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Foysal M, Panter CT. Synergistic effects of climate and urbanisation on the diet of a globally near threatened subtropical falcon. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e70290. [PMID: 39257881 PMCID: PMC11387113 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.70290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2024] [Revised: 08/14/2024] [Accepted: 08/27/2024] [Indexed: 09/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Understanding how human activities affect wildlife is fundamental for global biodiversity conservation. Ongoing land use change and human-induced climate change, compel species to adapt their behaviour in response to shifts in their natural environments. Such responses include changes to a species' diet or trophic ecology, with implications for the wider ecosystem. This is particularly the case for predatory species or those that occupy high positions within trophic webs, such as raptors. Between 2002 and 2019, we observed 1578 feeding events of the globally near threatened and understudied, Red-necked Falcon (Falco chicquera) in Bangladesh. We explored the effects of mean monthly temperature, precipitation, temperature differences, and urban land cover on (a) mean prey weights and (b) dietary composition of 15 falcon pairs. Falcons hunted smaller prey items during months with increased temperatures and precipitation, and in more urban areas. However, during months with increased temperature differences, falcons tended to prey on larger prey items. Being specialist aerial hunters, these dietary patterns were largely driven by the probabilities of bats and birds in the diet. Falcons were more likely to prey on bats during warmer and wetter months. Furthermore, urban pairs tended to prey on bats, whereas more rural pairs tended to prey on birds. Mean monthly temperature difference, i.e., a proxy for climate change, was better at explaining the probability of bats in the falcon diet than mean monthly temperature alone. Anthropogenic dietary shifts can have deleterious effects on species with declining populations or those of conservation concern. The effects of urbanisation and human-induced climate change are expected to continue into the foreseeable future. Therefore, our findings represent a cornerstone in our understanding of how falcons respond to an increasingly human-dominated world.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Connor T Panter
- School of Geography University of Nottingham Nottingham UK
- School of Applied Sciences University of Brighton Brighton UK
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2
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Keicher L, Shipley JR, Schaeffer PJ, Dechmann DKN. Contrasting Torpor Use by Reproductive Male Common Noctule Bats in the Laboratory and in the Field. Integr Comp Biol 2023; 63:1087-1098. [PMID: 37237444 PMCID: PMC10714913 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icad040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2023] [Revised: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Metabolic processes of animals are often studied in controlled laboratory settings. However, these laboratory settings often do not reflect the animals' natural environment. Thus, results of metabolic measurements from laboratory studies must be cautiously applied to free-ranging animals. Recent technological advances in animal tracking allow detailed eco-physiological studies that reveal when, where, and how physiological measurements from the field differ from those from the laboratory. We investigated the torpor behavior of male common noctule bats (Nyctalus noctula) across different life history stages using two approaches: in controlled laboratory experiments and in the field using calibrated heart rate telemetry. We predicted that non-reproductive males would extensively use torpor to conserve energy, whereas reproductive males would reduce torpor use to promote spermatogenesis. We did not expect differences in torpor use between captive and wild animals as we simulated natural temperature conditions in the laboratory. We found that during the non-reproductive phase, both captive and free-ranging bats used torpor extensively. During reproduction, bats in captivity unexpectedly also used torpor throughout the day, while only free-ranging bats showed the expected reduction in torpor use. Thus, depending on life history stage, torpor behavior in the laboratory was markedly different from the wild. By implementing both approaches and at different life history stages, we were able to better explore the limitations of eco-physiological laboratory studies and make recommendations for when they are an appropriate proxy for natural behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara Keicher
- Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Am Obstberg 1, 78315 Radolfzell, Germany
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Universitätsstraße 10, 78457 Konstanz, Germany
| | - J Ryan Shipley
- Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow, and Landscape Research WSL, Zürcherstraße 111, Birmensdorf 8903 CH, Switzerland
| | - Paul J Schaeffer
- Department of Biology, Miami University, 700 E. High St., Oxford, OH 45056, USA
| | - Dina K N Dechmann
- Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Am Obstberg 1, 78315 Radolfzell, Germany
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Universitätsstraße 10, 78457 Konstanz, Germany
- Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour, Universitätsstraße 10, 78457 Konstanz, Germany
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3
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Stiling RR, Olden JD, Boulêtreau S, Cucherousset J, Holtgrieve GW. Global investigation of lake habitat coupling by fishes. Oecologia 2023:10.1007/s00442-023-05424-8. [PMID: 37493858 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-023-05424-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/27/2023]
Abstract
Habitat coupling, where consumers acquire resources from different habitats, plays an important role in ecosystem functioning. In this study, we provide a global investigation of lake habitat coupling by freshwater fishes between littoral (nearshore) and pelagic (open water) zones and elucidate the extent to which magnitude of coupling varies according to environmental context and consumer traits. We consider the influence of lake factors (surface area, depth, shoreline complexity, and annual temperature), relative trophic position of consumers, fish community species richness, and fish morphological traits on habitat coupling by fishes. Using a worldwide dataset consisting of fish stable isotope values (δ13C and δ15N), we developed an index of habitat coupling, and used Bayesian hierarchical and non-hierarchical beta regressions to estimate the effects of environmental lake context and morphological traits on habitat coupling by fishes. Our results show high rates of habitat coupling among fishes globally with marked taxonomic differences in the magnitude and variation. Habitat coupling was higher in lower elevation lakes and in regions characterized by relatively colder climates, whereas other environmental context factors had little or no effects on habitat coupling. Furthermore, habitat coupling was associated with several locomotion and feeding traits, but independent from species maximum body length. Overall, we highlight the prevalence of multiple resources supporting fish populations and suggest future research identify implications to ecosystem functioning that may result from alterations to habitat coupling by fishes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebekah R Stiling
- School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98105, USA.
| | - Julian D Olden
- School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98105, USA
| | - Stéphanie Boulêtreau
- Laboratoire Ecologie Fonctionnelle & Environnement, INP Toulouse, UMR 5245, CNRS, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Julien Cucherousset
- Laboratoire Evolution & Diversité Biologique, UMR 5174 EDB, CNRS, Université Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France
| | - Gordon W Holtgrieve
- School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98105, USA
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4
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Eghbali H, Sharifi M. Impacts of inter-annual climate variability on reproductive phenology and postnatal development of morphological features of three sympatric bat species. Sci Rep 2023; 13:8716. [PMID: 37248331 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-35781-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Inter-annual variation in weather conditions has been shown to affect the reproductive phenological patterns of many organisms. Because of their relatively small body size and dependence on ectothermic prey, temperate-zone insectivorous bats are particularly sensitive to adverse spring environmental conditions that affect the duration of gestation and timing of parturition in these animals. This study aimed to compare phenological recruitment, birth seasonality and synchrony and morphological changes during postnatal growth in Rhinolophus euryale, Rhinolophus ferrumequinum and Myotis emarginatus in two consecutive years representing a typical dry (2015) and an extremely wet climatic event (2016) in a nursing colony in Kerend cave, western Iran. Females of these three bat species arrived from their wintering cave to the nursing colony in late April to mid-May each year. Synchrony of parturition as defined by amount clustering of births within a year assessed by circular statistics showed that for R. euryale and R. ferrumequinum the angular variance in dry year were significantly (P < 0.05) lower than in wet year, indicating a low level of synchrony in 2016. Similar comparison showed that births from M. emarginatus were highly synchrony, and there were no significant differences in timing of births among years (P > 0.05). Generalized estimating equation (GEE) for R. euryale indicated that for body mass and forearm length tests of parallelism (interaction term or growth rate) and tests for equal intercepts (y-intercepts or group term) were significant (P < 0.001). In R. ferrumequinum, the initial (y-intercepts) forearm length and body mass were not significantly (P > 0.05) different between the 2 years, but the tests for parallelism showed a significant decrease in growth rates of body mass and forearm length in the wet year (P < 0.05). Similar comparison in M. emarginatus indicated that for body mass, tests of parallelism were significantly different (P = 0.004), while tests for equal intercepts were not (P = 0.23). Our results suggest that climate changes may have unequal effects on different bat species due to differences in foraging habitat, niche partitioning, reproductive requirements and foraging strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hojjat Eghbali
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran.
| | - Mozafar Sharifi
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran
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5
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Guo W, Li Z, Liu T, Feng J. Effects of Climate Change on the Distribution of Threatened Fishing Bat Myotis pilosus in China. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:1784. [PMID: 37889742 PMCID: PMC10251902 DOI: 10.3390/ani13111784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Revised: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Climate change and biodiversity loss are two severe challenges that the world is facing. Studying the distribution shifts of species in response to climate change could provide insights into long-term conservation and biodiversity maintenance. Myotis pilosus is the only known fishing bat in East Asia, whereas its population has been decreasing in recent years and it is listed as a "Vulnerable" species. To assess the impact of climate change on the distribution of M. pilosus, we obtained 33 M. pilosus occurrence records within China where they are mainly distributed, and extracted 30 environmental variables. MaxEnt was applied to assess the habitat suitability, recognize the important environmental variables, predict future distribution changes, and identify the potential future climate refugia. The prediction result based on eleven dominant environmental variables was excellent. The Jackknife test showed that the "minimum temperature of coldest month", "precipitation of wettest quarter", "percent tree cover", and "precipitation of driest month" were the main factors affecting the distribution of M. pilosus. The current suitable areas were predicted to be mainly located in southwest and southeast China with a total area of about 160.54 × 104 km2, accounting for 16.72% of China's land area. Based on the CCSM4, it was predicted that the future (2050 and 2070) suitable areas of M. pilosus will expand and shift to high latitudes and altitudes with global warming, but the area of moderately and highly suitable habitats will be small. Considering the dispersal capacity of M. pilosus, the area of colonized suitable habitats in 2050 and 2070 was predicted to be only ca. 94 × 104 km2 and 155 × 104 km2, respectively. The central and southern parts of Hainan, southern Guangdong, central Guizhou, and southern Beijing were identified as potential climate refugia and could be considered as priority conservation areas for M. pilosus. Thus, we suggest long-term monitoring of the priority conservation areas, especially the areas at high latitudes and altitudes. These results contribute to our knowledge of the possible spatial distribution pattern of M. pilosus under current and future climate scenarios, which is important for the population protection and habitat management of this special piscivorous bat species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Guo
- College of Life Science, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
| | - Zixuan Li
- College of Life Science, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
| | - Tong Liu
- College of Life Science, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
| | - Jiang Feng
- College of Life Science, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resource Conservation and Utilization, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130117, China
- Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology of Education Ministry, Institute of Grassland Science, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China
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6
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Festa F, Ancillotto L, Santini L, Pacifici M, Rocha R, Toshkova N, Amorim F, Benítez-López A, Domer A, Hamidović D, Kramer-Schadt S, Mathews F, Radchuk V, Rebelo H, Ruczynski I, Solem E, Tsoar A, Russo D, Razgour O. Bat responses to climate change: a systematic review. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2023; 98:19-33. [PMID: 36054527 PMCID: PMC10087939 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Understanding how species respond to climate change is key to informing vulnerability assessments and designing effective conservation strategies, yet research efforts on wildlife responses to climate change fail to deliver a representative overview due to inherent biases. Bats are a species-rich, globally distributed group of organisms that are thought to be particularly sensitive to the effects of climate change because of their high surface-to-volume ratios and low reproductive rates. We systematically reviewed the literature on bat responses to climate change to provide an overview of the current state of knowledge, identify research gaps and biases and highlight future research needs. We found that studies are geographically biased towards Europe, North America and Australia, and temperate and Mediterranean biomes, thus missing a substantial proportion of bat diversity and thermal responses. Less than half of the published studies provide concrete evidence for bat responses to climate change. For over a third of studied bat species, response evidence is only based on predictive species distribution models. Consequently, the most frequently reported responses involve range shifts (57% of species) and changes in patterns of species diversity (26%). Bats showed a variety of responses, including both positive (e.g. range expansion and population increase) and negative responses (range contraction and population decrease), although responses to extreme events were always negative or neutral. Spatial responses varied in their outcome and across families, with almost all taxonomic groups featuring both range expansions and contractions, while demographic responses were strongly biased towards negative outcomes, particularly among Pteropodidae and Molossidae. The commonly used correlative modelling approaches can be applied to many species, but do not provide mechanistic insight into behavioural, physiological, phenological or genetic responses. There was a paucity of experimental studies (26%), and only a small proportion of the 396 bat species covered in the examined studies were studied using long-term and/or experimental approaches (11%), even though they are more informative about the effects of climate change. We emphasise the need for more empirical studies to unravel the multifaceted nature of bats' responses to climate change and the need for standardised study designs that will enable synthesis and meta-analysis of the literature. Finally, we stress the importance of overcoming geographic and taxonomic disparities through strengthening research capacity in the Global South to provide a more comprehensive view of terrestrial biodiversity responses to climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Festa
- Laboratory of Emerging Viral Zoonoses, Research and Innovation Department, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, 35020, Legnaro, Italy
| | - Leonardo Ancillotto
- Wildlife Research Unit, Dipartimento di Agraria, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, via Università, 100, 80055, Portici, Napoli, Italy
| | - Luca Santini
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies "Charles Darwin", Sapienza University of Rome, Viale dell'Università, 32, Rome, 00185, Italy
| | - Michela Pacifici
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies "Charles Darwin", Sapienza University of Rome, Viale dell'Università, 32, Rome, 00185, Italy
| | - Ricardo Rocha
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Universidade do Porto, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal.,CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de Lisboa, 1349-017, Lisbon, Portugal.,BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal
| | - Nia Toshkova
- Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 1 Tsar Osvoboditel Blvd, 1000, Sofia, Bulgaria.,National Museum of Natural History at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 1 Tsar Osvoboditel Blvd, 1000, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Francisco Amorim
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Universidade do Porto, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal.,CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de Lisboa, 1349-017, Lisbon, Portugal.,BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal
| | - Ana Benítez-López
- Integrative Ecology Group, Estación Biológica de Doñana, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Cartuja TA-10, Edificio I, C. Américo Vespucio, s/n, 41092, Sevilla, Spain.,Department of Zoology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Granada, Campus Universitario de Cartuja, Calle Prof. Vicente Callao, 3, 18011, Granada, Spain
| | - Adi Domer
- Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O. Box 653, Beer-Sheva, 8410501, Israel
| | - Daniela Hamidović
- Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development, Institute for Environment and Nature, Radnička cesta 80, HR-10000, Zagreb, Croatia.,Croatian Biospelological Society, Rooseveltov trg 6, HR-10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Stephanie Kramer-Schadt
- Department of Ecological Dynamics, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Straße 17, 10315, Berlin, Germany.,Institute of Ecology, Technische Universität Berlin, Rothenburgstr. 12, 12165, Berlin, Germany
| | - Fiona Mathews
- University of Sussex, John Maynard Smith Building, Falmer, Brighton, BN1 9RH, UK
| | - Viktoriia Radchuk
- Department of Ecological Dynamics, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Straße 17, 10315, Berlin, Germany
| | - Hugo Rebelo
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Universidade do Porto, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal.,CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de Lisboa, 1349-017, Lisbon, Portugal.,BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal
| | - Ireneusz Ruczynski
- Mammal Research Institute Polish Academy of Sciences, Stoczek 1, 17-230, Białowieża, Poland
| | - Estelle Solem
- Department of Ecological Dynamics, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Straße 17, 10315, Berlin, Germany
| | - Asaf Tsoar
- Israel Nature and Parks Authority, Southern District Omer Industrial Park, P.O. Box 302, Omer, Israel
| | - Danilo Russo
- Wildlife Research Unit, Dipartimento di Agraria, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, via Università, 100, 80055, Portici, Napoli, Italy
| | - Orly Razgour
- Biosciences, University of Exeter, Streatham Campus, Hatherly Laboratories, Prince of Wales Road, Exeter, EX4 4PS, UK
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7
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Balzer EW, McBurney TS, Broders HG. Little brown Myotis roosts are spatially associated with foraging resources on Prince Edward Island. WILDLIFE SOC B 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/wsb.1405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Evan W. Balzer
- University of Waterloo 200 University Avenue West Waterloo ON N2L 3G2 Canada
| | - Tessa S. McBurney
- Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative, Atlantic Region, Atlantic Veterinary College University of Prince Edward Island 550 University Avenue Charlottetown PE C1A 4P3 Canada
| | - Hugh G. Broders
- University of Waterloo 200 University Avenue West Waterloo ON N2L 3G2 Canada
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8
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Davy CM, von Zuben V, Kukka PM, Gerber BD, Slough BG, Jung TS. Rapidly declining body size in an insectivorous bat is associated with increased precipitation and decreased survival. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2022; 32:e2639. [PMID: 35443093 PMCID: PMC10078423 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2021] [Revised: 02/06/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Reduced food availability is implicated in declines in avian aerial insectivores, but the effect of nutritional stress on mammalian aerial insectivores is unclear. Unlike birds, insectivorous bats provision their young through lactation, which might protect nursing juveniles when prey availability is low but could increase the energetic burden on lactating females. We analyzed a 15-year capture-mark-recapture data set from 5312 individual little brown myotis (Myotis lucifugus) captured at 11 maternity colonies in northwestern Canada, to test the hypothesis that nutritional stress is impacting these mammalian aerial insectivores. We used long-bone (forearm [FA]) length as a proxy for relative access to nutrition during development, and body mass as a proxy for access to nutrition prior to capture. Average FA length and body mass both decreased significantly over the study period in adult females and juveniles, suggesting decreased access to nutrition. Effect sizes were very small, similar to those reported for declining body size in avian aerial insectivores. Declines in juvenile body mass were only observed in individuals captured in late summer when they were foraging independently, supporting our hypothesis that lactation provides some protection to nursing young during periods of nutritional stress. Potential drivers of the decline in bat size include one or both of (1) declining insect (prey) abundance, and (2) declining prey availability. Echolocating insectivorous bats cannot forage effectively during rainfall, which is increasing in our study area. The body mass of captured adult females and juveniles in our study was lower, on average, after periods of high rainfall, and higher after warmer-than-average periods. Finally, survival models revealed a positive association between FA length and survival, suggesting a fitness consequence to declines in body size. Our study area has not yet been impacted by bat white-nose syndrome (WNS), but research elsewhere has suggested that fatter bats are more likely to survive infection. We found evidence for WNS-independent shifts in the body size of little brown myotis, which can inform studies investigating population responses to WNS. More broadly, the cumulative effects of multiple stressors (e.g., disease, nutritional stress, climate change, and other pressures) on mammalian aerial insectivores require urgent attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina M. Davy
- Department of BiologyTrent UniversityPeterboroughOntarioCanada
- Wildlife Research and Monitoring SectionOntario Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and ForestryPeterboroughOntarioCanada
- Department of BiologyCarleton UniversityOttawaOntarioCanada
| | - Valerie von Zuben
- Wildlife Research and Monitoring SectionOntario Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and ForestryPeterboroughOntarioCanada
| | - Piia M. Kukka
- Department of EnvironmentGovernment of YukonWhitehorseYukon TerritoryCanada
| | - Brian D. Gerber
- Department of Natural Resources ScienceUniversity of Rhode IslandKingstonRhode IslandUSA
| | | | - Thomas S. Jung
- Department of EnvironmentGovernment of YukonWhitehorseYukon TerritoryCanada
- Department of Renewable ResourcesUniversity of AlbertaEdmontonAlbertaCanada
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9
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Andrews PT, Andrews MM, McOwat TP, Culyer P, Haycock RJ, Haycock AN, Harries DJ, Andrews NP, Stebbings RE. Foraging Time and Temperature Affected Birth Timing of Rhinolophus ferrumequinum and Predicted Year-To-Year Changes for 25 Years in a Population in West Wales, U.K. ACTA CHIROPTEROLOGICA 2022. [DOI: 10.3161/15081109acc2022.24.1.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Peter T. Andrews
- Department of Physics, Liverpool University, Liverpool L69 5BX, United Kingdom
| | - Margaret M. Andrews
- Liverpool John Moores University, Byrom Street, Liverpool L3 3AF, United Kingdom
| | - Thomas P. McOwat
- 19 Parc Puw, Drefach Velindre, Llandysul, Wales, SA44 5UZ, United Kingdom
| | - Paul Culyer
- Natural Resources Wales, Stackpole, Wales, SA71 5DQ, United Kingdom
| | - Robert J. Haycock
- CCW, Stackpole, 1 Rushmoor Martletwy, Pembrokeshire, Wales, SA67 8BB, United Kingdom
| | - Ann N. Haycock
- 1 Rushmoor Martletwy, Pembrokeshire, Wales, SA67 8BB, United Kingdom
| | - David J. Harries
- Somerton Cottage, Hundleton, Pembrokeshire, Wales, SA71 5RX, United Kingdom
| | | | - Robert E. Stebbings
- ITE, Willowbrook House, 76 Park Street, King's Cliffe, Peterborough, PE8 6XN, United Kingdom
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10
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Balzer EW, Grottoli AD, Burns LE, Broders HG. Active season body mass patterns of little brown and northern myotis bats. Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Evan W. Balzer
- Department of Biology University of Waterloo Waterloo Ontario Canada
| | - Adam D. Grottoli
- Department of Biology University of Waterloo Waterloo Ontario Canada
| | - Lynne E. Burns
- Environment and Climate Change Canada Edmonton Alberta Canada
| | - Hugh G. Broders
- Department of Biology University of Waterloo Waterloo Ontario Canada
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11
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Zukalova K, Seidlova V, Piacek V, Nemcova M, Pribyl M, Pikula J, Zukal J. One or two pups - optimal reproduction strategies of common noctule females. BMC ZOOL 2022; 7:18. [PMID: 37170295 PMCID: PMC10127298 DOI: 10.1186/s40850-022-00119-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The success of animal reproduction is impacted by a trade-off between energetic costs and mortality associated with immediate vs. future reproductive attempts. The reproductive strategies of European insectivorous bats differ from common mammalian standards due to the use of delayed fertilisation. Phenology of bat reproduction, including length of pregnancy, which may vary in the same species at different latitudes, between years at the same site or between individuals within a colony, is influenced by ecological conditions. To assess factors influencing the course of pregnancy, we evaluated levels of blood progesterone in 20 female common noctule bats Nyctalus noctula. The bats were individually tagged and randomly divided into two groups with different hibernation ending points (i.e. a control group vs. a treatment group with one-week longer hibernation). Following emergence from hibernation, the bats were kept in a wooden box at a stable temperature of 22 °C. RESULTS The majority of females gave birth to a single neonate (65%), but one female aborted her pups 2 days before the first successful births of other females. Based on development of progesterone concentration, we were able to define a number of different reproduction strategies, i.e. females with single offspring or twins, and females with supposed resorption of one embryo (embryonic mortality after implantation of the developing fertilised egg). Progesterone levels were much higher in females with two embryos during the first part of gestation and after birth. Progesterone levels were at their highest mid-gestation, with no difference between females carrying one or two foetuses. Length of gestation differed significantly between the two groups, with the longer hibernation (treatment) group having a roughly two-day shorter gestation period. CONCLUSIONS Female N. noctula are able to manipulate their litter size to balance immediate and future reproduction success. The estimated gestation length of approx. 49-days appears to be standard for N. noctula, with females optimising their thermoregulatory behaviour to keep the length of gestation as close to the standard as possible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katerina Zukalova
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Zoo Animals, Game, Fish and Bees, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Palackého tř. 1946/1, 612 42, Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Veronika Seidlova
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Zoo Animals, Game, Fish and Bees, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Palackého tř. 1946/1, 612 42, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Vladimir Piacek
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Zoo Animals, Game, Fish and Bees, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Palackého tř. 1946/1, 612 42, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Monika Nemcova
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Zoo Animals, Game, Fish and Bees, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Palackého tř. 1946/1, 612 42, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Michal Pribyl
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Zoo Animals, Game, Fish and Bees, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Palackého tř. 1946/1, 612 42, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jiri Pikula
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Zoo Animals, Game, Fish and Bees, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Palackého tř. 1946/1, 612 42, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Zukal
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Květná 8, 603 65, Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 267/2, 611 37, Brno, Czech Republic
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12
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Faria S, Barros P, Bacelar E, Santos M, Carvalho D, Vale-Gonçalves H, Braz L, Travassos P, Cabral JA. A seasonal multi-level trophic approach for bat habitat suitability assessments in peri-urban deciduous forests. EUR J WILDLIFE RES 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10344-022-01560-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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13
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Stapelfeldt B, Scheuerlein A, Tress C, Koch R, Tress J, Kerth G. Precipitation during two weeks in spring influences reproductive success of first-year females in the long-lived Natterer's bat. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2022; 9:211881. [PMID: 35223067 PMCID: PMC8847888 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.211881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/07/2022] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Bats are characterized by low reproductive rates in contrast with most of other small mammals. This makes their populations vulnerable when inclement environmental conditions such as cold and rainy weather impair the reproductive success of females. The fine-scale effect of weather on bats, however, remains largely unknown. Using a sliding window analysis approach on an 18-year individualized dataset on six Natterer's bat (Myotis nattereri) colonies, we investigated the effect of fine-scale weather conditions on age-specific reproductive success. We found that increased precipitation during a short time window in spring strongly reduced the probability of successful reproduction of first-year (FY) females. Our data suggest that this time window is concomitant with implantation or early pregnancy, before substantial investment into embryo development. In addition, larger FY had higher reproductive success, suggesting that reproduction may be condition dependent in young females. Reproductive success of older females was not affected by either weather or individual parameters. Our results show that changes in precipitation pattern may compromise the reproductive success of FY females. Further studies are needed to better understand the impact of weather conditions on reproductive success in long-lived bats under climate change scenarios.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bianca Stapelfeldt
- Universität Greifswald Zoologisches Institut und Museum, Greifswald Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany
| | - Alexander Scheuerlein
- Universität Greifswald Zoologisches Institut und Museum, Greifswald Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany
| | | | - Ralf Koch
- Naturpark Nossentiner/Schwinzer Heide, Germany
| | - Johannes Tress
- Fledermausforschungsprojekt Wooster Teerofen e.V., Germany
| | - Gerald Kerth
- Universität Greifswald Zoologisches Institut und Museum, Greifswald Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany
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14
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Meier F, Grosche L, Reusch C, Runkel V, van Schaik J, Kerth G. Long-term individualized monitoring of sympatric bat species reveals distinct species- and demographic differences in hibernation phenology. BMC Ecol Evol 2022; 22:7. [PMID: 35090401 PMCID: PMC8796590 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-022-01962-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Hibernation allows species to conserve energy and thereby bridge unfavorable environmental conditions. At the same time, hibernation imposes substantial ecological and physiological costs. Understanding how hibernation timing differs within and between species can provide insights into the underlying drivers of this trade-off. However, this requires individualized long-term data that are often unavailable. Here, we used automatic monitoring techniques and a reproducible analysis pipeline to assess the individualized hibernation phenology of two sympatric bat species. Our study is based on data of more than 1100 RFID-tagged Daubenton’s bats (Myotis daubentonii) and Natterer’s bats (Myotis nattereri) collected over seven years at a hibernaculum in Germany. We used linear mixed models to analyze species-, sex- and age-specific differences in entrance, emergence and duration of the longest continuous period spent in the hibernaculum. Results Overall, Daubenton’s bats entered the hibernaculum earlier and emerged later than Natterer’s bats, resulting in a nearly twice as long hibernation duration. In both species, adult females entered earlier and emerged from hibernation later than adult males. Hibernation duration was shorter for juveniles than adults with the exception of adult male Natterer’s bats whose hibernation duration was shortest of all classes. Finally, hibernation timing differed among years, but yearly variations in entrance and emergence timing were not equally shifted in both species. Conclusions Our results suggest that even in sympatric species, and across sex and age classes, hibernation timing may be differentially affected by environmental conditions. This highlights the necessity of using individualized information when studying the impact of changing environments on hibernation phenology. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12862-022-01962-6.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frauke Meier
- Zoological Institute and Museum, Applied Zoology and Nature Conservation, Greifswald University, Greifswald, Germany.
| | - Leo Grosche
- Zoological Institute and Museum, Applied Zoology and Nature Conservation, Greifswald University, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Christine Reusch
- Zoological Institute and Museum, Applied Zoology and Nature Conservation, Greifswald University, Greifswald, Germany.,Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany
| | - Volker Runkel
- BVF Bundesverband für Fledermauskunde Deutschland e.V., Erfurt, Germany
| | - Jaap van Schaik
- Zoological Institute and Museum, Applied Zoology and Nature Conservation, Greifswald University, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Gerald Kerth
- Zoological Institute and Museum, Applied Zoology and Nature Conservation, Greifswald University, Greifswald, Germany
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15
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Timing and Weather Offer Alternative Mitigation Strategies for Lowering Bat Mortality at Wind Energy Facilities in Ontario. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11123503. [PMID: 34944278 PMCID: PMC8698177 DOI: 10.3390/ani11123503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Revised: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Wind farms represent one of the largest sources of anthropogenic mortality for bats. Wind proponents attempt to mitigate these effects via operational curtailment, such that wind energy is not produced on nights with low wind speeds during the late summer and fall. Our study modeled bat activity and mortality on two timescales (nightly and seasonally) and in response to a range of weather variables. We showed that bat mortality risks could be lowered and opportunities for wind energy production can be increased by focusing curtailment efforts to the periods of the night and year when bats are most active and by considering a wider range of weather variables, compared to standard curtailment strategies. Abstract Relatively high mortality of migratory bats at wind energy facilities has prompted research to understand the underlying spatial and temporal factors, with the goal of developing more effective mitigation approaches. We examined acoustic recordings of echolocation calls at 12 sites and post-construction carcass survey data collected at 10 wind energy facilities in Ontario, Canada, to quantify the degree to which timing and regional-scale weather predict bat activity and mortality. Rain and low temperatures consistently predicted low mortality and activity of big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus) and three species of migratory tree bats: hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus), eastern red bat (L. borealis), and silver-haired bat (Lasionycteris noctivagans). Bat activity occurred in waves with distinct peaks through the season; regardless of seasonal timing, most activities occurred in the first half of the night. We conclude that wind energy facilities could adopt a novel and more effective curtailment strategy based on weather and seasonal and nocturnal timing that would minimize mortality risks for bats while increasing the opportunities for power generation, relative to the mitigation strategy of increasing cut-in wind speed to 5.5 m/s.
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16
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Shute KE, Loeb SC, Jachowski DS. Seasonal Shifts in Nocturnal Habitat Use by Coastal Bat Species. J Wildl Manage 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.22060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kyle E. Shute
- Department of Forestry and Environmental Conservation Clemson University 261 Lehotsky Hall Clemson SC 29631 USA
| | - Susan C. Loeb
- USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station, 233 Lehotsky Hall Clemson University Clemson SC 29631 USA
| | - David S. Jachowski
- Department of Forestry and Environmental Conservation Clemson University 261 Lehotsky Hall Clemson SC 29631 USA
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17
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Węgiel A, Grzywiński W, Kosicki JZ, Tryjanowski P, Nowak J, Węgiel J. Long-term population trends of Rhinolophus hipposideros and Myotis myotis in Poland. THE EUROPEAN ZOOLOGICAL JOURNAL 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/24750263.2021.2006324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- A. Węgiel
- Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Poland
| | - W. Grzywiński
- Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Poland
| | - J. Z. Kosicki
- Department of Avian Biology & Ecology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poland
| | - P. Tryjanowski
- Institute of Zoology, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Poland
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Czech Republic
| | | | - J. Węgiel
- Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Poland
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18
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Eghbali H, Sharifi M. Comparing longitudinal and cross-sectional sampling methods on growth variables and age estimation: lessons from postnatal growth of the Geoffroy’s bat, Myotis emarginatus. MAMMAL RES 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s13364-020-00516-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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19
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Bartra Cabré L, Mayer M, Steyaert S, Rosell F. Beaver (Castor fiber) activity and spatial movement in response to light and weather conditions. Mamm Biol 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s42991-020-00029-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
AbstractAnimal behaviour can affect individual fitness and is influenced by exogenous and endogenous factors. Here, we investigated how light (daylight length and moonlight), weather (precipitation and temperature), age, sex and social status affected activity and movement of a semiaquatic mammal, the Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber), using GPS relocation data from 47 individuals in south-eastern Norway. Independent of daylight length, beavers had a mean daily activity time of 9:42 h and reduced their activity periods when they were older, most likely due to senescence. In line with this, older individuals also spent less time in water and moved shorter distances. Furthermore, beavers reduced their activity periods in drier weather conditions and spent less time on land during brighter nights and drier conditions, indicating a predation risk avoidance strategy. Individuals spent less time in the water during the colder parts of the year and moved shorter distances with decreasing temperature, suggesting thermal constraints. Our study adds to the increasing amount of evidence that animal behaviour is modulated by various endogenous and exogenous factors, and that weather conditions can affect their behaviour. It remains to be tested, however, how climate variability together with hunting and predation pressure affect space use and demography in species such as the Eurasian beaver.
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20
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Johnson JS, Treanor JJ, Slusher AC, Lacki MJ. Buildings provide vital habitat for little brown myotis (
Myotis lucifugus
) in a high‐elevation landscape. Ecosphere 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.2925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Joseph S. Johnson
- Department of Biological Sciences Ohio University Athens Ohio 45701 USA
| | - John J. Treanor
- United States National Park Service Yellowstone National Park Wyoming 82190 USA
| | - Alexandra C. Slusher
- Department of Forestry and Natural Resources University of Kentucky Lexington Kentucky 40546 USA
| | - Michael J. Lacki
- Department of Forestry and Natural Resources University of Kentucky Lexington Kentucky 40546 USA
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21
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Eghbali H, Sharifi M. Birth synchrony and postnatal growth in
Rhinolophus ferrumequinum
(Chiroptera: Rhinolophidae) in two successive dry (2015) and wet year (2016) in a nursing colony in Kerend cave, western Iran. Ecol Res 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/1440-1703.12046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hojjat Eghbali
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science Razi University Kermanshah Iran
| | - Mozafar Sharifi
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science Razi University Kermanshah Iran
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22
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Appel G, López-Baucells A, Magnusson WE, Bobrowiec PED. Temperature, rainfall, and moonlight intensity effects on activity of tropical insectivorous bats. J Mammal 2019. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyz140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Abstract
The extrinsic factors that most influence animal activity are weather and light conditions, which can be assessed at hourly, monthly, and even lunar-cycle timescales. We evaluated the responses of tropical aerial-insectivorous bats to temperature, rainfall, and moonlight intensity within and among nights. Temperature positively affected the activity of two species (Cormura brevirostris and Saccopteryx bilineata). Moonlight reduced Myotis riparius activity and increased the activity of Pteronotus rubiginosus and S. leptura. Rainfall can promote an irregular activity peak during the night compared to nights without rainfall, but the bats in our study were not active for a longer time after a rainfall event. Our findings indicate that moonlight and temperature are the variables with the highest impact on the activity of tropical insectivorous bat species and that some species are sensitive to small variations in rainfall among and within nights.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulliana Appel
- Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia, Programa de Pós-graduação em Ecologia, Manaus, Brazil
| | - Adrià López-Baucells
- Center for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, University of Lisbon, Campo Grande, Portugal
- Granollers Museum of Natural Sciences, c/Palaudàries, Granollers, Spain
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23
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Besler NK, Broders HG. Combinations of reproductive, individual, and weather effects best explain torpor patterns among female little brown bats ( Myotis lucifugus). Ecol Evol 2019; 9:5158-5171. [PMID: 31110669 PMCID: PMC6509385 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.5091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2018] [Revised: 12/07/2018] [Accepted: 02/25/2019] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Heterothermic mammals can use torpor, a state of metabolic suppression, to conserve energy during times of limited food and poor environmental conditions. Females may use torpor throughout gestation and lactation; however, there are associated physiological and ecological costs with potential fitness consequences. Previous studies have controlled for, but not quantified the impact of interindividual variation on torpor patterns and understanding this may provide insight on why certain thermoregulatory responses are employed. The objective of this study was to identify and quantitatively characterize the intrinsic variables and weather conditions that best explain variation in torpor patterns among individual female little brown bats, Myotis lucifugus. We used temperature-sensitive radio-transmitters affixed to females to measure skin temperature patterns of 35 individuals roosting in bat boxes in the spring and summer. We used Bayesian multi-model inference to rank a priori-selected models and variables based on their explanatory power. Reproductive condition and interindividual effects best explained torpor duration and depth, and weather best explained torpor frequency. Of the reproductive conditions, lactating females used torpor for the shortest durations and at shallower depths (i.e., smallest drop in minimum T sk), while females in early spring (i.e., not-obviously-pregnant) used torpor for the longest and deepest. Among individuals, the greatest difference in effects on duration occurred between pregnant individuals, suggesting interindividual variation within reproductive condition. Increases in precipitation and wind were associated with a higher probability of torpor use. Our results provide further support that multiple variables explain torpor patterns and highlight the importance of including individual effects when studying thermoregulatory patterns in heterothermic species. OPEN RESEARCH BADGES This article has earned an Open Data Badge for making publicly available the digitally-shareable data necessary to reproduce the reported results. The data is available at https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.c04tj85.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole K. Besler
- Department of BiologySaint Mary's UniversityHalifaxNova ScotiaCanada
| | - Hugh G. Broders
- Department of BiologyUniversity of WaterlooWaterlooOntarioCanada
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24
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Ribeiro J, Staudacher C, Martins CM, Ullmann LS, Ferreira F, Araujo JP, Biondo AW. Bat rabies surveillance and risk factors for rabies spillover in an urban area of Southern Brazil. BMC Vet Res 2018; 14:173. [PMID: 29859078 PMCID: PMC5984753 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-018-1485-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2016] [Accepted: 05/03/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bat rabies surveillance data and risk factors for rabies spillover without human cases have been evaluated in Curitiba, the ninth biggest city in Brazil, during a 6-year period (2010-2015). A retrospective analysis of bat complaints, bat species identification and rabies testing of bats, dogs and cats has been performed using methodologies of seasonal decomposition, spatial distribution and kernel density analysis. RESULTS Overall, a total of 1003 requests for bat removal have been attended to, and 806 bats were collected in 606 city locations. Bat species were identified among 13 genera of three families, with a higher frequency of Nyctinomops in the central-northern region and Molossidae scattered throughout city limits. Out of the bats captured alive, 419/806 (52.0%) healthy bats were released due to absence of human or animal contacts. The remaining 387/806 (48.0%) bats were sent for euthanasia and rabies testing, which resulted in 9/387 (2.32%) positives. Linear regression has shown an increase on sample numbers tested over time (regression: y = 2.02 + 0.17×; p < 0.001 and r2 = 0.29), as well as significant seasonal variation, which increases in January and decreases in May, June and July. The Kernel density analysis showed the center-northern city area to be statistically important, and the southern region had no tested samples within the period. In addition, a total of 4769 random and suspicious samples were sent for rabies diagnosis including those from dogs, cats, bats and others from 2007 to 2015. While all 2676 dog brains tested negative, only 1/1136 (0.088%) cat brains tested positive for rabies. CONCLUSION Only non-hematophagous bats were collected during the study, and the highest frequency of collections occurred in the center-northern region of the city. Rabies spillover from bats to cats may be more likely due to the registered exposure associated with cats' innate hunting habits, predisposing them to even closer contact with potentially infected bats. Although associated with a very low frequency of rabies, cats should always be included in rabies surveillance and vaccination programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliano Ribeiro
- Graduate Program in Cellular and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Parana, Curitiba, Paraná 81531-990 Brazil
| | - Claudia Staudacher
- Zoonoses Control Center, City Secretary of Health, Curitiba, Paraná 80060-130 Brazil
| | - Camila Marinelli Martins
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, 05508-270 Brazil
| | - Leila Sabrina Ullmann
- UNESP – Univ. Estadual Paulista, Campus de Botucatu, Institute of Biotechnology, Botucatu, São Paulo, Botucatu, São Paulo 18607-440 Brazil
| | - Fernando Ferreira
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, 05508-270 Brazil
| | - João Pessoa Araujo
- UNESP – Univ. Estadual Paulista, Campus de Botucatu, Institute of Biotechnology, Botucatu, São Paulo, Botucatu, São Paulo 18607-440 Brazil
| | - Alexander Welker Biondo
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Paraná, Rua dos Funcionários, 1540, Curitiba, Paraná 80035-050 Brazil
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25
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Linton DM, Macdonald DW. Spring weather conditions influence breeding phenology and reproductive success in sympatric bat populations. J Anim Ecol 2018; 87:1080-1090. [PMID: 29635800 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.12832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2017] [Accepted: 03/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Climate is known to influence breeding phenology and reproductive success in temperate-zone bats, but long-term population level studies and interspecific comparisons are rare. Investigating the extent to which intrinsic (i.e. age), and extrinsic (i.e. spring weather conditions), factors influence such key demographic parameters as the proportion of females becoming pregnant, or completing lactation, each breeding season, is vital to understanding of bat population ecology and life-history traits. Using data from 12 breeding seasons (2006-2017), encompassing the reproductive histories of 623 Myotis daubentonii and 436 Myotis nattereri adult females, we compare rates of recruitment to the breeding population and show that these species differ in their relative sensitivity to environmental conditions and climatic variation, affecting annual reproductive success at the population level. We demonstrate that (1) spring weather conditions influence breeding phenology, with warm, dry and calm conditions leading to earlier parturition dates and advanced juvenile development, whilst cold, wet and windy weather delays birth timing and juvenile growth; (2) reproductive rates in first-year females are influenced by spring weather conditions in that breeding season and in the preceding breeding season when each cohort was born. Pregnancy and lactation rates were both higher when favourable spring foraging conditions were more prevalent; (3) reproductive success increases with age in both species, but at different rates; (4) reproductive rates were consistently higher, and showed less interannual variation, in second-year and older M. daubentonii (mean 91.55% ± 0.05 SD) than M. nattereri (mean 72.74% ± 0.15 SD); (5) estimates of reproductive success at the population level were highly correlated with the size of the juvenile cohort recorded each breeding season. Improving understanding of the influence of environmental conditions, especially extreme climatic fluctuations, and the identification of critical periods (i.e. spring for reproductive female bats in temperate zones), which have disproportionate and lasting impacts on breeding phenology and reproductive success at a population level, is critical for improving predictions of the likely impact of climate change on bat populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle M Linton
- Department of Zoology, Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU), The Recanati-Kaplan Centre, University of Oxford, Tubney, UK
| | - David W Macdonald
- Department of Zoology, Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU), The Recanati-Kaplan Centre, University of Oxford, Tubney, UK
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26
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Law BS, Chidel M, Law PR. Forest bat population dynamics over 14 years at a climate refuge: Effects of timber harvesting and weather extremes. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0191471. [PMID: 29444115 PMCID: PMC5812568 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0191471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2017] [Accepted: 12/05/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Long-term data are needed to explore the interaction of weather extremes with habitat alteration; in particular, can 'refugia' buffer population dynamics against climate change and are they robust to disturbances such as timber harvesting. Because forest bats are good indicators of ecosystem health, we used 14 years (1999-2012) of mark-recapture data from a suite of small tree-hollow roosting bats to estimate survival, abundance and body condition in harvested and unharvested forest and over extreme El Niño and La Niña weather events in southeastern Australia. Trapping was replicated within an experimental forest, located in a climate refuge, with different timber harvesting treatments. We trapped foraging bats and banded 3043 with a 32% retrap rate. Mark-recapture analyses allowed for dependence of survival on time, species, sex, logging treatment and for transients. A large portion of the population remained resident, with a maximum time to recapture of nine years. The effect of logging history (unlogged vs 16-30 years post-logging regrowth) on apparent survival was minor and species specific, with no detectable effect for two species, a positive effect for one and negative for the other. There was no effect of logging history on abundance or body condition for any of these species. Apparent survival of residents was not strongly influenced by weather variation (except for the smallest species), unlike previous studies outside of refugia. Despite annual variation in abundance and body condition across the 14 years of the study, no relationship with extreme weather was evident. The location of our study area in a climate refuge potentially buffered bat population dynamics from extreme weather. These results support the value of climate refugia in mitigating climate change impacts, though the lack of an external control highlights the need for further studies on the functioning of climate refugia. Relatively stable population dynamics were not compromised by timber harvesting, suggesting ecologically sustainable harvesting may be compatible with climate refugia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bradley S. Law
- Forest Science Unit, NSW Primary Industries, Parramatta, Sydney NSW, Australia
- * E-mail:
| | - Mark Chidel
- Forest Science Unit, NSW Primary Industries, Parramatta, Sydney NSW, Australia
| | - Peter R. Law
- Centre for African Conservation Ecology, Department of Zoology, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa
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García-Luis M, Briones-Salas M. Composición y actividad de la comunidad de murciélagos artropodívoros en parques eólicos del trópico mexicano. REV MEX BIODIVERS 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.rmb.2017.10.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
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28
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Todd VLG, Waters DA. Small Scale Habitat Preferences of Myotis daubentonii, Pipistrellus pipistrellus, and Potential Aerial Prey in an Upland River Valley. ACTA CHIROPTEROLOGICA 2017. [DOI: 10.3161/15081109acc2017.19.2.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Victoria Louise Georgia Todd
- Ocean Science Consulting Ltd. Spott Road, Dunbar, East Lothian, EH42 1RR, Scotland, United Kingdom
- School of Media Arts and Technology, Southampton Solent University, East Park Terrace, Southampton SO14 0YN, United Kingdom
| | - Dean Andrew Waters
- Environment Department, University of York, Wentworth Way, Heslington, York YO10 5NG, United Kingdom
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Bailey AM, Ober HK, Sovie AR, McCleery RA. Impact of land use and climate on the distribution of the endangered Florida bonneted bat. J Mammal 2017. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyx117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
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30
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Jan PL, Farcy O, Boireau J, Le Texier E, Baudoin A, Le Gouar P, Puechmaille SJ, Petit EJ. Which temporal resolution to consider when investigating the impact of climatic data on population dynamics? The case of the lesser horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus hipposideros). Oecologia 2017; 184:749-761. [DOI: 10.1007/s00442-017-3901-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2016] [Accepted: 06/13/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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31
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Birnie-Gauvin K, Peiman KS, Raubenheimer D, Cooke SJ. Nutritional physiology and ecology of wildlife in a changing world. CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2017; 5:cox030. [PMID: 28740638 PMCID: PMC5516125 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/cox030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2016] [Revised: 04/12/2017] [Accepted: 05/08/2017] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Over the last century, humans have modified landscapes, generated pollution and provided opportunities for exotic species to invade areas where they did not evolve. In addition, humans now interact with animals in a growing number of ways (e.g. ecotourism). As a result, the quality (i.e. nutrient composition) and quantity (i.e. food abundance) of dietary items consumed by wildlife have, in many cases, changed. We present representative examples of the extent to which vertebrate foraging behaviour, food availability (quantity and quality) and digestive physiology have been modified due to human-induced environmental changes and human activities. We find that these effects can be quite extensive, especially as a result of pollution and human-provisioned food sources (despite good intentions). We also discuss the role of nutrition in conservation practices, from the perspective of both in situ and ex situ conservation. Though we find that the changes in the nutritional ecology and physiology of wildlife due to human alterations are typically negative and largely involve impacts on foraging behaviour and food availability, the extent to which these will affect the fitness of organisms and result in evolutionary changes is not clearly understood, and requires further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kim Birnie-Gauvin
- Fish Ecology and Conservation Physiology Laboratory, Department of Biology and Institute of Environmental Science, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, Canada ON K1S 5B6
- DTU AQUA, National Institute of Aquatic Resources, Section for Freshwater Fisheries Ecology, Technical University of Denmark, Vejlsøvej 39, 8600 Silkeborg, Denmark
| | - Kathryn S. Peiman
- Fish Ecology and Conservation Physiology Laboratory, Department of Biology and Institute of Environmental Science, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, Canada ON K1S 5B6
| | - David Raubenheimer
- Faculty of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Regimental Drive, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia
| | - Steven J. Cooke
- Fish Ecology and Conservation Physiology Laboratory, Department of Biology and Institute of Environmental Science, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, Canada ON K1S 5B6
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32
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Phylogenetic analysis of landmark data and the morphological evolution of cranial shape and diets in species of Myotis (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae). ZOOMORPHOLOGY 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s00435-017-0345-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
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33
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Bender MJ, Hartman GD. Bat Activity Increases with Barometric Pressure and Temperature during Autumn in Central Georgia. SOUTHEAST NAT 2015. [DOI: 10.1656/058.014.0203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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34
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Amorim F, Mata VA, Beja P, Rebelo H. Effects of a drought episode on the reproductive success of European free-tailed bats (Tadarida teniotis). Mamm Biol 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mambio.2015.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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35
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Kaiser ZDE, O’Keefe JM. Factors affecting acoustic detection and site occupancy of Indiana bats near a known maternity colony. J Mammal 2015. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyv036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
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36
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Jantzen M, Fenton M. The depth of edge influence among insectivorous bats at forest–field interfaces. CAN J ZOOL 2013. [DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2012-0282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Species-specific variations in wing morphology and echolocation call characteristics often define which of three structural habitat types (open, cluttered, and edge) different bat species most frequently and efficiently use for foraging. Although edges are recognized as important habitats for commuting and foraging bats, no study to date has examined the depth of edge influence (DEI), the extent of quantitative changes in activity with distance from an edge, for any bat species. We focused our study on five species: northern long-eared bat, Myotis septentrionalis (Trouessart, 1897); hoary bat, Lasiurus cinereus (Beauvois, 1796); little brown bat, Myotis lucifugus (LeConte, 1831); silver-haired bat, Lasionycteris noctivagans (LeConte, 1831); big brown bat, Eptesicus fuscus (Beauvois, 1796). We predicted DEI would vary with species-specific differences in wing morphology and echolocation call characteristics. From June to August in 2010 and 2011, we passively recorded echolocation calls three to four times per month at eight sites in eastern Ontario, Canada. We found that species’ activity was highest at the edge, regardless of wing morphology and echolocation call characteristics. The DEI for all species was approximately 40 m into both forests and fields. Understanding the effects of DEI on bats will enable more effective acoustic monitoring in future studies and may provide crucial information for management decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- M.K. Jantzen
- Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond Street, London, ON N6A 5B7, Canada
| | - M.B. Fenton
- Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond Street, London, ON N6A 5B7, Canada
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37
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Lučan RK, Weiser M, Hanák V. Contrasting effects of climate change on the timing of reproduction and reproductive success of a temperate insectivorous bat. J Zool (1987) 2013. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- R. K. Lučan
- Department of Zoology; Faculty of Science; Charles University; Prague Czech Republic
| | - M. Weiser
- Department of Botany; Faculty of Science; Charles University; Prague Czech Republic
| | - V. Hanák
- Department of Zoology; Faculty of Science; Charles University; Prague Czech Republic
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38
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Bennett VJ, Zurcher AA. When corridors collide: Road-related disturbance in commuting bats. J Wildl Manage 2012. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
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39
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Affiliation(s)
- Hayley A. Sherwin
- School of Biological Sciences; Queen's University; Belfast; BT9 7BL; UK
| | - W. Ian Montgomery
- School of Biological Sciences; Queen's University; Belfast; BT9 7BL; UK
| | - Mathieu G. Lundy
- Centre of Irish Bat Research; School of Biological Sciences; Queen's University; Belfast; BT9 7BL; UK
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40
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Wolcott KA, Vulinec K. Bat Activity at Woodland/Farmland Interfaces in Central Delaware. Northeast Nat (Steuben) 2012. [DOI: 10.1656/045.019.0107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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41
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Geluso KN, Geluso K. Effects of environmental factors on capture rates of insectivorous bats, 1971–2005. J Mammal 2012. [DOI: 10.1644/11-mamm-a-107.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
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42
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Loeb SC, Winters EA. Indiana bat summer maternity distribution: effects of current and future climates. Ecol Evol 2012; 3:103-14. [PMID: 23404047 PMCID: PMC3568847 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2012] [Revised: 10/21/2012] [Accepted: 10/29/2012] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Temperate zone bats may be more sensitive to climate change than other groups of mammals because many aspects of their ecology are closely linked to temperature. However, few studies have tried to predict the responses of bats to climate change. The Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis) is a federally listed endangered species that is found in the eastern United States. The northerly distribution of Indiana bat summer maternity colonies relative to their winter distributions suggests that warmer climates may result in a shift in their summer distribution. Our objectives were to determine the climatic factors associated with Indiana bat maternity range and forecast changes in the amount and distribution of the range under future climates. We used Maxent to model the suitable climatic habitat of Indiana bats under current conditions and four future climate forecasts for 2021-30, 2031-40, 2041-50, and 2051-60. Average maximum temperature across the maternity season (May-August) was the most important variable in the model of current distribution of Indiana bat maternity colonies with suitability decreasing considerably above 28ºC. The areal extent of the summer maternity distribution of Indiana bats was forecasted to decline and be concentrated in the northeastern United States and Appalachian Mountains; the western part of the current maternity range (Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio) was forecasted to become climatically unsuitable under most future climates. Our models suggest that high temperatures may be a factor in roost-site selection at the regional scale and in the future, may also be an important variable at the microhabitat scale. When behavioral changes fail to mitigate the effects of high temperature, range shifts are likely to occur. Thus, habitat management for Indiana bat maternity colonies in the northeastern United States and Appalachian Mountains of the Southeast is critical as these areas will most likely serve as climatic refugia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan C Loeb
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station Clemson, SC, 29634, USA
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Frick WF, Reynolds DS, Kunz TH. Influence of climate and reproductive timing on demography of little brown myotis Myotis lucifugus. J Anim Ecol 2009; 79:128-36. [PMID: 19747346 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2656.2009.01615.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 143] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
1. Estimating variation in demographic rates, such as survival and fecundity, is important for testing life-history theory and identifying conservation and management goals. 2. We used 16 years (1993-2008) of mark-recapture data to estimate age-specific survival and breeding probabilities of the little brown myotis Myotis lucifugus LeConte in southern New Hampshire, USA. Using Kendall & Nichols' (1995) full-likelihood approach of the robust design to account for temporary emigration, we tested whether survival and breeding propensity is influenced by regional weather patterns and timing of reproduction. 3. Our results demonstrate that adult female survival of M. lucifugus ranged from 0.63 (95% CL = 0.56, 0.68) to 0.90 (95% CL = 0.77, 0.94), and was highest in wet years with high cumulative summer precipitation. First-year survival [range: 0.23 (95% CL = 0.14, 0.35) to 0.46 (95% CL = 0.34, 0.57)] was considerably lower than adult survival and depended on pup date of birth, such that young born earlier in the summer (c. late May) had a significantly higher probability of surviving their first year than young born later in the summer (c. mid-July). Similarly, the probability of young females returning to the maternity colony to breed in the summer following their birth year was higher for individuals born earlier in the summer [range: 0.23 (95% CL = 0.08, 0.50) to 0.53 (95% CL = 0.30, 0.75)]. 4. The positive influence of early parturition on 1st-year survival and breeding propensity demonstrates significant fitness benefits to reproductive timing in this temperate insectivorous bat. 5. Climatic factors can have important consequences for population dynamics of temperate bats, which may be negatively affected by summer drying patterns associated with global climate change. 6. Understanding long-term demographic trends will be important in the face of a novel disease phenomenon (White-Nose Syndrome) that is associated with massive mortalities in hibernating bat species, including M. lucifugus, in the northeastern United States.
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Affiliation(s)
- Winifred F Frick
- Center of Ecology and Conservation Biology (CECB), Boston University, Biology Department, 5 Cummington St., Boston, MA 02215, USA.
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