1
|
Silva-Ramos CR, Ballesteros-Ballesteros JA, Chala-Quintero SM, Matiz-González JM, Herrera-Sepúlveda MT, Faccini-Martínez ÁA, Pulido-Villamarín ADP, Hidalgo M, Pinto CM, Pérez-Torres J, Cuervo C. Genetic diversity of Bartonella spp. among cave-dwelling bats from Colombia. Acta Trop 2024; 259:107370. [PMID: 39216810 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2024.107370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2024] [Revised: 07/06/2024] [Accepted: 08/26/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
Bartonella is a bacterial genus that comprises arthropod-borne microorganisms. Several Bartonella isolates have been detected from bats worldwide, which are thought to be undescribed species. We aimed to test the presence of Bartonella spp. among bats from Colombia, and evaluate the genetic diversity of bat-associated Bartonella spp. through phylogenetic analyses. A total of 108 bat blood samples were collected from three bat species (Carollia perspicillata, Mormoops megalophylla, and Natalus tumidirostris) that inhabit the Macaregua cave. The Bartonella ssrA gene was targeted through real-time and end-point PCR; additionally, the gltA and rpoB genes were detected by end-point PCR. All obtained amplicons were purified and bidirectionally sequenced for phylogenetic analysis using a concatenated supermatrix and a supertree approaches. A detection frequency of 49.1 % (53/108) for Bartonella spp. was evidenced among bat blood samples, of which 59.1 % (26/44), 54.3 % (19/35) and 27.6 % (8/29) were identified in Carollia perspicillata, Natalus tumidirostris and Mormoops megalophylla respectively. A total of 35 ssrA, 5 gltA and 4 rpoB good-quality sequences were obtained which were used for phylogenetic analysis. All obtained bat sequences clustered together with sequences obtained from Neotropical bat species into two bat-restricted clades namely clade A and clade N. We detected the presence of Bartonella spp. that clustered within two different bat-associated Bartonella clades, giving the first data of the genetic diversity of these bacteria among bats from Colombia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Ramiro Silva-Ramos
- Grupo de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Jesús A Ballesteros-Ballesteros
- Grupo de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Sandra M Chala-Quintero
- Grupo de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - J Manuel Matiz-González
- Grupo de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia; Molecular Genetics and Antimicrobial Resistance Unit, Universidad El Bosque, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - María T Herrera-Sepúlveda
- Grupo de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Álvaro A Faccini-Martínez
- Servicio de Infectología, Hospital Militar Central, Bogotá, Colombia; Servicios y Asesorías en Infectología - SAI, Bogotá, Colombia; Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Militar Nueva Granada, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Adriana Del Pilar Pulido-Villamarín
- Unidad de Investigaciones Agropecuarias (UNIDIA), Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Marylin Hidalgo
- Grupo de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - C Miguel Pinto
- Charles Darwin Research Station, Charles Darwin Foundation, Puerto Ayora, Galápagos, Ecuador
| | - Jairo Pérez-Torres
- Unidad de Ecología y Sistemática (UNESIS), Laboratorio de Ecología Funcional, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Claudia Cuervo
- Grupo de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Sunga J, Humber J, Broders H. Changes in roosting decisions and group structure following parturition in little brown myotis (Myotis lucifugus). Sci Rep 2024; 14:22810. [PMID: 39354000 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-73063-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2024] [Accepted: 09/13/2024] [Indexed: 10/03/2024] Open
Abstract
In many temperate animals, reproductive cycles coincide with seasonal weather changes resulting in behaviour changes such as movement and habitat selection. In social species, these physiological and environmental changes can alter the costs and benefits of social interactions, impacting the structure of animal groups. In little brown myotis (Myotis lucifugus), a gregarious bat occupying much of North America, the pregnancy and lactation phases present different challenges to energy balance and maternal movement, and reduced forage distance has been observed during the lactation period. As such, we hypothesized that differences between reproductive phases alter the roost switching decisions of individual bats and therefore the overall group structure of little brown myotis maternity colonies. We observed that adult females were less likely to switch roosts during the lactation period even when accounting for changing weather conditions. This shift in roost switching behaviour may be the source of observed differences in group structure between reproductive periods. We reported a decline in network cohesiveness, but no meaningful variation in individual roost fidelity and association strengths of dyads between reproductive phases. These results support the contention that reproductive processes in female little brown myotis influence sociality and overall roosting patterns within maternity groups.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Julia Sunga
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Ave W, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Jessica Humber
- Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture, Corner Brook, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, Corner Brook, A2H 7S1, Canada
| | - Hugh Broders
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Ave W, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada.
- Department of Biology, Saint Mary's University, B3H 3C3, Halifax, NS, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Matiz-González JM, Ballesteros-Ballesteros JA, Hernández M, Mejorano-Fonseca JA, Cuervo C, Faccini-Martínez ÁA, Hidalgo M, Pérez-Torres J, Silva-Ramos CR. Genetic diversity of P1/pathogenic Leptospira species hosted by bats worldwide. Zoonoses Public Health 2024; 71:457-468. [PMID: 38509439 DOI: 10.1111/zph.13126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Revised: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Bats are a diverse group of mammals that have unique features allowing them to act as reservoir hosts for several zoonotic pathogens such as Leptospira. Leptospires have been classified into pathogenic, intermediate, and saprophytic groups and more recently into clades P1, P2, S1, and S2, being all the most important pathogenic species related to leptospirosis included within the P1/pathogenic clade. Leptospira has been detected from bats in several regions worldwide; however, the diversity of leptospires harboured by bats is still unknown. AIM The aim of the present study was to determine the genetic diversity of Leptospira spp. harboured by bats worldwide. METHODS A systematic review was conducted on four databases to retrieve studies in which Leptospira was detected from bats. All studies were screened to retrieve all available Leptospira spp. 16S rRNA sequences from the GenBank database and data regarding their origin. Sequences obtained were compared with each other and reference sequences of Leptospira species and analysed through phylogenetic analysis. RESULTS A total of 418 Leptospira spp. 16S rRNA sequences isolated from 55 bat species from 14 countries were retrieved from 15 selected manuscripts. From these, 417 sequences clustered within the P1/pathogenic group, and only one sequence clustered within the P2/intermediate group. Six major clades of P1/pathogenic Leptospira spp. were identified, three of them composed exclusively of sequences obtained from bats. CONCLUSION We identified that bats harbour a great genetic diversity of Leptospira spp. that form part of the P1/pathogenic clade, some of which are closely related to leptospirosis-associated species. This finding contributes to the knowledge of the diversity of leptospires hosted by bats worldwide and reinforces the role of bats as reservoirs of P1/pathogenic Leptospira spp.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- J Manuel Matiz-González
- Grupo de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
- Molecular Genetics and Antimicrobial Resistance Unit, Universidad El Bosque, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Jesús A Ballesteros-Ballesteros
- Grupo de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - María Hernández
- Grupo de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Julián A Mejorano-Fonseca
- Grupo de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Claudia Cuervo
- Grupo de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Álvaro A Faccini-Martínez
- Servicio de Infectología, Hospital Militar Central, Bogotá, Colombia
- Servicios y Asesorías en Infectología - SAI, Bogotá, Colombia
- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Militar Nueva Granada, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Marylin Hidalgo
- Grupo de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Jairo Pérez-Torres
- Unidad de Ecología y Sistemática (UNESIS), Laboratorio de Ecología Funcional, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Carlos Ramiro Silva-Ramos
- Grupo de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Heckley AM, Harding CD, Page RA, Klein BA, Yovel Y, Diebold CA, Tilley HB. The effect of group size on sleep in a neotropical bat, Artibeus jamaicensis. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY. PART A, ECOLOGICAL AND INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY 2024. [PMID: 39051138 DOI: 10.1002/jez.2860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2024] [Revised: 06/06/2024] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
Abstract
Sleep is associated with many costs, but is also important to survival, with a lack of sleep impairing cognitive function and increasing mortality. Sleeping in groups could alleviate sleep-associated costs, or could introduce new costs if social sleeping disrupts sleep. Working with the Jamaican fruit bat (Artibeus jamaicensis), we aimed to: (1) describe sleep architecture, (2) assess how sleeping in groups affects sleep, and (3) quantify total sleep time and identify rapid eye movement (REM) sleep using behavioral indicators that complement physiological evidence of sleep. Twenty-five adult bats were captured in Panama and recorded sleeping in an artificial roost enclosure. Three bats were fitted with an electromyograph and accelerometer and video recorded sleeping alone in controlled laboratory settings. The remaining 22 bats were assigned to differing social configurations (alone, dyad, triad, and tetrad) and video recorded sleeping in an outdoor flight cage. We found that sleep was highly variable among individuals (ranging from 2 h 53 min to 9 h 39 min over a 12-h period). Although we did not detect statistically significant effects and our sample size was limited, preliminary trends suggest that male bats may sleep longer than females, and individuals sleeping in groups may sleep longer than individuals sleeping alone. We also found a high correspondence between total sleep time quantified visually and quantified using actigraphy (with a 2-min immobility threshold) and identified physiological correlates of behaviorally-defined REM. These results serve as a starting point for future work on the ecology and evolution of sleep in bats and other wild mammals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexis M Heckley
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Gamboa, Panama
- Department of Biology and Redpath Museum, McGill University, Quebec, Canada
| | - Christian D Harding
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Sleep Medicine & Physiology, University of California San Diego, San Diego, USA
| | - Rachel A Page
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Gamboa, Panama
| | - Barrett A Klein
- Department of Biology, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Yossi Yovel
- School of Zoology, School of Neuroscience, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Clarice A Diebold
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Gamboa, Panama
- The Department of Physiological & Brain Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Maryland, USA
| | - Hannah B Tilley
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Gamboa, Panama
- Division of Ecology and Biodiversity, School of Biological Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Mejia P, Urbieta GL, Xavier BDS, Castro IJD, DE Toledo JJ, Graciolli G, Viana Dias LA, Carvalho WD. Seasonal variation and host sex affect bat-bat fly interaction networks in the Amazonian savannahs. Integr Zool 2024; 19:400-416. [PMID: 37553290 DOI: 10.1111/1749-4877.12756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/10/2023]
Abstract
Bats are the second-most diverse group of mammals in the world, and bat flies are their main parasites. However, significant knowledge gaps remain regarding these antagonistic interactions, especially since diverse factors such as seasonality and host sex can affect their network structures. Here, we explore the influence of such factors by comparing species richness and composition of bat flies on host bats, as well as specialization and modularity of bat-bat fly interaction networks between seasons and adult host sexes. We captured bats and collected their ectoparasitic flies at 10 sampling sites in the savannahs of Amapá State, northeastern region of the Brazilian Amazon. Despite female bats being more parasitized and recording greater bat fly species richness in the wet season, neither relationship was statistically significant. The pooled network could be divided into 15 compartments with 54 links, and all subnetworks comprised >12 compartments. The total number of links ranged from 27 to 48 (for the dry and wet seasons, respectively), and female and male subnetworks had 44 and 41 links, respectively. Connectance values were very low for the pooled network and for all subnetworks. Our results revealed higher bat fly species richness and abundance in the wet season, whereas specialization and modularity were higher in the dry season. Moreover, the subnetwork for female bats displayed higher specialization and modularity than the male subnetwork. Therefore, both seasonality and host sex contribute in different ways to bat-bat fly network structure. Future studies should consider these factors when evaluating bat-bat fly interaction networks.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Paulo Mejia
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biodiversidade Tropical, Universidade Federal do Amapá (UNIFAP), Macapá AP, Brazil
| | - Gustavo Lima Urbieta
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biodiversidade Tropical, Universidade Federal do Amapá (UNIFAP), Macapá AP, Brazil
| | - Bruna da Silva Xavier
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia, Instituto de Biologia, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Isaí Jorge de Castro
- Laboratório de Mamíferos, Instituto de Pesquisas Científicas e Tecnológicas do Estado do Amapá (IEPA), Macapá AP, Brazil
| | - José Júlio DE Toledo
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biodiversidade Tropical, Universidade Federal do Amapá (UNIFAP), Macapá AP, Brazil
| | - Gustavo Graciolli
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Animal, Laboratório de Sistemática, Ecologia e Evolução (LSEE), Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul (UFMS), Campo Grande, MT, Brazil
| | - Lucio André Viana Dias
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biodiversidade Tropical, Universidade Federal do Amapá (UNIFAP), Macapá AP, Brazil
| | - William Douglas Carvalho
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biodiversidade Tropical, Universidade Federal do Amapá (UNIFAP), Macapá AP, Brazil
- Terrestrial Ecology Group (TEG-UAM), Departamento de Ecología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación en Biodiversidad y Cambio Global (CIBC-UAM), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Respicio JMV, Dela Cruz KC, Hughes AC, Tanalgo KC. The behavioural costs of overcrowding for gregarious cave-dwelling bats. J Anim Ecol 2024; 93:619-631. [PMID: 38556757 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.14072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
Bats are known for their gregarious social behaviour, often congregating in caves and underground habitats, where they play a pivotal role in providing various ecosystem services. Studying bat behaviour remains an underexplored aspect of bat ecology and conservation despite its ecological importance. We explored the costs and impacts of overcrowding on bat social behaviour. This study examined variations in bat behavioural patterns between two distinct groups, aggregated and non-aggregated male Rousettus amplexicaudatus, within the Monfort Bat Cave Sanctuary on Mindanao Island, Philippines. We found significant variations in the incident frequencies of various bat behavioural activities, particularly aggression and movement, between these two groups. The increase in aggregation was closely related to negative social behaviour among bats. In contrast, sexual behaviour was significantly related to the positive behaviour of individual bats and was headed in less crowded areas. The disparities in bat behaviour with an apparent decline in bat social behaviour because of overcrowding, with more aggressive behaviours emerging, align with the 'behavioural sink' hypothesis. Our study underscores the importance of considering habitat quality and resource availability in the management and conservation of bat colonies, as these factors can reduce the occurrence of aggressive and negative social behaviours in colonies with high population density by providing alternative habitats.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jeaneth Magelen V Respicio
- Ecology and Conservation Research Laboratory (Eco/Con Lab), Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science and Mathematics, University of Southern Mindanao, Kabacan, Philippines
| | - Kier C Dela Cruz
- Ecology and Conservation Research Laboratory (Eco/Con Lab), Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science and Mathematics, University of Southern Mindanao, Kabacan, Philippines
| | - Alice C Hughes
- School of Life Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Krizler C Tanalgo
- Ecology and Conservation Research Laboratory (Eco/Con Lab), Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science and Mathematics, University of Southern Mindanao, Kabacan, Philippines
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Sándor AD, Corduneanu A, Hornok S, Mihalca AD, Péter Á. Season and host-community composition inside roosts may affect host-specificity of bat flies. Sci Rep 2024; 14:4127. [PMID: 38374243 PMCID: PMC10876969 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-54143-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Bat flies are one of the most abundant ectoparasites of bats, showing remarkable morphological adaptations to the parasitic habit, while the relationship with their hosts is characterized by a high level of specificity. By collecting bat flies from live hosts, our intention was to elucidate the seasonal differences in bat fly occurrence and to describe factors regulating the level of incipient host specificity. Our results indicate that the prevalence and the intensity of infestation is increasing from spring to autumn for most host species, with significant differences among different fly species. Males showed higher infestation levels than females in autumn, suggesting a non-random host choice by flies, targeting the most active host sex. Bat-bat fly host specificity shows seasonal changes and host choice of bat flies are affected by the seasonal differences in hosts' behavior and ecology, the intensity of infestation and the species composition of the local host community. Nycteribiid bat flies showed lower host specificity in the swarming (boreal autumn) period, with higher prevalence recorded on non-primary hosts. Choosing a non-primary bat host may be an adaptive choice for bat flies in the host's mating period, thus increasing their dispersive ability in a high activity phase of their hosts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Attila D Sándor
- HUN-REN-UVMB Climate Change: New Blood-Sucking Parasites and Vector-Borne Pathogens Research Group, Budapest, Hungary.
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary.
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
| | - Alexandra Corduneanu
- HUN-REN-UVMB Climate Change: New Blood-Sucking Parasites and Vector-Borne Pathogens Research Group, Budapest, Hungary
- Department of Animal Breeding and Animal Production, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Sándor Hornok
- HUN-REN-UVMB Climate Change: New Blood-Sucking Parasites and Vector-Borne Pathogens Research Group, Budapest, Hungary
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Andrei D Mihalca
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Áron Péter
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Greville LJS, Hou L, Kumbhani HAW, Nogueira E Figueira B, Vanderwolf KJ, Leys RAC, Sivatheesan M, Pianta TP, McGuire LP. Echoes through time: amazing inferences from a fossil bat. BMC ZOOL 2024; 9:3. [PMID: 38311766 PMCID: PMC10838410 DOI: 10.1186/s40850-024-00193-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Sister to the Chiroptera crown-clade, the 50 million year old Vielasia sigei is suggested to have used laryngeal echolocation based on morphometric analyses. We discuss how Vielasia's discovery influences our understanding of the evolution of echolocation in bats and the insights fossils provide to the lives of extinct species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lucas J S Greville
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue, N2L 3G1, Waterloo, ON, Canada
| | - Lily Hou
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue, N2L 3G1, Waterloo, ON, Canada
| | - Harry A W Kumbhani
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue, N2L 3G1, Waterloo, ON, Canada
| | | | - Karen J Vanderwolf
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue, N2L 3G1, Waterloo, ON, Canada
| | - Ryan A C Leys
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue, N2L 3G1, Waterloo, ON, Canada
| | - Mathumy Sivatheesan
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue, N2L 3G1, Waterloo, ON, Canada
| | - Thomas P Pianta
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue, N2L 3G1, Waterloo, ON, Canada
| | - Liam P McGuire
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue, N2L 3G1, Waterloo, ON, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Forli A, Yartsev MM. Hippocampal representation during collective spatial behaviour in bats. Nature 2023; 621:796-803. [PMID: 37648869 PMCID: PMC10533399 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06478-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
Social animals live and move through spaces shaped by the presence, motion and sensory cues of multiple other individuals1-6. Neural activity in the hippocampus is known to reflect spatial behaviour7-9 yet its study is lacking in such dynamic group settings, which are ubiquitous in natural environments. Here we studied hippocampal activity in groups of bats engaged in collective spatial behaviour. We find that, under spontaneous conditions, a robust spatial structure emerges at the group level whereby behaviour is anchored to specific locations, movement patterns and individual social preferences. Using wireless electrophysiological recordings from both stationary and flying bats, we find that many hippocampal neurons are tuned to key features of group dynamics. These include the presence or absence of a conspecific, but not typically of an object, at landing sites, shared spatial locations, individual identities and sensory signals that are broadcasted in the group setting. Finally, using wireless calcium imaging, we find that social responses are anatomically distributed and robustly represented at the population level. Combined, our findings reveal that hippocampal activity contains a rich representation of naturally emerging spatial behaviours in animal groups that could in turn support the complex feat of collective behaviour.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Angelo Forli
- Department of Bioengineering, UC Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Michael M Yartsev
- Department of Bioengineering, UC Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, UC Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Stockmaier S. Bat behavioral immune responses in social contexts: current knowledge and future directions. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1232556. [PMID: 37662931 PMCID: PMC10469833 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1232556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Animals often mount complex immune responses to infections. Aside from cellular and molecular defense mechanisms, animals can alter their behavior in response to infection by avoiding, resisting, or tolerating negative effects of pathogens. These behaviors are often connected to cellular and molecular immune responses. For instance, sickness behaviors are a set of behavioral changes triggered by the host inflammatory response (e.g., cytokines) and could aid in resisting or tolerating infection, as well as affect transmission dynamics if sick animals socially withdraw or are being avoided by others. To fully understand the group and population level transmission dynamics and consequences of pathogen infections in bats, it is not only important to consider cellular and molecular defense mechanisms, but also behavioral mechanisms, and how both interact. Although there has been increasing interest in bat immune responses due to their ability to successfully cope with viral infections, few studies have explored behavioral anti-pathogen defense mechanisms. My main objective is to explore the interaction of cellular and molecular defense mechanisms, and behavioral alterations that results from infection in bats, and to outline current knowledge and future research avenues in this field.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Stockmaier
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Knoxville, TN, United States
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Balboa, Ancón, Panama
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Pereira AS, De Moor D, Casanova C, Brent LJN. Kinship composition in mammals. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2023; 10:230486. [PMID: 37476521 PMCID: PMC10354477 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.230486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the evolution of group-living and cooperation requires information on who animals live and cooperate with. Animals can live with kin, non-kin or both, and kinship structure can influence the benefits and costs of group-living and the evolution of within-group cooperation. One aspect of kinship structure is kinship composition, i.e. a group-level attribute of the presence of kin and/or non-kin dyads in groups. Despite its putative importance, the kinship composition of mammalian groups has yet to be characterized. Here, we use the published literature to build an initial kinship composition dataset in mammals, laying the groundwork for future work in the field. In roughly half of the 18 species in our sample, individuals lived solely with same-sex kin, and, in the other half, individuals lived with related and unrelated individuals of the same sex. These initial results suggest that it is not rare for social mammals to live with unrelated individuals of the same sex, highlighting the importance of considering indirect and direct fitness benefits as co-drivers of the evolution of sociality. We hope that our initial dataset and insights will spur the study of kinship structure and sociality towards new exciting avenues.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- André S. Pereira
- Centre for Research in Animal Behavior, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QG, UK
- Research Centre for Anthropology and Health, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Delphine De Moor
- Centre for Research in Animal Behavior, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QG, UK
| | - Catarina Casanova
- Research Centre for Anthropology and Health, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal
- CAPP, ISCSP, University of Lisbon, 1300-663 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Lauren J. N. Brent
- Centre for Research in Animal Behavior, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QG, UK
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Bajić B, Werb O, Budinski I, Blagojević J, Schaer J, van Schaik J. Non-invasive investigation of Polychromophilus parasite infections in bat populations in Serbia using bat flies. Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:170. [PMID: 37237268 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-05786-1] [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: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Haemosporidian parasites of the genus Polychromophilus infect bats worldwide. They are vectored by obligate ectoparasitic bat flies of the family Nycteribiidae. Despite their global distribution, only five Polychromophilus morphospecies have been described to date. The two predominant species, Polychromophilus melanipherus and Polychromophilus murinus, are broadly distributed and mainly infect miniopterid and vespertilionid bats, respectively. In areas where species from different bat families aggregate together, the infection dynamics and ability of either Polychromophilus species to infect other host families is poorly characterized. METHODS We collected 215 bat flies from two bat species, Miniopterus schreibersii and Rhinolophus ferrumequinum, which sometimes form mixed clusters in Serbia. Miniopterus schreibersii is known to be frequently infected with P. melanipherus, whereas R. ferrumequinum has been observed to be incidentally infected with both Polychromophilus species. All flies were screened for Polychromophilus infections using a PCR targeting the haemosporidian cytb gene. Positive samples were subsequently sequenced for 579 bp of cytochrome b (cytb) and 945 bp of cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (cox1). RESULTS Polychromophilus melanipherus DNA was detected at six out of nine sampling locations and in all three examined bat fly species collected from M. schreibersii (Nycteribia schmidlii, n = 21; Penicillidia conspicua, n = 8; Penicillidia dufourii, n = 3). Four and five haplotypes were found for cytb and cox1, respectively. Evidence for multiple Polychromophilus haplotypes was found in 15 individual flies. These results point to a high diversity of P. melanipherus parasites in Miniopterus hosts and efficient transmission throughout the study area. A single Phthiridium biarticulatum bat fly collected from R. ferrumequinum screened positive for P. melanipherus, but only yielded a partial cox1 sequence fragment. Nevertheless, this result suggests that secondary hosts (both bat and fly species) are regularly confronted with this parasite. CONCLUSIONS The results of this study provide new insights into the prevalence and distribution of Polychromophilus parasites in European bats and their nycteribiid vectors. The use of bat flies for the non-invasive investigation of Polychromophilus infections in bat populations has proven to be efficient and thus represents an alternative for large-scale studies of infections in bat populations without the need to invasively collect blood from bats.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Branka Bajić
- Department of Genetic Research, Institute for Biological Research "Sinisa Stankovic", National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Oskar Werb
- Department of Molecular Parasitology, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ivana Budinski
- Department of Genetic Research, Institute for Biological Research "Sinisa Stankovic", National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Jelena Blagojević
- Department of Genetic Research, Institute for Biological Research "Sinisa Stankovic", National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Juliane Schaer
- Department of Molecular Parasitology, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany.
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, Australia.
| | - Jaap van Schaik
- Department of Applied Zoology and Nature Conservation, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Garg KM, Lamba V, Sanyal A, Dovih P, Chattopadhyay B. Next Generation Sequencing Revolutionizes Organismal Biology Research in Bats. J Mol Evol 2023:10.1007/s00239-023-10107-2. [PMID: 37154841 PMCID: PMC10166039 DOI: 10.1007/s00239-023-10107-2] [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: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
The advent of next generation sequencing technologies (NGS) has greatly accelerated our understanding of critical aspects of organismal biology from non-model organisms. Bats form a particularly interesting group in this regard, as genomic data have helped unearth a vast spectrum of idiosyncrasies in bat genomes associated with bat biology, physiology, and evolution. Bats are important bioindicators and are keystone species to many eco-systems. They often live in proximity to humans and are frequently associated with emerging infectious diseases, including the COVID-19 pandemic. Nearly four dozen bat genomes have been published to date, ranging from drafts to chromosomal level assemblies. Genomic investigations in bats have also become critical towards our understanding of disease biology and host-pathogen coevolution. In addition to whole genome sequencing, low coverage genomic data like reduced representation libraries, resequencing data, etc. have contributed significantly towards our understanding of the evolution of natural populations, and their responses to climatic and anthropogenic perturbations. In this review, we discuss how genomic data have enhanced our understanding of physiological adaptations in bats (particularly related to ageing, immunity, diet, etc.), pathogen discovery, and host pathogen co-evolution. In comparison, the application of NGS towards population genomics, conservation, biodiversity assessment, and functional genomics has been appreciably slower. We reviewed the current areas of focus, identifying emerging topical research directions and providing a roadmap for future genomic studies in bats.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kritika M Garg
- Centre for Interdisciplinay Archaeological Research, Ashoka University, Sonipat, Haryana, 131029, India
- Department of Biology, Ashoka University, Sonipat, Haryana, 131029, India
- Centre for Climate Change and Sustainability (3CS), Ashoka University, Sonipat, Haryana, 131029, India
| | - Vinita Lamba
- Trivedi School of Biosciences, Ashoka University, Sonipat, Haryana, 131029, India
- J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR72701, USA
| | - Avirup Sanyal
- Trivedi School of Biosciences, Ashoka University, Sonipat, Haryana, 131029, India
- Ecology and Evolution, National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bangalore, 560065, India
| | - Pilot Dovih
- Centre for Climate Change and Sustainability (3CS), Ashoka University, Sonipat, Haryana, 131029, India
- Ecology and Evolution, National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bangalore, 560065, India
- School of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Sastra University, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, 613401, India
| | - Balaji Chattopadhyay
- Centre for Climate Change and Sustainability (3CS), Ashoka University, Sonipat, Haryana, 131029, India.
- Trivedi School of Biosciences, Ashoka University, Sonipat, Haryana, 131029, India.
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Hamlili FZ, Bérenger JM, Parola P. Cimicids of Medical and Veterinary Importance. INSECTS 2023; 14:392. [PMID: 37103207 PMCID: PMC10146278 DOI: 10.3390/insects14040392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Revised: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Members of the Cimicidae family are significant pests for mammals and birds, and they have attracted medical and veterinary interest. A number of recent studies have investigated bed bugs, due to their dramatic resurgence all over the world. Indeed, bed bugs are of significant public health and socioeconomic importance since they lead to financial burdens and dermatological complications and may have mental and psychological consequences. It is important to note that certain cimicids with a preference for specific hosts (birds and bats) use humans as an alternative host, and some cimicids have been reported to willingly feed on human blood. In addition, members of the Cimicidae family can lead to economic burdens and certain species are the vectors for pathogens responsible for diseases. Therefore, in this review, we aim to provide an update on the species within the Cimicidae family that have varying medical and veterinary impacts, including their distribution and their associated microorganisms. Various microbes have been documented in bed bugs and certain important pathogens have been experimentally documented to be passively transmitted by bed bugs, although no conclusive evidence has yet associated them with epidemiological outbreaks. Additionally, among the studied cimicids (bat bugs, chicken bugs, and swallow bugs), only the American swallow bug has been considered to be a vector of several arboviruses, although there is no proven evidence of transmission to humans or animals. Further studies are needed to elucidate the reason that certain species in the Cimicidae family cannot be biologically involved in transmission to humans or animals. Additional investigations are also required to better understand the roles of Cimicidae family members in the transmission of human pathogens in the field.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fatima Zohra Hamlili
- IHU-Méditerranée Infection, 19–21 Boulevard Jean Moulin, 13005 Marseille, France
- Department of VITROME, Aix Marseille Univ, IRD, AP-HM Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Marseille, SSA, 13005 Marseille, France
| | - Jean Michel Bérenger
- IHU-Méditerranée Infection, 19–21 Boulevard Jean Moulin, 13005 Marseille, France
- Department of VITROME, Aix Marseille Univ, IRD, AP-HM Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Marseille, SSA, 13005 Marseille, France
| | - Philippe Parola
- IHU-Méditerranée Infection, 19–21 Boulevard Jean Moulin, 13005 Marseille, France
- Department of VITROME, Aix Marseille Univ, IRD, AP-HM Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Marseille, SSA, 13005 Marseille, France
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Medinas D, Ribeiro V, Barbosa S, Valerio F, Marques JT, Rebelo H, Paupério J, Santos S, Mira A. Fine scale genetics reveals the subtle negative effects of roads on an endangered bat. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 869:161705. [PMID: 36682566 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.161705] [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: 04/25/2022] [Revised: 01/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The effective management of species with small and fragmented populations requires an in-depth understanding of how the effects of human-induced habitat disturbance shape the structure and gene flow at fine spatial scales. Identification of putative environmental barriers that affect individual exchange among subpopulations is imperative to prevent extinction risks. Here, we investigated how landscape affects the gene flow and relatedness structure of a population of the endangered lesser horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus hipposideros). We also assessed the effects of sexbiased dispersal on genetic relatedness. We genotyped 287 bat samples collected across southern Portugal and developed resistance surfaces for landscape variables hypothesized to affect gene flow. Then, we used spatially explicit models to fit relatedness distance through the resistance surfaces. We found genetic evidence of sex-biased dispersal and identified a significant fine scale structuring in the relatedness regarding females, the philopatric sex. Males displayed uniform levels of relatedness throughout the landscape. The results indicated less relatedness between the female´ from roosts located on proximity of roads than in roosts away from roads. Also, when analysing the sexes together the relatedness on roosts separated by highway were subtly less related in comparison to those occurring on the same side. Roads seem to be major shapers of the contemporary population structure of females, regardless of being relatively recent structures in the landscape. Furthermore, the relatedness patterns detected suggested that high tree density among roosts and continuity of forest patches in broader surrounding areas, promotes the relatedness among individuals. Landscape heterogeneity among roosts slightly decreases genetic relatedness. Nevertheless, those relationships are still weak, suggesting that population structuring driven by those factors is slowly ongoing. Thus, effective management measures should focus on issues for promoting safe road passages and suitable habitat corridors, allowing for the exchange of individuals and gene flow among lesser horseshoe bat roosts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Denis Medinas
- CIBIO/InBIO, Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, Pole of Évora, Research Network in Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, University of Évora, Mitra, 7002-554 Évora, Portugal; UBC, Conservation Biology Lab, Department of Biology, University of Évora, Mitra, 7002-554 Évora, Portugal.
| | - Vera Ribeiro
- UBC, Conservation Biology Lab, Department of Biology, University of Évora, Mitra, 7002-554 Évora, Portugal.
| | - Soraia Barbosa
- CIBIO/InBIO-UP, Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, University of Porto, Rua Padre Armando Quintas, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal.
| | - Francesco Valerio
- UBC, Conservation Biology Lab, Department of Biology, University of Évora, Mitra, 7002-554 Évora, Portugal; MED - Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development, University of Évora, Mitra, 7002-554 Évora, Portugal; EaRSLab-Earth Remote Sensing Laboratory, University of Évora, 7000-671 Évora, Portugal.
| | - João Tiago Marques
- UBC, Conservation Biology Lab, Department of Biology, University of Évora, Mitra, 7002-554 Évora, Portugal; MED - Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development, University of Évora, Mitra, 7002-554 Évora, Portugal.
| | - Hugo Rebelo
- CIBIO/InBIO-UP, Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, University of Porto, Rua Padre Armando Quintas, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal; CEABN-InBIO, Centre for Applied Ecology "Prof. Baeta Neves", Institute of Agronomy, University of Lisbon, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisbon, Portugal.
| | - Joana Paupério
- CIBIO/InBIO-UP, Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, University of Porto, Rua Padre Armando Quintas, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal.
| | - Sara Santos
- UBC, Conservation Biology Lab, Department of Biology, University of Évora, Mitra, 7002-554 Évora, Portugal; MED - Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development, University of Évora, Mitra, 7002-554 Évora, Portugal.
| | - António Mira
- UBC, Conservation Biology Lab, Department of Biology, University of Évora, Mitra, 7002-554 Évora, Portugal; MED - Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development, University of Évora, Mitra, 7002-554 Évora, Portugal.
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Giraldo-Martínez CA, Castillo-Figueroa D, Peñuela-Salgado MM, Poche-Ceballos AM, Rodríguez-León CH. Gastrointestinal parasites in phyllostomid bats from the Colombian Amazon. J NAT HIST 2023. [DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2023.2182240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/31/2023]
|
17
|
Rensel LJ, Hodges KE, Lausen CL. Maternity colony social structure of myotis in British Columbia, Canada. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-022-03265-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
|
18
|
Abreu F, Pika S. Turn-taking skills in mammals: A systematic review into development and acquisition. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.987253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
How human language evolved remains one of the most intriguing questions in science, and different approaches have been used to tackle this question. A recent hypothesis, the Interaction Engine Hypothesis, postulates that language was made possible through the special capacity for social interaction involving different social cognitive skills (e.g., joint attention, common ground) and specific characteristics such as face-to-face interaction, mutual gaze and turn-taking, the exchange of rapid communicative turns. Recently, it has been argued that this turn-taking infrastructure may be a foundational and ancient mechanism of the layered system of language because communicative turn-taking has been found in human infants and across several non-human primate species. Moreover, there is some evidence for turn-taking in different mammalian taxa, especially those capable of vocal learning. Surprisingly, however, the existing studies have mainly focused on turn-taking production of adult individuals, while little is known about its emergence and development in young individuals. Hence, the aim of the current paper was 2-fold: First, we carried out a systematic review of turn-taking development and acquisition in mammals to evaluate possible research bias and existing gaps. Second, we highlight research avenues to spur more research into this domain and investigate if distinct turn-taking elements can be found in other non-human animal species. Since mammals exhibit an extended development period, including learning and strong parental care, they represent an excellent model group in which to investigate the acquisition and development of turn-taking abilities. We performed a systematic review including a wide range of terms and found 21 studies presenting findings on turn-taking abilities in infants and juveniles. Most of these studies were from the last decade, showing an increased interest in this field over the years. Overall, we found a considerable variation in the terminologies and methodological approaches used. In addition, studies investigating turn-taking abilities across different development periods and in relation to different social partners were very rare, thereby hampering direct, systematic comparisons within and across species. Nonetheless, the results of some studies suggested that specific turn-taking elements are innate, while others are acquired during development (e.g., flexibility). Finally, we pinpoint fruitful research avenues and hypotheses to move the field of turn-taking development forward and improve our understanding of the impact of turn-taking on language evolution.
Collapse
|
19
|
Scherman SJ, Risch TS, Rolland V. Fall and winter activity of two bat species in response to winter flooding and decreasing temperature. Glob Ecol Conserv 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2022.e02276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/15/2022] Open
|
20
|
Harding CD, Yovel Y, Peirson SN, Hackett TD, Vyazovskiy VV. Re-examining extreme sleep duration in bats: implications for sleep phylogeny, ecology, and function. Sleep 2022; 45:zsac064. [PMID: 35279722 PMCID: PMC9366634 DOI: 10.1093/sleep/zsac064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2021] [Revised: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Bats, quoted as sleeping for up to 20 h a day, are an often used example of extreme sleep duration amongst mammals. Given that duration has historically been one of the primary metrics featured in comparative studies of sleep, it is important that species specific sleep durations are well founded. Here, we re-examined the evidence for the characterization of bats as extreme sleepers and discuss whether it provides a useful representation of the sleep behavior of Chiroptera. Although there are a wealth of activity data to suggest that the diurnal cycle of bats is dominated by rest, estimates of sleep time generated from electrophysiological analyses suggest considerable interspecific variation, ranging from 83% to a more moderate 61% of the 24 h day spent asleep. Temperature-dependent changes in the duration and electroencephalographic profile of sleep suggest that bats represent a unique model for investigating the relationship between sleep and torpor. Further sources of intra-specific variation in sleep duration, including the impact of artificial laboratory environments and sleep intensity, remain unexplored. Future studies conducted in naturalistic environments, using larger sample sizes and relying on a pre-determined set of defining criteria will undoubtedly provide novel insights into sleep in bats and other species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christian D Harding
- Department of Physiology Anatomy and Genetics, Sir Jules Thorn Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- The Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, Oxford, UK
| | - Yossi Yovel
- School of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
- Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Stuart N Peirson
- The Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, Oxford, UK
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Sir Jules Thorn Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | | | - Vladyslav V Vyazovskiy
- Department of Physiology Anatomy and Genetics, Sir Jules Thorn Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- The Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, Oxford, UK
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Sagot M, Giacomini G, Chaves-Ramírez S, Hernández-Pinsón HA, Chaverri G. Vocal behavior and the use of social information during roost finding. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.905925] [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
When selecting feeding, hiding, or resting areas, animals face multiple decisions with different fitness consequences. To maximize efficiency, individuals can either collect personal information, or use information gathered and transmitted by other individuals (social information). Within group living species, organisms often specialize in either generating social information or using information gathered by other groups members. That is the case of the Spix’s disk-winged bat, Thyroptera tricolor. This species uses contact calls during roost finding. Social groups are composed by a mix of vocal and non-vocal individuals and those vocal roles appear to be consistent over time. Moreover, their vocal behavior can predict roost finding in natural settings, suggesting that vocal individuals are capable of generating social information that can be used by other group members. To date, however, we do not know if when presented with social information (contact calls) during roost finding, vocal individuals will make more or less use of these cues, compared to non-vocal individuals. To answer this question, we broadcast contact calls from a roost inside a flight cage to test whether vocal individuals could find a potential roost faster than non-vocal individuals when they encounter sounds that signal the presence of a roost site. Our results suggest that non-vocal individuals select roost sites based primarily on social information, whereas vocal individuals do not rely heavily on social information when deciding where to roost. This study provides the first link between vocal behavior and the use of social information during the search for roosting resources in bats. Incorporating ideas of social roles, and how individuals decide when and where to move based on the use of social information, may shed some light on these and other outstanding questions about the social lives of bats.
Collapse
|
22
|
Amponsah‐Mensah K, Cunningham AA, Wood JLN, Ntiamoa‐Baidu Y. Roosting behavior and roost selection by
Epomophorus gambianus
(Pteropodidae) in a west African rural landscape. Biotropica 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/btp.13127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Yaa Ntiamoa‐Baidu
- Centre for Biodiversity Conservation Research University of Ghana Accra Ghana
- Department of Animal Biology and Conservation Science University of Ghana Accra Ghana
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Reyes GA, Szewczak JM. Attraction to conspecific social-calls in a migratory, solitary, foliage-roosting bat (Lasiurus cinereus). Sci Rep 2022; 12:9519. [PMID: 35681024 PMCID: PMC9184723 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-13645-9] [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: 01/30/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
As a migratory, cryptic, foliage-roosting bat with a mostly solitary roosting behavior we have an incomplete understanding of the social behavior of the hoary bat, Lasiurus cinereus. In this species most social interactions between conspecifics are thought to involve mating behavior or territorial disputes. Developing a more complete understanding of the social behavior of this species would provide critical insight to address conservation challenges including high fatality rates from wind turbines during the period of fall migration. We tested the response of hoary bats to conspecific social call playback during the spring and fall migration to: (1) test whether conspecific social call broadcasting attracts or repels individual bats; (2) examine whether there are seasonal differences in these responses; (3) describe the structure and variation of recorded social calls; and (4) test whether conspecific social call playback can increase capture success. Hoary bats were attracted to social call broadcasting during both the spring and fall migration. Hoary bats produced social calls during the spring and fall migration, and when only males were present, suggesting a social function not associated with mating. While calls were variable in frequency and length, social calls tended to be a consistent upsloping shape. Attraction to social calls suggests social interactions not associated with mating behavior in hoary bats, and this technique proved successful as an acoustic lure to aid in capture and study of this elusive species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel A Reyes
- Department of Biological Sciences, Cal Poly Humboldt, Arcata, CA, 95521, USA. .,Dixon Field Station, Western Ecological Research Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Dixon, California, 95620, USA. .,Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of California, Davis, California, 95616, USA.
| | - Joseph M Szewczak
- Department of Biological Sciences, Cal Poly Humboldt, Arcata, CA, 95521, USA
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Kerth G. Long-term field studies in bat research: importance for basic and applied research questions in animal behavior. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2022; 76:75. [PMID: 35669868 PMCID: PMC9135593 DOI: 10.1007/s00265-022-03180-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Revised: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Animal species differ considerably in longevity. Among mammals, short-lived species such as shrews have a maximum lifespan of about a year, whereas long-lived species such as whales can live for more than two centuries. Because of their slow pace of life, long-lived species are typically of high conservation concern and of special scientific interest. This applies not only to large mammals such as whales, but also to small-sized bats and mole-rats. To understand the typically complex social behavior of long-lived mammals and protect their threatened populations, field studies that cover substantial parts of a species' maximum lifespan are required. However, long-term field studies on mammals are an exception because the collection of individualized data requires considerable resources over long time periods in species where individuals can live for decades. Field studies that span decades do not fit well in the current career and funding regime in science. This is unfortunate, as the existing long-term studies on mammals yielded exciting insights into animal behavior and contributed data important for protecting their populations. Here, I present results of long-term field studies on the behavior, demography, and life history of bats, with a particular focus on my long-term studies on wild Bechstein's bats. I show that long-term studies on individually marked populations are invaluable to understand the social system of bats, investigate the causes and consequences of their extraordinary longevity, and assess their responses to changing environments with the aim to efficiently protect these unique mammals in the face of anthropogenic global change.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gerald Kerth
- Zoological Institute and Museum, Applied Zoology and Nature Conservation, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Silva-Ramos CR, Chala-Quintero SM, Faccini-Martínez ÁA, Hidalgo M, Pulido-Villamarín ADP, Pérez-Torres J, Cuervo C. Pathogenic Leptospira Species in Bats: Molecular Detection in a Colombian Cave. Trop Med Infect Dis 2022; 7:84. [PMID: 35736963 PMCID: PMC9227167 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed7060084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2022] [Revised: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Leptospirosis is caused by pathogenic Leptospira spp., which can be found in nature among domestic and wild animals. In Colombia, the Macaregua cave is known for its bat richness; thus, because bats are reservoir hosts of human microbiological pathogens, we determined if the Macaregua cave bats harbored Leptospira in the wild. A total of 85 kidney samples were collected from three bat species (Carollia perspicillata, Mormoops megalophylla, and Natalus tumidirostris) to detect Leptospira spp. The 16S rRNA gene was targeted through conventional PCR and qPCR; in addition, the LipL32 gene was detected using conventional PCR. Obtained amplicons were purified and sequenced for phylogenetic analysis. The Leptospira spp. 16S rRNA gene was detected in 51.8% bat kidneys, of which 35 sequences were obtained, all clustering within the pathogenic group. Moreover, 11 sequences presented high-identity-values with Leptospiranoguchii, Leptospiraalexanderi, Leptospiraborgpetersenii, Leptospirakirschneri, and Leptospiramayottensis. From the 16S rRNALeptospira spp.-positive population samples, 28 amplified for the LipL32 gene, and 23 sequences clustered in five different phylogenetic groups. In conclusion, we detected the circulation of different groups of Leptospira spp. sequences among cave bats in the wild; some sequences were detected in more than one bat specimen from the same species, suggesting a conspecific transmission within the cave.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Ramiro Silva-Ramos
- Grupo de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá 110231, Colombia; (C.R.S.-R.); (S.M.C.-Q.); (M.H.)
| | - Sandra M. Chala-Quintero
- Grupo de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá 110231, Colombia; (C.R.S.-R.); (S.M.C.-Q.); (M.H.)
| | - Álvaro A. Faccini-Martínez
- Instituto de investigaciones, Fundación Universitaria de Ciencias de la Salud—FUCS, Bogotá 110231, Colombia;
- Servicios y Asesorías en Infectología – SAI, Bogotá 110231, Colombia
- Committee of Tropical Medicine, Zoonoses and Travel Medicine, Asociación Colombiana de Infectología, Bogotá 110231, Colombia
| | - Marylin Hidalgo
- Grupo de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá 110231, Colombia; (C.R.S.-R.); (S.M.C.-Q.); (M.H.)
| | - Adriana del Pilar Pulido-Villamarín
- Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Unidad de Investigaciones Agropecuarias (UNIDIA), Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá 110231, Colombia;
| | - Jairo Pérez-Torres
- Laboratorio de Ecología Funcional, Facultad de Ciencias, Unidad de Ecología y Sistemática (UNESIS), Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá 110231, Colombia;
| | - Claudia Cuervo
- Grupo de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá 110231, Colombia; (C.R.S.-R.); (S.M.C.-Q.); (M.H.)
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Castillo-Figueroa D. Does Bergmann’s rule apply in bats? Evidence from two neotropical species. NEOTROPICAL BIODIVERSITY 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/23766808.2022.2075530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Dennis Castillo-Figueroa
- Biology Department, Unidad de Ecología Y Sistemática (UNESIS), Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
- Biology Department, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Universidad Del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Arnold B, De La Cruz Mora JM, Roesch J. Assessing the Structure and Function of Distress Calls in Cuban Fruit-Eating Bats (Brachyphylla nana). Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.907751] [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
Most bat species are highly social and utilize a variety of calls to communicate with each other including distress calls that may warn other bats of potential threats. The function of these calls in different species varies and could include eliciting help or acting as a warning signal to stay away. In this study, Cuban fruit-eating bats, Brachyphylla nana, were captured from La Barca Cave in Guanahacabibes National Park, Cuba and distress calls were recorded to examine call structure and variability among different bats. We used Avisoft SASlab pro to analyze 14 different spectral and temporal characteristics of the calls and utilized factor analysis to reduce the dimensionality in the data set and assess variability in call structure. The recorded calls and a pink noise control were used in a playback experiment inside the cave to analyze how bats respond to distress calls. An infrared video camera and ultrasonic microphone were used during the playback to determine if there were any changes in bat behavior, such as an increase in calls observed, bats flying by the speaker, or bats leaving the area. Our results suggest that call structure is variable with limited evidence that call characteristics are unique to specific individuals. Our playbacks suggest that these calls serve a social function in that the number of bats approaching the speaker increased during distress call playbacks relative to the control. Future work will include building on these results to further explore Brachyphylla nana social behavior including anti-predatory behavior and social communication.
Collapse
|
28
|
Perony N, Kerth G, Schweitzer F. Data-driven modelling of group formation in the fission-fusion dynamics of Bechstein's bats. J R Soc Interface 2022; 19:20220170. [PMID: 35506214 PMCID: PMC9065967 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2022.0170] [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] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Communal roosting in Bechstein’s bat colonies is characterized by the formation of several groups that use different day roosts and that regularly dissolve and re-merge (fission–fusion dynamics). Analysing data from two colonies of different sizes over many years, we find that (i) the number of days that bats stay in the same roost before changing follows an exponential distribution that is independent of the colony size and (ii) the number and size of groups that bats formed for roosting depend on the size of the colony, such that above a critical colony size two to six groups of different sizes are formed. To model these two observations, we propose an agent-based model in which agents make their decisions about roosts based on both random and social influences. For the latter, they copy the roost preference of another agent which models the transfer of the respective information. Our model is able to reproduce both the distribution of stay length in the same roost and the emergence of groups of different sizes dependent on the colony size. Moreover, we are able to predict the critical system size at which the formation of different groups emerges without global coordination. We further comment on dynamics that bridge the roosting decisions on short time scales (less than 1 day) with the social structures observed at long time scales (more than 1 year).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Perony
- Chair of Systems Design, ETH Zurich, Weinbergstrasse 56/58, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Gerald Kerth
- Applied Zoology and Nature Conservation, University of Greifswald, Loitzer Strasse 26, 17489 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Frank Schweitzer
- Chair of Systems Design, ETH Zurich, Weinbergstrasse 56/58, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Rimbach R, Hartman KJ, Currin C, Schradin C, Pillay N. Females of solitary- and group-living sister species of African striped mice show a similar social structure following experimentally imposed group-living. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-022-03144-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
|
30
|
OUP accepted manuscript. J Mammal 2022. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyac019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
|
31
|
Goldshtein A, Harten L, Yovel Y. Mother bats facilitate pup navigation learning. Curr Biol 2021; 32:350-360.e4. [PMID: 34822768 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2021.11.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Revised: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Learning where to forage and how to navigate to foraging sites are among the most essential skills that infants must acquire. How they do so is poorly understood. Numerous bat species carry their young in flight while foraging. This behavior is costly, and the benefits for the offspring are not fully clear. Using GPS tracking of both mothers and bat pups, we documented the pups' ontogeny from being non-volant to foraging independently. Our results suggest that mothers facilitate learning of navigation, assisting their pups with future foraging, by repeatedly placing them on specific trees and by behaving in a manner that seemed to encourage learning. Once independent, pups first flew alone to the same sites that they were carried to by their mothers, following similar routes used by their mothers, after which they began exploring new sites. Notably, in our observations, pups never independently followed their mothers in flight but were always carried by them, suggesting that learning occurred while passively being transported upside down.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aya Goldshtein
- School of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Lee Harten
- School of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Yossi Yovel
- School of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel; Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel; Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin, Berlin 14193, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Lunn TJ, Peel AJ, Eby P, Brooks R, Plowright RK, Kessler MK, McCallum H. Counterintuitive scaling between population abundance and local density: Implications for modelling transmission of infectious diseases in bat populations. J Anim Ecol 2021; 91:916-932. [PMID: 34778965 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Models of host-pathogen interactions help to explain infection dynamics in wildlife populations and to predict and mitigate the risk of zoonotic spillover. Insights from models inherently depend on the way contacts between hosts are modelled, and crucially, how transmission scales with animal density. Bats are important reservoirs of zoonotic disease and are among the most gregarious of all mammals. Their population structures can be highly heterogeneous, underpinned by ecological processes across different scales, complicating assumptions regarding the nature of contacts and transmission. Although models commonly parameterise transmission using metrics of total abundance, whether this is an ecologically representative approximation of host-pathogen interactions is not routinely evaluated. We collected a 13-month dataset of tree-roosting Pteropus spp. from 2,522 spatially referenced trees across eight roosts to empirically evaluate the relationship between total roost abundance and tree-level measures of abundance and density-the scale most likely to be relevant for virus transmission. We also evaluate whether roost features at different scales (roost level, subplot level, tree level) are predictive of these local density dynamics. Roost-level features were not representative of tree-level abundance (bats per tree) or tree-level density (bats per m2 or m3 ), with roost-level models explaining minimal variation in tree-level measures. Total roost abundance itself was either not a significant predictor (tree-level 3D density) or only weakly predictive (tree-level abundance). This indicates that basic measures, such as total abundance of bats in a roost, may not provide adequate approximations for population dynamics at scales relevant for transmission, and that alternative measures are needed to compare transmission potential between roosts. From the best candidate models, the strongest predictor of local population structure was tree density within roosts, where roosts with low tree density had a higher abundance but lower density of bats (more spacing between bats) per tree. Together, these data highlight unpredictable and counterintuitive relationships between total abundance and local density. More nuanced modelling of transmission, spread and spillover from bats likely requires alternative approaches to integrating contact structure in host-pathogen models, rather than simply modifying the transmission function.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tamika J Lunn
- Centre for Planetary Health and Food Security, Griffith University, Brisbane, Qld, Australia
| | - Alison J Peel
- Centre for Planetary Health and Food Security, Griffith University, Brisbane, Qld, Australia
| | - Peggy Eby
- Centre for Planetary Health and Food Security, Griffith University, Brisbane, Qld, Australia.,School of Biological Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Remy Brooks
- Centre for Planetary Health and Food Security, Griffith University, Brisbane, Qld, Australia
| | - Raina K Plowright
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA
| | | | - Hamish McCallum
- Centre for Planetary Health and Food Security, Griffith University, Brisbane, Qld, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Furmankiewicz J, Jones G. Bats (Plecotus auritus) use contact calls for communication among roost mates. Mamm Biol 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s42991-021-00190-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
AbstractCommunication between group members is mediated by a diverse range of signals. Contact calls are produced by many species of birds and mammals to maintain group cohesion and associations among individuals. Contact calls in bats are typically relatively low-frequency social calls, produced only for communication. However, echolocation calls (higher in frequency and used primarily for orientation and prey detection) can also facilitate interaction among individuals and location of conspecifics in the roost. We studied calling behaviour of brown long-eared bats (Plecotus auritus) during return to maternity roosts in response to playbacks of social and echolocation calls. We hypothesised that calling by conspecifics would elicit responses in colony members. Bat responses (inspection flights and social calls production) were significantly highest during social call and echolocation call playbacks than during noise (control) playbacks. We suggest that social calling in maternity roosts of brown long-eared bat evolved to maintain associations among roostmates, rather than to find roosts or roostmates, because this species is strongly faithful to roosts and the social groups and roosts are stable over time and space. Living in a stable social group requires recognition of group members and affiliation of social bonds with group members, features that may be mediated by vocal signals.
Collapse
|
34
|
Rose MC, Styr B, Schmid TA, Elie JE, Yartsev MM. Cortical representation of group social communication in bats. Science 2021; 374:eaba9584. [PMID: 34672724 PMCID: PMC8775406 DOI: 10.1126/science.aba9584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Social interactions occur in group settings and are mediated by communication signals that are exchanged between individuals, often using vocalizations. The neural representation of group social communication remains largely unexplored. We conducted simultaneous wireless electrophysiological recordings from the frontal cortices of groups of Egyptian fruit bats engaged in both spontaneous and task-induced vocal interactions. We found that the activity of single neurons distinguished between vocalizations produced by self and by others, as well as among specific individuals. Coordinated neural activity among group members exhibited stable bidirectional interbrain correlation patterns specific to spontaneous communicative interactions. Tracking social and spatial arrangements within a group revealed a relationship between social preferences and intra- and interbrain activity patterns. Combined, these findings reveal a dedicated neural repertoire for group social communication within and across the brains of freely communicating groups of bats.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maimon C. Rose
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Boaz Styr
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Tobias A. Schmid
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Julie E. Elie
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Michael M. Yartsev
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Maldonado‐Chaparro AA, Chaverri G. Why do animal groups matter for conservation and management? CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/csp2.550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | - Gloriana Chaverri
- Sede del Sur, Universidad de Costa Rica Golfito Costa Rica
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute Ancón Panama
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Pejić B, Budinski I, van Schaik J, Blagojević J. Sharing roosts but not ectoparasites: high host-specificity in bat flies and wing mites of Miniopterus schreibersii and Rhinolophus ferrumequinum (Mammalia: Chiroptera). Curr Zool 2021; 68:507-516. [DOI: 10.1093/cz/zoab086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Schreiber’s bent-winged bat Miniopterus schreibersii and the greater horseshoe bat Rhinolophus ferrumequinum are widespread and common cavernicolous species across southern Europe that host numerous specialized ectoparasite species. The objective of this study was to characterize the species assemblage, genetic diversity, and host specificity of bat flies (Nycteribiidae, Diptera) and wing mites (Spinturnicidae, Acari) found on these bat hosts in Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Notably, while bat flies lay puparia on the cave walls and can thus be transmitted indirectly, wing mites require direct body contact for transmission. Morphological identification and sequencing of a 710-bp fragment of cytochrome oxidase I gene of 207 bat flies yielded 4 species, 3 on M. schreibersii and 1 on R. ferrumequinum. Sequencing of a 460-bp small subunit ribosomal RNA fragment, in all 190 collected wing mites revealed 2 species, 1 per host. In no case was a parasite associated with 1 host found on the other host. Species and genetic diversity of flies were higher in M. schreibersii, likely reflecting their host’s larger colony sizes and migratory potential. Mite species of both hosts showed similarly low diversity, likely due to their faster life history and lower winter survival. Our findings highlight a remarkably high host-specificity and segregation of ectoparasite species despite direct contact among their hosts in the roost, suggesting a defined host preference in the investigated ectoparasite species. Furthermore, the differences in ectoparasite genetic diversity exemplify the interplay between host and parasite life histories in shaping parasite population genetic structure.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Branka Pejić
- Department of Genetic Research, Institute for Biological Research “Siniša Stanković”, National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University in Belgrade. Bulevar despota Stefana 142, Belgrade 11060, Serbia
| | - Ivana Budinski
- Department of Genetic Research, Institute for Biological Research “Siniša Stanković”, National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University in Belgrade. Bulevar despota Stefana 142, Belgrade 11060, Serbia
| | - Jaap van Schaik
- Applied Zoology and Nature Conservation, Zoological Institute and Museum, University of Greifswald, Loitzer Strasse 26, Greifswald 17489, Germany
| | - Jelena Blagojević
- Department of Genetic Research, Institute for Biological Research “Siniša Stanković”, National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University in Belgrade. Bulevar despota Stefana 142, Belgrade 11060, Serbia
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Fernandez AA, Schmidt C, Schmidt S, Rodríguez-Herrera B, Knörnschild M. Social behaviour and vocalizations of the tent-roosting Honduran white bat. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0248452. [PMID: 34379619 PMCID: PMC8357122 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0248452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 07/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Bats are highly gregarious animals, displaying a large spectrum of social systems with different organizational structures. One important factor shaping sociality is group stability. To maintain group cohesion and stability, bats often rely on vocal communication. The Honduran white bat, Ectophylla alba, exhibits an unusual social structure compared to other tent-roosting species. This small white-furred bat lives in perennial stable mixed-sex groups. Tent construction requires several individuals and, as the only tent roosting species so far, involves both sexes. The bats´ social system and ecology render this species an interesting candidate to study social behaviour and vocal communication. In our study, we investigated the social behaviour and vocalizations of E. alba in the tent by observing two stable groups, including pups, in the wild. We documented 16 different behaviours, among others play and fur chewing, a behaviour presumably used for scent-marking. Moreover, we found 10 distinct social call types in addition to echolocation calls, and for seven call types we were able to identify the corresponding broad behavioural context. Most of the social call types were affiliative, including two types of contact calls, maternal directive calls, pup isolation calls and a call type related to the fur-chewing behaviour. In sum, this study entails an ethogram and describes the social vocalizations of a tent-roosting phyllostomid bat, providing the basis for further in-depth studies about the sociality and vocal communication in E. alba.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ahana Aurora Fernandez
- Museum für Naturkunde—Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, Berlin, Germany
- * E-mail: (AAF); (MK)
| | | | - Stefanie Schmidt
- Institute of Conservation Genomics, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Bernal Rodríguez-Herrera
- Escuela de Biología, Centro de Investigación en Biodiversidad y Ecología Tropical, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Mirjam Knörnschild
- Museum für Naturkunde—Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, Berlin, Germany
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Balboa, Panama
- Animal Behavior Lab, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- * E-mail: (AAF); (MK)
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Common Themes in Zoonotic Spillover and Disease Emergence: Lessons Learned from Bat- and Rodent-Borne RNA Viruses. Viruses 2021; 13:v13081509. [PMID: 34452374 PMCID: PMC8402684 DOI: 10.3390/v13081509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2021] [Revised: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Rodents (order Rodentia), followed by bats (order Chiroptera), comprise the largest percentage of living mammals on earth. Thus, it is not surprising that these two orders account for many of the reservoirs of the zoonotic RNA viruses discovered to date. The spillover of these viruses from wildlife to human do not typically result in pandemics but rather geographically confined outbreaks of human infection and disease. While limited geographically, these viruses cause thousands of cases of human disease each year. In this review, we focus on three questions regarding zoonotic viruses that originate in bats and rodents. First, what biological strategies have evolved that allow RNA viruses to reside in bats and rodents? Second, what are the environmental and ecological causes that drive viral spillover? Third, how does virus spillover occur from bats and rodents to humans?
Collapse
|
39
|
Cornelius Ruhs E, Becker DJ, Oakey SJ, Ogunsina O, Fenton MB, Simmons NB, Martin LB, Downs CJ. Body size affects immune cell proportions in birds and non-volant mammals, but not bats. J Exp Biol 2021; 224:269058. [PMID: 34104965 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.241109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 06/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Powered flight has evolved several times in vertebrates and constrains morphology and physiology in ways that likely have shaped how organisms cope with infections. Some of these constraints probably have impacts on aspects of immunology, such that larger fliers might prioritize risk reduction and safety. Addressing how the evolution of flight may have driven relationships between body size and immunity could be particularly informative for understanding the propensity of some taxa to harbor many virulent and sometimes zoonotic pathogens without showing clinical disease. Here, we used a comparative framework to quantify scaling relationships between body mass and the proportions of two types of white blood cells - lymphocytes and granulocytes (neutrophils/heterophils) - across 63 bat species, 400 bird species and 251 non-volant mammal species. By using phylogenetically informed statistical models on field-collected data from wild Neotropical bats and from captive bats, non-volant mammals and birds, we show that lymphocyte and neutrophil proportions do not vary systematically with body mass among bats. In contrast, larger birds and non-volant mammals have disproportionately higher granulocyte proportions than expected for their body size. Our inability to distinguish bat lymphocyte scaling from birds and bat granulocyte scaling from all other taxa suggests there may be other ecological explanations (i.e. not flight related) for the cell proportion scaling patterns. Future comparative studies of wild bats, birds and non-volant mammals of similar body mass should aim to further differentiate evolutionary effects and other aspects of life history on immune defense and its role in the tolerance of (zoonotic) infections.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emily Cornelius Ruhs
- Global Health and Infectious Disease Research, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Daniel J Becker
- Department of Biology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019, USA
| | - Samantha J Oakey
- Global Health and Infectious Disease Research, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Ololade Ogunsina
- Global Health and Infectious Disease Research, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - M Brock Fenton
- Department of Biology, Western University, London, ON, Canada, N6A 5B7
| | - Nancy B Simmons
- Department of Mammalogy, Division of Vertebrate Zoology, American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY 10024-5102, USA
| | - Lynn B Martin
- Global Health and Infectious Disease Research, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Cynthia J Downs
- Department of Environmental and Forest Biology, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Lunn TJ, Peel AJ, McCallum H, Eby P, Kessler MK, Plowright RK, Restif O. Spatial dynamics of pathogen transmission in communally roosting species: Impacts of changing habitats on bat-virus dynamics. J Anim Ecol 2021; 90:2609-2622. [PMID: 34192345 PMCID: PMC8441687 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The spatial organization of populations determines their pathogen dynamics. This is particularly important for communally roosting species, whose aggregations are often driven by the spatial structure of their environment. We develop a spatially explicit model for virus transmission within roosts of Australian tree‐dwelling bats (Pteropus spp.), parameterized to reflect Hendra virus. The spatial structure of roosts mirrors three study sites, and viral transmission between groups of bats in trees was modelled as a function of distance between roost trees. Using three levels of tree density to reflect anthropogenic changes in bat habitats, we investigate the potential effects of recent ecological shifts in Australia on the dynamics of zoonotic viruses in reservoir hosts. We show that simulated infection dynamics in spatially structured roosts differ from that of mean‐field models for equivalently sized populations, highlighting the importance of spatial structure in disease models of gregarious taxa. Under contrasting scenarios of flying‐fox roosting structures, sparse stand structures (with fewer trees but more bats per tree) generate higher probabilities of successful outbreaks, larger and faster epidemics, and shorter virus extinction times, compared to intermediate and dense stand structures with more trees but fewer bats per tree. These observations are consistent with the greater force of infection generated by structured populations with less numerous but larger infected groups, and may flag an increased risk of pathogen spillover from these increasingly abundant roost types. Outputs from our models contribute insights into the spread of viruses in structured animal populations, like communally roosting species, as well as specific insights into Hendra virus infection dynamics and spillover risk in a situation of changing host ecology. These insights will be relevant for modelling other zoonotic viruses in wildlife reservoir hosts in response to habitat modification and changing populations, including coronaviruses like SARS‐CoV‐2.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tamika J Lunn
- Centre for Planetary Health and Food Security, Griffith University, Brisbane, Qld, Australia.,School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Brisbane, Qld, Australia
| | - Alison J Peel
- Centre for Planetary Health and Food Security, Griffith University, Brisbane, Qld, Australia
| | - Hamish McCallum
- Centre for Planetary Health and Food Security, Griffith University, Brisbane, Qld, Australia.,School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Brisbane, Qld, Australia
| | - Peggy Eby
- Centre for Planetary Health and Food Security, Griffith University, Brisbane, Qld, Australia.,School of Biological Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Maureen K Kessler
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA
| | | | - Olivier Restif
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Hsu C, Kao M, Chou C, Cheng H, Liu J. Tests of hypotheses for group formation in the subtropical leaf-dwelling bat, Kerivoula furva. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:6730-6741. [PMID: 34141253 PMCID: PMC8207392 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2020] [Revised: 03/06/2021] [Accepted: 03/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Investigating factors that promote group living in animals can help us to understand the evolution of sociality. The dark woolly bat, Kerivoula furva, forms small groups and uses furled leaves of banana (Musa formosana) as day roosts in subtropical Taiwan. In this study, we reported on the roosting ecology and social organization of K. furva. We examined whether ecological constraints, demographic traits, and physiological demands contributed to its sociality. From July 2014 to May 2016, we investigated the daily roost occupation rate, group size, and composition of each roost, and we calculated association indices in pairs. The results showed K. furva lived in groups throughout the year, and the average daily roost occupation rate was approximately 6.7% of all furled leaves that were suitable for roosting. The size of roosting groups of adults in each roost varied between 1 and 13; group size was independent of air temperature during both reproductive and nonreproductive seasons. The vast majority of roosting groups was composed of females and their young, and males frequently roosted solitarily or in a bachelor group. Forty adult bats were captured ≥4 times during the study period. The association indices in pairs of these 40 bats ranged between 0 and 0.83 with an average of 0.05 ± 0.14 (n = 780). The average association index of female-female pairs was significantly higher than that of female-male pairs and male-male pairs. Based on the association indices, the 40 bats were divided into seven social groups with social group sizes that varied between 2 and 10. Despite changing day roosts frequently, the relatively stable social bonds were maintained year-round. Our results that groups of K. furva were formed by active aggregation of multiple generation members supported the demographic traits hypothesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chia‐Wei Hsu
- Department of Forestry and Natural ResourcesNational Chiayi UniversityChiayi CityTaiwan
| | - Mei‐Ting Kao
- Department of Forestry and Natural ResourcesNational Chiayi UniversityChiayi CityTaiwan
| | - Cheng‐Han Chou
- Department of Forestry and Natural ResourcesNational Chiayi UniversityChiayi CityTaiwan
| | - Hsi‐Chi Cheng
- Endemic Species Research InstituteCouncil of AgricultureJiji TownshipTaiwan
| | - Jian‐Nan Liu
- Department of Forestry and Natural ResourcesNational Chiayi UniversityChiayi CityTaiwan
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Waag AG, Treanor JJ, Kropczynski JN, Johnson JS. Social networks based on frequency of roost cohabitation do not reflect association rates of Myotis lucifugus within their roosts. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:5927-5936. [PMID: 34141193 PMCID: PMC8207371 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2020] [Revised: 12/30/2020] [Accepted: 01/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Bats are a group of mammals well known for forming dynamic social groups. Studies of bat social structures are often based upon the frequency at which bats occupy the same roosts because observing bats directly is not always possible. However, it is not always clear how closely bats occupying the same roost associate with each other, obscuring whether associations result from social relationships or factors such as shared preferences for roosts. Our goal was to determine if bats cohabitating buildings were also found together inside roosts by using anti-collision technology for PIT tags, which enables simultaneous detection of multiple tags. We PIT-tagged 293 female little brown myotis (Myotis lucifugus) and installed antennas within two buildings used as maternity roosts in Yellowstone National Park. Antennas were positioned at roost entryways to generate cohabitation networks and along regions of attic ceilings in each building to generate intraroost networks based on proximity of bats to each other. We found that intraroost and cohabitation networks of buildings were significantly correlated, with the same bats tending to be linked in both networks, but that bats cohabitating the same building often roosted apart, leading to differing assessments of social structure. Cohabitation rates implied that bats associate with a greater number of their roost-mates than was supported by observations within the roost. This caused social networks built upon roost cohabitation rates to be denser, smaller in diameter, and contain nodes with higher average degree centrality. These results show that roost cohabitation does not reflect preference for roost-mates in little brown myotis, as is often inferred from similar studies, and that social network analyses based on cohabitation may provide misleading results.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Austin G. Waag
- Department of Biological SciencesOhio UniversityAthensOHUSA
| | - John J. Treanor
- United States National Park ServiceYellowstone National ParkMammoth Hot SpringsWYUSA
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
43
|
Kerr NZ, Malfi RL, Williams NM, Crone EE. Larger workers outperform smaller workers across resource environments: An evaluation of demographic data using functional linear models. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:2814-2827. [PMID: 33767838 PMCID: PMC7981203 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2020] [Accepted: 01/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Behavior and organization of social groups is thought to be vital to the functioning of societies, yet the contributions of various roles within social groups toward population growth and dynamics have been difficult to quantify. A common approach to quantifying these role-based contributions is evaluating the number of individuals conducting certain roles, which ignores how behavior might scale up to effects at the population-level. Manipulative experiments are another common approach to determine population-level effects, but they often ignore potential feedbacks associated with these various roles.Here, we evaluate the effects of worker size distribution in bumblebee colonies on worker production in 24 observational colonies across three environments, using functional linear models. Functional linear models are an underused correlative technique that has been used to assess lag effects of environmental drivers on plant performance. We demonstrate potential applications of this technique for exploring high-dimensional ecological systems, such as the contributions of individuals with different traits to colony dynamics.We found that more larger workers had mostly positive effects and more smaller workers had negative effects on worker production. Most of these effects were only detected under low or fluctuating resource environments suggesting that the advantage of colonies with larger-bodied workers becomes more apparent under stressful conditions.We also demonstrate the wider ecological application of functional linear models. We highlight the advantages and limitations when considering these models, and how they are a valuable complement to many of these performance-based and manipulative experiments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Natalie Z. Kerr
- Department of BiologyTufts UniversityMedfordMAUSA
- Department of BiologyDuke UniversityDurhamNCUSA
| | - Rosemary L. Malfi
- Department of BiologyUniversity of Massachusetts‐AmherstAmherstMAUSA
| | - Neal M. Williams
- Department of Entomology and NematologyUniversity of CaliforniaDavisCAUSA
| | | |
Collapse
|
44
|
Santos JD, Meyer CF, Ibáñez C, Popa-Lisseanu AG, Juste J. Kin structure and roost fidelity in greater noctule bats. Basic Appl Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.baae.2021.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
|
45
|
Ocampo‐González P, López‐Wilchis R, Espinoza‐Medinilla EE, Rioja‐Paradela TM. A review of the breeding biology of Chiroptera. Mamm Rev 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/mam.12236] [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]
Affiliation(s)
- Paola Ocampo‐González
- Programa de Doctorado en Ciencias en Biodiversiad y Conservación de Ecosistemas Tropicales Instituto de Ciencias Biológicas Universidad de Ciencias y Artes de Chiapas Libramiento Norte Poniente 1150, Colonia Lajas Maciel Tuxtla Gutiérrez Chiapas29039México
| | - Ricardo López‐Wilchis
- Departamento de Biología Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana‐Iztapalapa Av. San Rafael Atlixco 186, Col. Vicentina Ciudad de México09340México
| | - Eduardo E. Espinoza‐Medinilla
- Instituto de Ciencias Biológicas Universidad de Ciencias y Artes de Chiapas Libramiento Norte Poniente 1150, Colonia Lajas Maciel Tuxtla Gutiérrez Chiapas29039México
| | - Tamara M. Rioja‐Paradela
- Posgrado en Ciencias en Desarrollo Sustentable y Gestión de Riesgos Universidad de Ciencias y Artes de Chiapas Libramiento Norte Poniente 1150, Colonia Lajas Maciel Tuxtla Gutiérrez Chiapas29039México
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Gutiérrez EG, Vivas-Toro I, Carmona-Ruíz D, Villalobos-Chaves D, Rodríguez-Herrera B, Real-Monroy MD, León-Avila G, Ortega J. Socio-spatial organization reveals paternity and low kinship in the Honduran white bat (Ectophylla alba) in Costa Rica. Integr Zool 2021; 16:646-658. [PMID: 33411951 DOI: 10.1111/1749-4877.12514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Ectophylla alba is a tent-making bat that roosts in mixed-sex clusters comprising adults and offspring. Our goal was to determine the genetic identity of individuals belonging to different roosting groups. We tested the hypothesis of kin selection as a major force structuring group composition. We used 9 microsatellites designed for E. alba to determine the genetic identity and probability of parentage of individuals. We analyzed parentage and kinship using the software ML-Relate, GenAIEx, and Cervus. The obtained relationship probabilities (0.5) revealed a clear maternal relationship between female adults and offspring with allele compatibility, and at least 5 relationships between male adults and pups. We found a low degree of relatedness within roosting groups. Between roosting groups at different sites, the mean probability of a half-sibling relationship ranged from 0.214 to 0.244 and, for full-sibling relationship, from 0.383 to 0.553. Genetically, adult individuals were poorly related within clusters, and kinship as an evolutionary force could not explain group membership.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Edgar G Gutiérrez
- Laboratorio de Bioconservación y Manejo, Posgrado en Ciencias Quimicobiológicas, Departamento de Zoología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Isabela Vivas-Toro
- Laboratorio de Bioconservación y Manejo, Posgrado en Ciencias Quimicobiológicas, Departamento de Zoología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Daniela Carmona-Ruíz
- Laboratorio de Bioconservación y Manejo, Posgrado en Ciencias Quimicobiológicas, Departamento de Zoología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Ciudad de México, México
| | | | | | - Melina Del Real-Monroy
- Laboratorio de Genómica Evolutiva, Doctorado en Ciencias Básicas, Universidad Autónoma de Zacatecas, Zacatecas, Zac., México
| | - Gloria León-Avila
- Laboratorio de Genética, Posgrado en Ciencias Quimicobiológicas, Departamento de Zoología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Jorge Ortega
- Laboratorio de Bioconservación y Manejo, Posgrado en Ciencias Quimicobiológicas, Departamento de Zoología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Ciudad de México, México
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Garbino GST, Feijó A, Beltrão-Mendes R, Da Rocha PA. Evolution of litter size in bats and its influence on longevity and roosting ecology. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blaa203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Litter size varies in mammals, with about half of the species producing at least two offspring per gestation (polytocy). In bats, however, the modal litter size is one (monotocy), and polytocy is restricted to family Vespertilionidae. Here, we reconstruct the evolutionary history of polytocy in chiropterans and use phylogenetically informed regressions to investigate its relationship to roost type, longevity and group size. Our phylogenetic reconstructions suggested that production of multiple offspring was the ancestral condition in family Vespertilionidae. The distribution of monotocy/polytocy in Chiroptera was best explained by a minimum of two evolutionary transitions from monotocy to polytocy and by ≥ 18 transitions from polytocy to monotocy. The regression models showed that longevity and roost type explained the variation in litter size, whereas group size did not. Our analyses also revealed a greater diversity of polytocous bats in the Northern Hemisphere, in both temperate and tropical regions. We suggest that the high resource allocation to reproduction in polytocous bats limited their lifespan. The absence of a relationship between polytocy and group size indicates that the benefits of cooperative breeding surpass the costs of intrasexual competition in bats.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Guilherme Siniciato Terra Garbino
- Laboratório de Mamíferos, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Escola Superior de Agricultura ‘Luiz de Queiroz’, Universidade de São Paulo, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Anderson Feijó
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beichen West Road, Beijing, China
| | - Raone Beltrão-Mendes
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Conservação, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, São Cristóvão, Sergipe, Brazil
- Laboratório de Biologia da Conservação, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, São Cristóvão, Sergipe, Brazil
| | - Patrício Adriano Da Rocha
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil
- Laboratório de Mamíferos, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Guo D, Ding J, Liu H, Zhou L, Feng J, Luo B, Liu Y. Social calls influence the foraging behavior in wild big-footed myotis. Front Zool 2021; 18:3. [PMID: 33413435 PMCID: PMC7791762 DOI: 10.1186/s12983-020-00384-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Why a variety of social animals emit foraging-associated calls during group foraging remains an open question. These vocalizations may be used to recruit conspecifics to food patches (i.e. food advertisement hypothesis) or defend food resources against competitors (food defence hypothesis), presumably depending on food availability. Insectivorous bats rely heavily on vocalizations for navigation, foraging, and social interactions. In this study, we used free-ranging big-footed myotis (Myotis macrodactylus Temminck, 1840) to test whether social calls produced in a foraging context serve to advertise food patches or to ward off food competitors. Using a combination of acoustic recordings, playback experiments with adult females and dietary monitoring (light trapping and DNA metabarcoding techniques), we investigated the relationship between insect availability and social vocalizations in foraging bats. RESULTS The big-footed myotis uttered low-frequency social calls composed of 7 syllable types during foraging interactions. Although the dietary composition of bats varied across different sampling periods, Diptera, Lepidoptera, and Trichoptera were the most common prey consumed. The number of social vocalizations was primarily predicted by insect abundance, insect species composition, and echolocation vocalizations from conspecifics. The number of conspecific echolocation pulses tended to decrease following the emission of most social calls. Feeding bats consistently decreased foraging attempts and food consumption during playbacks of social calls with distinctive structures compared to control trials. The duration of flight decreased 1.29-1.96 fold in the presence of social calls versus controls. CONCLUSIONS These results support the food defence hypothesis, suggesting that foraging bats employ social calls to engage in intraspecific food competition. This study provides correlative evidence for the role of insect abundance and diversity in influencing the emission of social calls in insectivorous bats. Our findings add to the current knowledge of the function of social calls in echolocating bats.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dongge Guo
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resource Conservation and Utilization, Northeast Normal University, 2555 Jingyue Street, Changchun, 130117, China
| | - Jianan Ding
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resource Conservation and Utilization, Northeast Normal University, 2555 Jingyue Street, Changchun, 130117, China
| | - Heng Liu
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resource Conservation and Utilization, Northeast Normal University, 2555 Jingyue Street, Changchun, 130117, China
| | - Lin Zhou
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resource Conservation and Utilization, Northeast Normal University, 2555 Jingyue Street, Changchun, 130117, China
| | - Jiang Feng
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resource Conservation and Utilization, Northeast Normal University, 2555 Jingyue Street, Changchun, 130117, China.,College of Life Science, Jilin Agricultural University, 2888 Xincheng Street, Changchun, 130118, China
| | - Bo Luo
- Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation of Ministry of Education, China West Normal University, Nanchong, 637002, China.
| | - Ying Liu
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resource Conservation and Utilization, Northeast Normal University, 2555 Jingyue Street, Changchun, 130117, China.
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Braun de Torrez EC, Gore JA, Ober HK. Evidence of resource-defense polygyny in an endangered subtropical bat, Eumops floridanus. Glob Ecol Conserv 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2020.e01289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022] Open
|
50
|
García-Rawlins AM, Nassar JM, Tárano Z. Roosting Behaviour and Time Budgets of the CuraÇAoan Long-Nosed Bat, Leptonycteris curasoae (Phyllostomatidae, Glossophaginae) in Captivity. ACTA CHIROPTEROLOGICA 2020. [DOI: 10.3161/15081109acc2020.22.2.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ariany M. García-Rawlins
- Laboratorio de Biología de Organismos, Centro de Ecología, Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas, Carretera Panamericana Km 11, Caracas 1204, Venezuela
| | - Jafet M. Nassar
- Laboratorio de Biología de Organismos, Centro de Ecología, Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas, Carretera Panamericana Km 11, Caracas 1204, Venezuela
| | - Zaida Tárano
- Laboratorio de Comportamiento Animal, Instituto de Biología Experimental, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Calle Suapure, Colinas de Bello Monte, Caracas 1041-A, Venezuela
| |
Collapse
|