised: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Species‐specific responses to landscape configuration and landscape composition have been studied extensively. However, little work has been done to compare intraspecific differences in habitat preferences. Bats have potential as good bioindicator taxa in woodland habitats. Therefore, studying sex differences in responses to woodland and the wider landscape can allow us to gain insight into the relative importance of these habitats for both bats and other taxa. In this study, we aimed to test the predictions that (i) habitat type and connectivity will influence the probability of recording female bats in woodlands and (ii) sex differences in response to habitat type and connectivity will be species‐specific. Bat capture data was collected in 206 woodlands over 3 years in England. The probability of detecting females relative to males was modeled in response to a range of woodland characteristics and landscape metrics for six bat species. We recorded sex differences in responses to landscape features in three species. We found a higher probability of capturing female Myotis nattereri in woodlands that were surrounded by a higher proportion of improved grasslands, whereas female Myotis mystacinus were less likely to be recorded in woodlands surrounded by semi‐natural vegetation. Female Plecotus auritus were more likely to be recorded in isolated woodlands with less connectivity to other woodlands and where agriculture dominated the surrounding landscape. Our findings indicate that sexual segregation occurs across several UK bat species in response to landscape connectivity and composition. Sexual segregation in response to landscape characteristics in bats should therefore be an important consideration in the management of fragmented agricultural landscapes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Penelope C. Fialas
- School of Applied Sciences University of the West of England Bristol UK
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences University of Exeter Exeter UK
| | - Lia R. V. Gilmour
- School of Applied Sciences University of the West of England Bristol UK
- Bat Conservation Trust London UK
| | - Sophie Vickress
- School of Applied Sciences University of the West of England Bristol UK
| | - Emma Underwood
- School of Applied Sciences University of the West of England Bristol UK
- Kingston University London Kingston upon Thames UK
| | | | - Helen Miller
- Botanic Gardens Conservation International Richmond UK
| | - Paul R. Lintott
- School of Applied Sciences University of the West of England Bristol UK
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8
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Lewanzik D, Straka TM, Lorenz J, Marggraf L, Voigt-Heucke S, Schumann A, Brandt M, Voigt CC. Evaluating the potential of urban areas for bat conservation with citizen science data. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 297:118785. [PMID: 34979170 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.118785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Revised: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 12/30/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Global change, including urbanisation, threatens many of the >1400 bat species. Nevertheless, certain areas within highly urbanised cities may be suitable to harbour bat populations. Thus, managing urban habitats could contribute to bat conservation. Here, we wanted to establish evidence-based recommendations on how to improve urban spaces for the protection of bats. In a team effort with >200 citizen scientists, we recorded bat vocalisations up to six times over the course of 2 years at each of 600 predefined sites in the Berlin metropolitan area. For each species we identified the preferred and non-preferred landscape features. Our results show that artificial light at night (ALAN) had a negative impact on all species. For soprano pipistrelles and mouse-eared bats ALAN had the largest effect sizes among all environmental predictors. Canopy cover and open water were especially important for bat species that forage along vegetation edges and for trawling bats, respectively. Occurrence probability of species foraging in open space decreased with increasing distance to water bodies. On a larger scale, impervious surfaces tended to have positive effects on some species that are specialised on foraging along edge structures. Our study constitutes an important contribution to the growing body of literature showing that despite the many negative impacts of urbanisation on wildlife, urban environments can harbour bat populations if certain conditions are met, such as access to vegetation and water bodies and low levels of ALAN. Our findings are of high relevance for urban planners and conservationists, as they allow inferences on how to manage urban spaces in a bat-friendly way. We recommend limiting ALAN to the minimum necessary and maintaining and creating uninterrupted vegetated corridors between areas with high levels of canopy cover and water bodies, in which ALAN should be entirely avoided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Lewanzik
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Str. 17, 10315, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Tanja M Straka
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Str. 17, 10315, Berlin, Germany
| | - Julia Lorenz
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Str. 17, 10315, Berlin, Germany
| | - Lara Marggraf
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Str. 17, 10315, Berlin, Germany
| | - Silke Voigt-Heucke
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Str. 17, 10315, Berlin, Germany
| | - Anke Schumann
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Str. 17, 10315, Berlin, Germany
| | - Miriam Brandt
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Str. 17, 10315, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christian C Voigt
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Str. 17, 10315, Berlin, Germany
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de la Peña-Cuéllar E, Benítez-Malvido J. Sex-Biased Habitat Use by Phyllostomid Bats on Riparian Corridors in a Human Dominated Tropical Landscape. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.741069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Some animal species exhibit sex-specific patterns as an adaptation to their habitats, however, adaptability to a human-dominated landscape is commonly explored without considering intraspecific sexual differences. Differences between males and females lead to a sexual segregation in habitat use. In southern Mexico, we explored sex-specific responses to landscape modification of six common species of phyllostomid bats: Artibeus jamaicensis, A. lituratus, Sturnira lilium, Carollia perspicillata, Glossophaga soricina, and Platyrrhinus helleri using riparian corridors within continuous forest and cattle pastures. Furthermore, we explored sex related responses to vegetation attributes (i.e., tree height and basal area) and seasonality (i.e., wet and dry seasons). Overall, capture rates were significantly skewed toward females and riparian corridors in pastures. Females of G. soricina exhibited a strong positive relationship with greater tree height and basal area. Seasonality was important for A. lituratus and S. lilium females, only. The results indicate a sexual driven response of bats to habitat modification. The high energetic demands of females associated to reproduction could lead to foraging into riparian corridors in pastures. The presence of large trees along riparian corridors in pastures may help maintaining a diverse and dynamic bat community in modified tropical landscapes.
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10
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Katsis LKD, Linton DM, Macdonald DW. The effect of group size, reproductive condition and time period on sexual segregation patterns in three vespertilionid bat species. J Zool (1987) 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- L. K. D. Katsis
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU) Department of Zoology The Recanati‐Kaplan Centre University of Oxford Tubney UK
| | - D. M. Linton
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU) Department of Zoology The Recanati‐Kaplan Centre University of Oxford Tubney UK
| | - D. W. Macdonald
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU) Department of Zoology The Recanati‐Kaplan Centre University of Oxford Tubney UK
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11
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Patriquin KJ, Guy C, Hinds J, Ratcliffe JM. Male and female bats differ in their use of a large urban park. JOURNAL OF URBAN ECOLOGY 2019. [DOI: 10.1093/jue/juz015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Understanding how wildlife respond to ever-encroaching urbanization is of great concern. Bats are the second-most speciose mammalian order and while many appear to be urban adapted, we currently have a limited understanding of their demography and habitat use within urban environments. Using a combination of captures to obtain demographic data, radio-telemetry to examine foraging and roosting behaviour, and data on diet and prey availability, we examined how big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus), a synurbic species, use an urban green space (High Park) in Canada’s largest city centre, Toronto. We found that adult males outnumbered adult females more than two to one and that males were found throughout the park, while females were concentrated in an area with greater access to water, but lower prey availability. We also found that bats of both sexes were in poorer body condition than reported for other non-urban areas, including a site within southern Ontario. Our data suggest that High Park may not provide adequate resources for reproductive females as they were never found roosting in the park and beetles, their preferred prey, were limited. Although previous studies suggest urban green spaces may offer refuge to bats, most have not considered sex-specific responses to urbanization as they have largely been based on acoustic surveys. Our study therefore highlights the importance of considering demographic differences in response to urbanization to better inform urban management plans and green space development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krista J Patriquin
- Department of Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga, 3359 Mississauga Road, William G Davis Building, Mississauga, Ontario L5L 1C6, Canada
| | - Cylita Guy
- Department of Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga, 3359 Mississauga Road, William G Davis Building, Mississauga, Ontario L5L 1C6, Canada
| | - Joshua Hinds
- Department of Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga, 3359 Mississauga Road, William G Davis Building, Mississauga, Ontario L5L 1C6, Canada
| | - John M Ratcliffe
- Department of Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga, 3359 Mississauga Road, William G Davis Building, Mississauga, Ontario L5L 1C6, Canada
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12
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Kwon Y, Doty AC, Huffman ML, Rolland V, Istvanko DR, Risch TS. Implications of forest management practices for sex-specific habitat use by Nycticeius humeralis. J Mammal 2019. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyz088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractNorth American bats are experiencing declines in part due to anthropogenic impacts resulting in habitat loss and disturbance. In eastern deciduous forests, bats rely on forest resources for all or part of the year. Therefore, to promote conservation of bats, it is essential to determine whether current forest management techniques are compatible with habitat use by bats. We evaluated the relative effect of landscape characteristics, including forest management variables, on sex-specific foraging habitat of an insectivorous forest-dwelling bat species, the evening bat (Nycticeius humeralis), and predicted areas of suitable habitat for N. humeralis. A total of 18 variables were assessed using a maximum-entropy (Maxent) machine-learning approach: eight land use–land cover classes, three stand types, two topography measures, normalized difference vegetation index, and four forest management variables. Females showed the highest probability of presence closer to stands treated with prescribed fire, whereas males showed the highest probability of presence closer to reforested stands. In general, males exhibited more flexibility than females in their habitat selection. The Maxent model further indicated that habitat associated with suitability of > 70% was ~4 times larger for males than females, and predicted an additional area of suitable foraging habitat where no presence locations had been recorded. Our modeling approach may be suitable for other researchers to derive models appropriate for a wide range of bat species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youngsang Kwon
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Anna C Doty
- Department of Biological Sciences, Arkansas State University, State University, AR, USA
| | - Megan L Huffman
- Department of Biological Sciences, Arkansas State University, State University, AR, USA
| | - Virginie Rolland
- Department of Biological Sciences, Arkansas State University, State University, AR, USA
| | | | - Thomas S Risch
- Department of Biological Sciences, Arkansas State University, State University, AR, USA
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Rocha R, Ferreira DF, López-Baucells A, Farneda FZ, Carreiras JMB, Palmeirim JM, Meyer CFJ. Does sex matter? Gender-specific responses to forest fragmentation in Neotropical bats. Biotropica 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/btp.12474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo Rocha
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes; Faculty of Sciences; University of Lisbon; 1749-016 Lisbon Portugal
- Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragments Project; National Institute for Amazonian Research and Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute; 69011-970 Manaus Brazil
- Metapopulation Research Centre; Faculty of Biosciences; University of Helsinki; FI-00014 Helsinki Finland
| | - Diogo F. Ferreira
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes; Faculty of Sciences; University of Lisbon; 1749-016 Lisbon Portugal
- Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragments Project; National Institute for Amazonian Research and Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute; 69011-970 Manaus Brazil
| | - Adrià López-Baucells
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes; Faculty of Sciences; University of Lisbon; 1749-016 Lisbon Portugal
- Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragments Project; National Institute for Amazonian Research and Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute; 69011-970 Manaus Brazil
- Museum of Natural Sciences of Granollers; Granollers Catalonia 08402 Spain
- Ecosystems and Environment Research Centre (EERC); School of Environment and Life Sciences; University of Salford; M5 4WT Salford UK
| | - Fábio Z. Farneda
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes; Faculty of Sciences; University of Lisbon; 1749-016 Lisbon Portugal
- Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragments Project; National Institute for Amazonian Research and Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute; 69011-970 Manaus Brazil
- Department of Ecology/PPGE; Federal University of Rio de Janeiro; Rio de Janeiro 21941-902 Brazil
| | - João M. B. Carreiras
- National Centre for Earth Observation (NCEO); University of Sheffield; S3 7RH Sheffield UK
| | - Jorge M. Palmeirim
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes; Faculty of Sciences; University of Lisbon; 1749-016 Lisbon Portugal
- Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragments Project; National Institute for Amazonian Research and Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute; 69011-970 Manaus Brazil
| | - Christoph F. J. Meyer
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes; Faculty of Sciences; University of Lisbon; 1749-016 Lisbon Portugal
- Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragments Project; National Institute for Amazonian Research and Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute; 69011-970 Manaus Brazil
- Ecosystems and Environment Research Centre (EERC); School of Environment and Life Sciences; University of Salford; M5 4WT Salford UK
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Ciechanowski M, Zapart A, Kokurewicz T, Rusiński M, Lazarus M. Habitat selection of the pond bat (Myotis dasycneme) during pregnancy and lactation in northern Poland. J Mammal 2017. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyw108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
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15
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Fensome AG, Mathews F. Roads and bats: a meta-analysis and review of the evidence on vehicle collisions and barrier effects. Mamm Rev 2016; 46:311-323. [PMID: 27708480 PMCID: PMC5031215 DOI: 10.1111/mam.12072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2015] [Revised: 02/25/2016] [Accepted: 03/01/2016] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Roads are a potential threat to bat conservation. In addition to the direct risk of collision of bats with vehicles, roads could pose a threat to bat populations as a result of habitat loss, degradation and fragmentation, and could act as barriers to movements of bats between habitats. We performed a systematic review of the literature and conducted meta‐analyses to assess the threat posed by roads to bats as a result of 1) collisions between bats and vehicles and 2) roads acting as barriers to movements of bats. Based on collated records of 1207 bat road casualties in Europe, we found that low‐flying species are more prone to collisions than high‐flying species, and that juveniles are more vulnerable to collisions than adults. In addition, meta‐analysis identified a significant bias towards male casualties. Casualties included rare species such as Barbastella barbastellus and geographically restricted species such as Rhinolophus species. The bias towards male casualties could be indicative of greater natal philopatry or lower dispersal among females, or of sexual segregation in habitats of varying quality, i.e. females may occupy better quality habitats than males, and road density may be lower in better quality habitats. Whether or not roads act as barriers to the movement of bats depends on a complex interplay of habitat and species‐specific behaviour. For example, the presence of favourable habitat for bats – notably woodland – was found in this review to be linked with significantly reduced barrier effects but a heightened risk of collision. Our data suggest that roads do pose a threat to bats. Future research should assess the contribution of traffic noise and street lighting to the barrier effect of roads. Where new road schemes are monitored by ecological practitioners, it is vital that consistent protocols are employed to ensure that bat activity can be compared before and after the road is built. Evidence from such research should be used to minimize the risks for bats of any roads built in the future, and to design safe crossing points for bats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy Grace Fensome
- Hatherly Laboratories, Biosciences College of Life and Environmental Sciences University of Exeter Prince of Wales Road Exeter EX4 4PS UK
| | - Fiona Mathews
- Hatherly Laboratories, Biosciences College of Life and Environmental Sciences University of Exeter Prince of Wales Road Exeter EX4 4PS UK
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16
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Lintott PR, Barlow K, Bunnefeld N, Briggs P, Gajas Roig C, Park KJ. Differential responses of cryptic bat species to the urban landscape. Ecol Evol 2016; 6:2044-52. [PMID: 27066223 PMCID: PMC4768637 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.1996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2015] [Accepted: 10/19/2015] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Urbanization is a key global driver in the modification of land use and has been linked to population declines even in widespread and relatively common species. Cities comprise a complex assortment of habitat types yet we know relatively little about the effects of their composition and spatial configuration on species distribution. Although many bat species exploit human resources, the majority of species are negatively impacted by urbanization. Here, we use data from the National Bat Monitoring Programme, a long-running citizen science scheme, to assess how two cryptic European bat species respond to the urban landscape. A total of 124 × 1 km(2) sites throughout Britain were surveyed. The landscape surrounding each site was mapped and classified into discrete biotope types (e.g., woodland). Generalized linear models were used to assess differences in the response to the urban environment between the two species, and which landscape factors were associated with the distributions of P. pipistrellus and P. pygmaeus. The relative prevalence of P. pygmaeus compared to P. pipistrellus was greater in urban landscapes with a higher density of rivers and lakes, whereas P. pipistrellus was frequently detected in landscapes comprising a high proportion of green space (e.g., parklands). Although P. pipistrellus is thought to be well adapted to the urban landscape, we found a strong negative response to urbanization at a relatively local scale (1 km), whilst P. pygmaeus was detected more regularly in wooded urban landscapes containing freshwater. These results show differential habitat use at a landscape scale of two morphologically similar species, indicating that cryptic species may respond differently to anthropogenic disturbance. Even species considered relatively common and well adapted to the urban landscape may respond negatively to the built environment highlighting the future challenges involved in maintaining biodiversity within an increasingly urbanized world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul R Lintott
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences University of Exeter Devon EX4 4PS U.K.; Biological and Environmental Sciences School of Natural Sciences University of Stirling Stirling FK9 4LA U.K
| | - Kate Barlow
- Bat Conservation Trust Quadrant House 250 Kennington Lane London SE11 5RD U.K
| | - Nils Bunnefeld
- Biological and Environmental Sciences School of Natural Sciences University of Stirling Stirling FK9 4LA U.K
| | - Philip Briggs
- Bat Conservation Trust Quadrant House 250 Kennington Lane London SE11 5RD U.K
| | - Clara Gajas Roig
- Biological and Environmental Sciences School of Natural Sciences University of Stirling Stirling FK9 4LA U.K
| | - Kirsty J Park
- Biological and Environmental Sciences School of Natural Sciences University of Stirling Stirling FK9 4LA U.K
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17
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Nardone V, Cistrone L, Di Salvo I, Ariano A, Migliozzi A, Allegrini C, Ancillotto L, Fulco A, Russo D. How to Be a Male at Different Elevations: Ecology of Intra-Sexual Segregation in the Trawling Bat Myotis daubentonii. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0134573. [PMID: 26230548 PMCID: PMC4521842 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0134573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2015] [Accepted: 07/11/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Intra-sexual segregation is a form of social segregation widespread among vertebrates. In the bat Myotis daubentonii, males are disproportionately abundant at higher elevations, while females are restricted to lower altitude. Intra-male segregation is also known to occur yet its ecological and behavioural determinants are unclear. We studied male segregation along a river in Central Italy where we tested the following predictions: 1. Upstream ( > 1000 m a.s.l.) males will rely on scarcer prey; 2. To deal with this limitation and exploit a cooler roosting environment, they will employ more prolonged and deeper torpor than downstream (< 900 m a.s.l.) males; 3. Body condition will be better in downstream males as they forage in more productive areas; 4. To cope with less predictable foraging opportunities, upstream males will use more habitat types. Consistent with our predictions, we found that prey were less common at higher altitudes, where bats exhibited prolonged and deeper torpor. Body condition was better in downstream males than in upstream males but not in all summer months. This result reflected a decrease in downstream males' body condition over the season, perhaps due to the energy costs of reduced opportunities to use torpor and/or intraspecific competition. Downstream males mainly foraged over selected riparian vegetation whereas upstream males used a greater variety of habitats. One controversial issue is whether upstream males are excluded from lower elevations by resident bats. We tested this by translocating 10 upstream males to a downstream roost: eight returned to the high elevation site in 1-2 nights, two persisted at low altitude but did not roost with resident bats. These results are consistent with the idea of segregation due to competition. Living at high altitude allows for more effective heterothermy and may thus be not detrimental for survival, but by staying at lower altitude males increase proximity to females and potentially benefit from summer mating opportunities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Nardone
- Wildlife Research Unit, Laboratorio di Ecologia Applicata, Dipartimento di Agraria, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Portici, Napoli, Italy
| | | | - Ivy Di Salvo
- Wildlife Research Unit, Laboratorio di Ecologia Applicata, Dipartimento di Agraria, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Portici, Napoli, Italy
| | - Alessandro Ariano
- Wildlife Research Unit, Laboratorio di Ecologia Applicata, Dipartimento di Agraria, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Portici, Napoli, Italy
| | - Antonello Migliozzi
- Laboratorio di Ecologia Applicata, Dipartimento di Agraria, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Portici, Napoli, Italy
| | - Claudia Allegrini
- Wildlife Research Unit, Laboratorio di Ecologia Applicata, Dipartimento di Agraria, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Portici, Napoli, Italy
- Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie “Charles Darwin”, Università degli Studi di Roma 'La Sapienza', Roma, Italy
| | - Leonardo Ancillotto
- Wildlife Research Unit, Laboratorio di Ecologia Applicata, Dipartimento di Agraria, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Portici, Napoli, Italy
- Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie “Charles Darwin”, Università degli Studi di Roma 'La Sapienza', Roma, Italy
| | - Antonio Fulco
- Wildlife Research Unit, Laboratorio di Ecologia Applicata, Dipartimento di Agraria, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Portici, Napoli, Italy
| | - Danilo Russo
- Wildlife Research Unit, Laboratorio di Ecologia Applicata, Dipartimento di Agraria, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Portici, Napoli, Italy
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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18
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Lintott PR, Bunnefeld N, Minderman J, Fuentes-Montemayor E, Mayhew RJ, Olley L, Park KJ. Differential responses to woodland character and landscape context by cryptic bats in urban environments. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0126850. [PMID: 25978034 PMCID: PMC4433195 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0126850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2015] [Accepted: 04/08/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Urbanisation is one of the most dramatic forms of land use change which relatively few species can adapt to. Determining how and why species respond differently to urban habitats is important in predicting future biodiversity loss as urban areas rapidly expand. Understanding how morphological or behavioural traits can influence species adaptability to the built environment may enable us to improve the effectiveness of conservation efforts. Although many bat species are able to exploit human resources, bat species richness generally declines with increasing urbanisation and there is considerable variation in the responses of different bat species to urbanisation. Here, we use acoustic recordings from two cryptic, and largely sympatric European bat species to assess differential responses in their use of fragmented urban woodland and the surrounding urban matrix. There was a high probability of P. pygmaeus activity relative to P. pipistrellus in woodlands with low clutter and understory cover which were surrounded by low levels of built environment. Additionally, the probability of recording P. pygmaeus relative to P. pipistrellus was considerably higher in urban woodland interior or edge habitat in contrast to urban grey or non-wooded green space. These results show differential habitat use occurring between two morphologically similar species; whilst the underlying mechanism for this partitioning is unknown it may be driven by competition avoidance over foraging resources. Their differing response to urbanisation indicates the difficulties involved when attempting to assess how adaptable a species is to urbanisation for conservation purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul R. Lintott
- Biological and Environmental Sciences, School of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, Scotland
| | - Nils Bunnefeld
- Biological and Environmental Sciences, School of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, Scotland
| | - Jeroen Minderman
- School of Biology, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Scotland
| | - Elisa Fuentes-Montemayor
- Biological and Environmental Sciences, School of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, Scotland
| | - Rebekah J. Mayhew
- Biological and Environmental Sciences, School of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, Scotland
| | - Lena Olley
- Biological and Environmental Sciences, School of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, Scotland
| | - Kirsty J. Park
- Biological and Environmental Sciences, School of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, Scotland
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19
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Ancillotto L, Tomassini A, Russo D. The fancy city life: Kuhl's pipistrelle, Pipistrellus kuhlii, benefits from urbanisation. WILDLIFE RESEARCH 2015. [DOI: 10.1071/wr15003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Context
Urbanisation is often regarded as a major threat to global biodiversity. Although wildlife is frequently affected by urbanisation, some species may actually benefit from it. Bats are among the commonest wild mammals in human-modified areas, and some species seem particularly well suited to exploit urban habitats where they find roosting and foraging opportunities.
Aims
We investigated habitat selection around roosts of synurbic Kuhl’s pipistrelles, Pipistrellus kuhlii, in Italy.
Methods
We measured the effects of the amount of urban habitat on bat reproductive timing and success in human-modified environments.
Key results
We found that P. kuhlii selects roosts surrounded by areas featuring urban habitats, especially those subject to urban development. Colonies in cities and suburbs advanced parturition time and produced more pups than those in rural areas. Permanent water sources and artificial lights in the surrounding habitats also seemed to favour the species reproductive success, particularly in developing urban areas.
Conclusions
Our results showed that this bat benefits from urbanisation and provided new insights on the effects of this major process on animal ecology and conservation in urban environments.
Implications
Although the ecological flexibility and positive response to urbanisation of P. kuhlii may help explain its recent range expansion, the role of climate change as a potential driver of this process has yet to be tested.
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