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Bioacoustic evidence for a continuous summer presence of the greater noctule bat, Nyctalus lasiopterus, in the Italian Alps. MAMMAL RES 2023. [DOI: 10.1007/s13364-022-00668-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
AbstractThe greater noctule bat, Nyctalus lasiopterus (Schreber, 1780), is one of the rarest bat species in Europe. Data on its distribution in the central and western parts of the continent are largely lacking. For the first time, N. lasiopterus was observed in South Tyrol (Northern Italy) using bat detectors in the summer of 2016 and in the following years until 2021. The five sites where the species was detected are located in a limited area of the Adige Valley, which is characterised by low elevation and a mild climate. Multiple recordings indicated a continuous summer presence of N. lasiopterus on the southern side of the Alps. Additionally, we present insights on echolocation and species identification, including statistically significant differences in the call metrics of N. lasiopterus compared to Tadarida teniotis. These results are important at a European level given that data is lacking on the populations of N. lasiopterus in Europe outside the Mediterranean.
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Zukalova K, Seidlova V, Piacek V, Nemcova M, Pribyl M, Pikula J, Zukal J. One or two pups - optimal reproduction strategies of common noctule females. BMC ZOOL 2022; 7:18. [PMID: 37170295 PMCID: PMC10127298 DOI: 10.1186/s40850-022-00119-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The success of animal reproduction is impacted by a trade-off between energetic costs and mortality associated with immediate vs. future reproductive attempts. The reproductive strategies of European insectivorous bats differ from common mammalian standards due to the use of delayed fertilisation. Phenology of bat reproduction, including length of pregnancy, which may vary in the same species at different latitudes, between years at the same site or between individuals within a colony, is influenced by ecological conditions. To assess factors influencing the course of pregnancy, we evaluated levels of blood progesterone in 20 female common noctule bats Nyctalus noctula. The bats were individually tagged and randomly divided into two groups with different hibernation ending points (i.e. a control group vs. a treatment group with one-week longer hibernation). Following emergence from hibernation, the bats were kept in a wooden box at a stable temperature of 22 °C. RESULTS The majority of females gave birth to a single neonate (65%), but one female aborted her pups 2 days before the first successful births of other females. Based on development of progesterone concentration, we were able to define a number of different reproduction strategies, i.e. females with single offspring or twins, and females with supposed resorption of one embryo (embryonic mortality after implantation of the developing fertilised egg). Progesterone levels were much higher in females with two embryos during the first part of gestation and after birth. Progesterone levels were at their highest mid-gestation, with no difference between females carrying one or two foetuses. Length of gestation differed significantly between the two groups, with the longer hibernation (treatment) group having a roughly two-day shorter gestation period. CONCLUSIONS Female N. noctula are able to manipulate their litter size to balance immediate and future reproduction success. The estimated gestation length of approx. 49-days appears to be standard for N. noctula, with females optimising their thermoregulatory behaviour to keep the length of gestation as close to the standard as possible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katerina Zukalova
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Zoo Animals, Game, Fish and Bees, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Palackého tř. 1946/1, 612 42, Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Veronika Seidlova
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Zoo Animals, Game, Fish and Bees, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Palackého tř. 1946/1, 612 42, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Vladimir Piacek
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Zoo Animals, Game, Fish and Bees, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Palackého tř. 1946/1, 612 42, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Monika Nemcova
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Zoo Animals, Game, Fish and Bees, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Palackého tř. 1946/1, 612 42, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Michal Pribyl
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Zoo Animals, Game, Fish and Bees, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Palackého tř. 1946/1, 612 42, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jiri Pikula
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Zoo Animals, Game, Fish and Bees, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Palackého tř. 1946/1, 612 42, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Zukal
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Květná 8, 603 65, Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 267/2, 611 37, Brno, Czech Republic
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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]
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Sánchez-Navarro S, Rydell J, Ibáñez C. Bat Fatalities at Wind-Farms in the Lowland Mediterranean of Southern Spain. ACTA CHIROPTEROLOGICA 2020. [DOI: 10.3161/15081109acc2019.21.2.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sonia Sánchez-Navarro
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Estación Biológica de Doñana (CSIC), Av. Américo Vespucio 26, 41092 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Jens Rydell
- Department of Biology, Lund University, S-223 62 Lund, Sweden
| | - Carlos Ibáñez
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Estación Biológica de Doñana (CSIC), Av. Américo Vespucio 26, 41092 Sevilla, Spain
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Bartonička T, Miketová N, Hulva P. High Throughput Bioacoustic Monitoring and Phenology of the Greater Noctule Bat (Nyctalus lasiopterus) Compared to Other Migratory Species. ACTA CHIROPTEROLOGICA 2019. [DOI: 10.3161/15081109acc2019.21.1.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Tomáš Bartonička
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, 611 37 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Nikola Miketová
- Department of Biology and Ecology, University of Ostrava, Chittussiho 10, 710 00 Ostrava, Czech Republic
| | - Pavel Hulva
- Vertebrate Zoology Research Group,Department of Zoology,Charles University, Viničná 7, 128 42 Prague, Czech Republic
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Noroalintseheno Lalarivoniaina OS, Rajemison FI, Ramanantsalama RV, Andrianarimisa A, Goodman SM. Population Size and Survival of the Malagasy Fruit Bat Rousettus madagascariensis (Pteropodidae) in Ankarana, Northern Madagascar. ACTA CHIROPTEROLOGICA 2019. [DOI: 10.3161/15081109acc2019.21.1.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Faneva I. Rajemison
- Mention Zoologie et Biodiversité Animale, Domaine Sciences et Technologies, Université d'Antananarivo, BP 906, Antananarivo 101, Madagascar
| | - Riana V. Ramanantsalama
- Mention Zoologie et Biodiversité Animale, Domaine Sciences et Technologies, Université d'Antananarivo, BP 906, Antananarivo 101, Madagascar
| | - Aristide Andrianarimisa
- Mention Zoologie et Biodiversité Animale, Domaine Sciences et Technologies, Université d'Antananarivo, BP 906, Antananarivo 101, Madagascar
| | - Steven M. Goodman
- Mention Zoologie et Biodiversité Animale, Domaine Sciences et Technologies, Université d'Antananarivo, BP 906, Antananarivo 101, Madagascar
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What is driving range expansion in a common bat? Hints from thermoregulation and habitat selection. Behav Processes 2018; 157:540-546. [PMID: 29870799 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2018.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2018] [Revised: 05/04/2018] [Accepted: 06/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Human-induced alterations of ecosystems and environmental conditions often lead to changes in the geographical range of plants and animals. While modelling exercises may contribute to understanding such dynamics at large spatial scales, they rarely offer insights into the mechanisms that prompt the process at a local scale. Savi's pipistrelle (Hypsugo savii) is a vespertilionid bat widespread throughout the Mediterranean region. The species' recent range expansion towards northeastern Europe is thought to be induced by urbanization, yet no study actually tested this hypothesis, and climate change is a potential alternative driver. In this radio-telemetry study, set in the Vesuvius National Park (Campania region, Southern Italy) we provide insights into the species' thermal physiology and foraging ecology and investigate their relationships with potential large-scale responses to climate, and land use changes. Specifically, we test whether H. savii i) exploits urbanisation by selecting urban areas for roosting and foraging, and ii) tolerates heatwaves (a proxy for thermophily) through a plastic use of thermoregulation. Tolerance to heatwaves would be consistent with the observation that the species' geographic range is not shifting but expanding northwards. Tracked bats roosted mainly in buildings but avoided urban habitats while foraging, actively selecting non-intensive farmland and natural wooded areas. Hypsugo H. savii showed tolerance to heat, reaching the highest body temperature ever recorded for a free-ranging bat (46.5 °C), and performing long periods of overheating. We conclude that H. savii is not a strictly synurbic species because it exploits urban areas mainly for roosting, and avoids them for foraging: this questions the role of synurbization as a range expansion driver. On the other hand, the species' extreme heat tolerance and plastic thermoregulatory behaviour represent winning traits to cope with heatwaves typical of climate change-related weather fluctuations.
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Hernández-Brito D, Carrete M, Ibáñez C, Juste J, Tella JL. Nest-site competition and killing by invasive parakeets cause the decline of a threatened bat population. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2018; 5:172477. [PMID: 29892437 PMCID: PMC5990744 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.172477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2017] [Accepted: 04/03/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The identification of effects of invasive species is challenging owing to their multifaceted impacts on native biota. Negative impacts are most often reflected in individual fitness rather than in population dynamics of native species and are less expected in low-biodiversity habitats, such as urban environments. We report the long-term effects of invasive rose-ringed parakeets on the largest known population of a threatened bat species, the greater noctule, located in an urban park. Both species share preferences for the same tree cavities for breeding. While the number of parakeet nests increased by a factor of 20 in 14 years, the number of trees occupied by noctules declined by 81%. Parakeets occupied most cavities previously used by noctules, and spatial analyses showed that noctules tried to avoid cavities close to parakeets. Parakeets were highly aggressive towards noctules, trying to occupy their cavities, often resulting in noctule death. This led to a dramatic population decline, but also an unusual aggregation of the occupied trees, probably disrupting the complex social behaviour of this bat species. These results indicate a strong impact through site displacement and killing of competitors, and highlight the need for long-term research to identify unexpected impacts that would otherwise be overlooked.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dailos Hernández-Brito
- Department of Conservation Biology, Estación Biológica de Doñana (CSIC), Avda. Américo Vespucio, 41092 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Martina Carrete
- Department of Conservation Biology, Estación Biológica de Doñana (CSIC), Avda. Américo Vespucio, 41092 Sevilla, Spain
- Department of Physical, Chemical and Natural Systems, University Pablo de Olavide, Ctra. de Utrera, km. 1, 41013 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Carlos Ibáñez
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Estación Biológica de Doñana (CSIC), Avda. Américo Vespucio, 41092 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Javier Juste
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Estación Biológica de Doñana (CSIC), Avda. Américo Vespucio, 41092 Sevilla, Spain
- CIBER of Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain
| | - José L. Tella
- Department of Conservation Biology, Estación Biológica de Doñana (CSIC), Avda. Américo Vespucio, 41092 Sevilla, Spain
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Zarzoso-Lacoste D, Jan PL, Lehnen L, Girard T, Besnard AL, Puechmaille SJ, Petit EJ. Combining noninvasive genetics and a new mammalian sex-linked marker provides new tools to investigate population size, structure and individual behaviour: An application to bats. Mol Ecol Resour 2017; 18:217-228. [PMID: 29058809 DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.12727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2017] [Revised: 10/13/2017] [Accepted: 10/16/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Monitoring wild populations is crucial for their effective management. Noninvasive genetic methods provide robust data from individual free-ranging animals, which can be used in capture-mark-recapture (CMR) models to estimate demographic parameters without capturing or disturbing them. However, sex- and status-specific behaviour, which may lead to differences in detection probabilities, is rarely considered in monitoring. Here, we investigated population size, sex ratio, sex- and status-related behaviour in 19 Rhinolophus hipposideros maternity colonies (Northern France) with a noninvasive genetic CMR approach (using faeces) combined with parentage assignments. The use of the DDX3X/Y-Mam sexual marker designed in this study, which shows inter- and intrachromosomal length polymorphism across placental mammals, together with eight polymorphic microsatellite markers, produced high-quality genetic data with limited genotyping errors and allowed us to reliably distinguish different categories of individuals (males, reproductive and nonreproductive females) and to estimate population sizes. We showed that visual counts represent well-adult female numbers and that population composition in maternity colonies changes dynamically during the summer. Before parturition, colonies mainly harbour pregnant and nonpregnant females with a few visiting males, whereas after parturition, colonies are mainly composed of mothers and their offspring with a few visiting nonmothers and males. Our approach gives deeper insight into sex- and status-specific behaviour, a prerequisite for understanding population dynamics and developing effective monitoring and management strategies. Provided sufficient samples can be obtained, this approach can be readily applied to a wide range of species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diane Zarzoso-Lacoste
- UMR 6553, ECOBIO Campus de Beaulieu, Université Rennes 1, Rennes Cedex, France.,Laboratoire Ecologie, Systématique & Evolution, UMR 8079 - Université Paris-Sud/CNRS/AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, Orsay Cedex, France
| | | | - Lisa Lehnen
- Zoology Institute, Greifswald University, Greifswald, Germany
| | | | | | | | - Eric J Petit
- UMR985 ESE, Agrocampus Ouest, INRA, Rennes, France
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10
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Santos JD, Meyer CFJ, Ibáñez C, Popa-Lisseanu AG, Juste J. Dispersal and group formation dynamics in a rare and endangered temperate forest bat ( Nyctalus lasiopterus, Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae). Ecol Evol 2016; 6:8193-8204. [PMID: 27878088 PMCID: PMC5108270 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.2330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2016] [Revised: 06/22/2016] [Accepted: 06/26/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
For elusive mammals like bats, colonization of new areas and colony formation are poorly understood, as is their relationship with the genetic structure of populations. Understanding dispersal and group formation behaviors is critical not only for a better comprehension of mammalian social dynamics, but also for guiding conservation efforts of rare and endangered species. Using nuclear and mitochondrial markers, we studied patterns of genetic diversity and differentiation among and within breeding colonies of giant noctule bats (Nyctalus lasiopterus), their relation to a new colony still in formation, and the impact of this ongoing process on the regionwide genetic makeup. Nuclear differentiation among colonies was relatively low and mostly nonsignificant. Mitochondrial variation followed this pattern, contrasting with findings for other temperate bat species. Our results suggest that this may indicate a recent population expansion. On average, female giant noctules were not more closely related to other colony members than to foreign individuals. This was also true for members of the newly forming colony and those of another, older group sampled shortly after its formation, suggesting that contrary to findings for other temperate bats, giant noctule colonies are not founded by relatives. However, mother–daughter pairs were found in the same populations more often than expected under random dispersal. Given this indication of philopatry, the lack of mitochondrial differentiation among most colonies in the region is probably due to the combination of a recent population expansion and group formation events.
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Affiliation(s)
- João D Santos
- Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement Avenue Agropolis 34398 Montpellier France; Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes (cE3c) Faculty of Sciences University of Lisbon 1749-016 Lisbon Portugal
| | - Christoph F J Meyer
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes (cE3c) Faculty of Sciences University of Lisbon 1749-016 Lisbon Portugal; School of Environment and Life Sciences University of Salford Salford M5 4WT United Kingdom
| | - Carlos Ibáñez
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology Estación Biológica de Doñana (CSIC) Avenida Américo Vespucio s/n 41092 Seville Spain
| | - Ana G Popa-Lisseanu
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology Estación Biológica de Doñana (CSIC) Avenida Américo Vespucio s/n 41092 Seville Spain
| | - Javier Juste
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology Estación Biológica de Doñana (CSIC) Avenida Américo Vespucio s/n 41092 Seville Spain
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12
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Dechmann DKN, Wikelski M, Varga K, Yohannes E, Fiedler W, Safi K, Burkhard WD, O'Mara MT. Tracking post-hibernation behavior and early migration does not reveal the expected sex-differences in a "female-migrating" bat. PLoS One 2014; 9:e114810. [PMID: 25517947 PMCID: PMC4269398 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0114810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2014] [Accepted: 11/12/2014] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Long-distance migration is a rare phenomenon in European bats. Genetic analyses and banding studies show that females can cover distances of up to 1,600 km, whereas males are sedentary or migrate only short distances. The onset of this sex-biased migration is supposed to occur shortly after rousing from hibernation and when the females are already pregnant. We therefore predicted that the sexes are exposed to different energetic pressures in early spring, and this should be reflected in their behavior and physiology. We investigated this in one of the three Central European long-distance migrants, the common noctule (Nyctalus noctula) in Southern Germany recording the first individual partial migration tracks of this species. In contrast to our predictions, we found no difference between male and female home range size, activity, habitat use or diet. Males and females emerged from hibernation in similar body condition and mass increase rate was the same in males and females. We followed the first migration steps, up to 475 km, of radio-tagged individuals from an airplane. All females, as well as some of the males, migrated away from the wintering area in the same northeasterly direction. Sex differences in long-distance migratory behavior were confirmed through stable isotope analysis of hair, which showed greater variation in females than in males. We hypothesize that both sexes faced similarly good conditions after hibernation and fattened at maximum rates, thus showing no differences in their local behavior. Interesting results that warrant further investigation are the better initial condition of the females and the highly consistent direction of the first migratory step in this population as summering habitats of the common noctule occur at a broad range in Northern Europe. Only research focused on individual strategies will allow us to fully understand the migratory behavior of European bats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dina K. N. Dechmann
- Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Department of Migration and Immuno-Ecology, Am Obstberg 1, 78315 Radolfzell, Germany
- University of Konstanz, Department of Biology, 78457 Konstanz, Germany
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Balboa, Ancón, Panama
- * E-mail:
| | - Martin Wikelski
- Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Department of Migration and Immuno-Ecology, Am Obstberg 1, 78315 Radolfzell, Germany
- University of Konstanz, Department of Biology, 78457 Konstanz, Germany
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Balboa, Ancón, Panama
| | - Katarina Varga
- University of Konstanz, Department of Biology, 78457 Konstanz, Germany
| | | | - Wolfgang Fiedler
- Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Department of Migration and Immuno-Ecology, Am Obstberg 1, 78315 Radolfzell, Germany
- University of Konstanz, Department of Biology, 78457 Konstanz, Germany
| | - Kamran Safi
- Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Department of Migration and Immuno-Ecology, Am Obstberg 1, 78315 Radolfzell, Germany
- University of Konstanz, Department of Biology, 78457 Konstanz, Germany
| | | | - M. Teague O'Mara
- Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Department of Migration and Immuno-Ecology, Am Obstberg 1, 78315 Radolfzell, Germany
- University of Konstanz, Department of Biology, 78457 Konstanz, Germany
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Balboa, Ancón, Panama
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Baerwald EF, Patterson WP, Barclay RMR. Origins and migratory patterns of bats killed by wind turbines in southern Alberta: evidence from stable isotopes. Ecosphere 2014. [DOI: 10.1890/es13-00380.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
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Crowding in the city: losing and winning competitors of an invasive bird. PLoS One 2014; 9:e100593. [PMID: 24945439 PMCID: PMC4063952 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0100593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2014] [Accepted: 05/28/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Invasive species can take advantage of resources unexploited by natives (opportunism hypothesis) or they can exploit the same resources but more aggressively or efficiently (competition hypothesis), thus impacting native species. However, invasive species tend to exploit anthropogenic habitats that are inefficiently used by natives such as urban environments. Focusing on the ring-necked parakeet (Psittacula krameri), one of the most invasive birds worldwide, we combined observations of interspecific aggressions, species-specific cavity-nest preferences and the spatial distribution of the native cavity-nesting vertebrate community to determine the invasion process as well as its potential impacts on native species in a Mediterranean city. Our results support the competition hypothesis, suggesting that ring-necked parakeets are outcompeting native species sharing nest-site preferences. Parakeets initiated and won most interspecific aggressions, which were directed towards competitors but also towards predators. This behaviour could explain the spatial arrangement of natives, with most bird species breeding close to parakeets possibly to take advantage of their effective antipredatory behaviour. However, temporal and spatial patterns of segregation suggest that a threatened bat species is negatively affected by parakeets. This demonstrates that common species gain benefits and threatened ones (in this study, a bat and possibly a falcon) lose nest sites due to invaders. Therefore, the conservation status of the native species that pay the costs of competition with invaders should be considered. This scenario of winners and losers may, however, shift towards more losers if the ring-necked parakeet population continues to grow, thus requiring close monitoring and control/eradication programs to avoid further impacts.
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Seasonal survival probabilities suggest low migration mortality in migrating bats. PLoS One 2014; 9:e85628. [PMID: 24454906 PMCID: PMC3893227 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0085628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2013] [Accepted: 12/06/2013] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Migration is adaptive if survival benefits are larger than costs of residency. Many aspects of bat migration ecology such as migratory costs, stopover site use and fidelity are largely unknown. Since many migrating bats are endangered, such information is urgently needed to promote conservation. We selected the migrating Leisler's bat (Nyctalus leisleri) as model species and collected capture-recapture data in southern Switzerland year round during 6 years. We estimated seasonal survival and site fidelity with Cormack-Jolly-Seber models that accounted for the presence of transients fitted with Bayesian methods and assessed differences between sexes and seasons. Activity peaked in autumn and spring, whereas very few individuals were caught during summer. We hypothesize that the study site is a migratory stopover site used during fall and spring migration for most individuals, but there is also evidence for wintering. Additionally, we found strong clues for mating during fall. Summer survival that included two major migratory journeys was identical to winter survival in males and slightly higher in females, suggesting that the migratory journeys did not bear significant costs in terms of survival. Transience probability was in both seasons higher in males than in females. Our results suggest that, similarly to birds, Leisler's bat also use stopover sites during migration with high site fidelity. In contrast to most birds, the stopover site was also used for mating and migratory costs in terms of survival seemed to be low. Transients' analyses highlighted strong individual variation in site use which makes particularly challenging the study and modelling of their populations as well as their conservation.
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Moussy C, Hosken D, Mathews F, Smith G, Aegerter J, Bearhop S. Migration and dispersal patterns of bats and their influence on genetic structure. Mamm Rev 2012. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2907.2012.00218.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Moussy
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation; University of Exeter; Tremough Campus, Penryn; Cornwall; TR10 9EZ; UK
| | - D.J. Hosken
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation; University of Exeter; Tremough Campus, Penryn; Cornwall; TR10 9EZ; UK
| | - F. Mathews
- University of Exeter, Hatherly Laboratories; Prince of Wales Road; Exeter; EX4 4PS; UK
| | - G.C. Smith
- The Food and Environment Research Agency; Sand Hutton; York; YO41 1LZ; UK
| | - J.N. Aegerter
- The Food and Environment Research Agency; Sand Hutton; York; YO41 1LZ; UK
| | - S. Bearhop
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation; University of Exeter; Tremough Campus, Penryn; Cornwall; TR10 9EZ; UK
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Fraser EE, McGuire LP, Eger JL, Longstaffe FJ, Fenton MB. Evidence of latitudinal migration in tri-colored bats, Perimyotis subflavus. PLoS One 2012; 7:e31419. [PMID: 22384019 PMCID: PMC3284490 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0031419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2011] [Accepted: 01/07/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Annual movements of tri-colored bats (Perimyotis subflavus) are poorly understood. While this species has been considered a regional migrant, some evidence suggests that it may undertake annual latitudinal migrations, similar to other long distance North American migratory bat species. Methodology/Principal Findings We investigated migration in P. subflavus by conducting stable hydrogen isotope analyses of 184 museum specimen fur samples and comparing these results (δDfur) to published interpolated δD values of collection site growing season precipitation (δDprecip). Results suggest that the male molt period occurred between June 23 and October 16 and 33% of males collected during the presumed non-molt period were south of their location of fur growth. For the same time period, 16% of females were south of their location of fur growth and in general, had not travelled as far as migratory males. There were strong correlations between δDfur from the presumed molt period and both growing season δDprecip (males – r2 = 0.86; p<0.01; females – r2 = 0.75; p<0.01), and latitude of collection (males – r2 = 0.85; p<0.01; females – r2 = 0.73; p<0.01). Most migrants were collected at the northern (>40°N; males and females) and southern (<35°N; males only) extents of the species' range. Conclusions/Significance These results indicate a different pattern of migration for this species than previously documented, suggesting that some P. subflavus engage in annual latitudinal migrations and that migratory tendency varies with latitude and between sexes. We suggest that this species' hibernation ecology makes it particularly susceptible to long winters, making migration from the northern extent of the species' range to more southern hibernacula preferable for some individuals. Fur δD values for some of the northern individuals may indicate an increase in the currently accepted northern range of this species. Sex-biased differences in migration may be the result of differences in reproductive pressures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin E Fraser
- Department of Biology, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.
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A triple-isotope approach to predict the breeding origins of European bats. PLoS One 2012; 7:e30388. [PMID: 22291947 PMCID: PMC3264582 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0030388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2010] [Accepted: 12/15/2011] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite a commitment by the European Union to protect its migratory bat populations, conservation efforts are hindered by a poor understanding of bat migratory strategies and connectivity between breeding and wintering grounds. Traditional methods like mark-recapture are ineffective to study broad-scale bat migratory patterns. Stable hydrogen isotopes (δD) have been proven useful in establishing spatial migratory connectivity of animal populations. Before applying this tool, the method was calibrated using bat samples of known origin. Here we established the potential of δD as a robust geographical tracer of breeding origins of European bats by measuring δD in hair of five sedentary bat species from 45 locations throughout Europe. The δD of bat hair strongly correlated with well-established spatial isotopic patterns in mean annual precipitation in Europe, and therefore was highly correlated with latitude. We calculated a linear mixed-effects model, with species as random effect, linking δD of bat hair to precipitation δD of the areas of hair growth. This model can be used to predict breeding origins of European migrating bats. We used δ13C and δ15N to discriminate among potential origins of bats, and found that these isotopes can be used as variables to further refine origin predictions. A triple-isotope approach could thereby pinpoint populations or subpopulations that have distinct origins. Our results further corroborated stable isotope analysis as a powerful method to delineate animal migrations in Europe.
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Hillen J, Kaster T, Pahle J, Kiefer A, Elle O, Griebeler EM, Veith M. Sex-Specific Habitat Selection in an Edge Habitat Specialist, the Western Barbastelle Bat. ANN ZOOL FENN 2011. [DOI: 10.5735/086.048.0306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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Kurta A. Reproductive timing, distribution, and sex ratios of tree bats in Lower Michigan. J Mammal 2010. [DOI: 10.1644/09-mamm-a-308.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
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