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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.
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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.
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Saina JK, Gichira AW, Ngarega BK, Li ZZ, Gituru RW, Hu GW, Liao K. Development and utilization of microsatellite markers to assess genetic variation coupled with modelling range shifts of Dodonaea viscosa (L.) Jacq. in isolated Taita Hills and Mount Kenya forests. Mol Biol Rep 2021; 49:917-929. [PMID: 34741709 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-021-06911-y] [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: 05/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/29/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Understanding genetic variation is critical for the protection and maintenance of fragmented and highly disturbed habitats. The Taita Hills of Kenya are the northernmost part of the Eastern Arc Mountains and have been identified as one of the world's top ten biodiversity hotspots. Over the past century the current forests in the Taita Hills have become highly fragmented. In order to appraise the influence of anthropological disturbance and fragmentation on plant species in these mountains, we studied the genetic variation and population structure of Dodonaea viscosa (L.) Jacq. (Sapindaceae), using newly developed microsatellite (SSR) markers, combined with ecological niche modelling analyses (ENMs). METHODS AND RESULTS We utilized the Illumina paired-end technology to sequence D. viscosa's genome and developed its microsatellite markers. In total, 646,428 sequences were analyzed, and 49,836 SSRs were identified from 42,638 sequences. A total of 18 out of 25 randomly selected primer pairs were designed to test polymorphism among 92 individuals across eight populations. The average observed heterozygosity and expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.119 to 0.982 and from 0.227 to 0.691, respectively. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) revealed 78% variance within populations and only 20% among the eight populations. According to ENM results, D. viscosa's suitable habitats have been gradually reducing since the last glacial maximum (LGM), and the situation will worsen under the extreme pessimist scenario of (representative concentration pathway) RCP 8.5. Moreover, genetic diversity was significantly greater in larger fragments. CONCLUSIONS In the present study, we successfully developed and tested SSR markers for D. viscosa. Study results indicate that fragmentation would constitute a severe threat to plant forest species. Therefore, urgent conservation management of smaller fragmented patches is necessary to protect this disturbed region and maintain the genetic resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josphat K Saina
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Botany and Watershed Ecology, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430074, China.,Centre for Integrative Conservation, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Menglun, 666303, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.,Sino-African Joint Research Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Andrew W Gichira
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Botany and Watershed Ecology, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430074, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.,Sino-African Joint Research Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Boniface K Ngarega
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Botany and Watershed Ecology, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430074, China.,Centre for Integrative Conservation, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Menglun, 666303, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.,Sino-African Joint Research Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Zhi-Zhong Li
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Botany and Watershed Ecology, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430074, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Robert W Gituru
- Sino-African Joint Research Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430074, China.,Department of Botany, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Nairobi, 62000-00200, Kenya
| | - Guang-Wan Hu
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.,Key Laboratory of Plant Germplasm Enhancement and Specialty Agriculture, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Kuo Liao
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Botany and Watershed Ecology, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430074, China. .,Sino-African Joint Research Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430074, China.
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3
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Williams ST, Elbers JP, Taylor SS. Population structure, gene flow, and sex-biased dispersal in the reticulated flatwoods salamander ( Ambystoma bishopi): Implications for translocations. Evol Appl 2021; 14:2231-2243. [PMID: 34603495 PMCID: PMC8477597 DOI: 10.1111/eva.13287] [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: 01/24/2021] [Revised: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding patterns of gene flow and population structure is vital for managing threatened and endangered species. The reticulated flatwoods salamander (Ambystoma bishopi) is an endangered species with a fragmented range; therefore, assessing connectivity and genetic population structure can inform future conservation. Samples collected from breeding sites (n = 5) were used to calculate structure and gene flow using three marker types: single nucleotide polymorphisms isolated from potential immune genes (SNPs), nuclear data from the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), and the mitochondrial control region. At a broad geographical scale, nuclear data (SNP and MHC) supported gene flow and little structure (F ST = 0.00-0.09) while mitochondrial structure was high (ΦST = 0.15-0.36) and gene flow was low. Mitochondrial markers also exhibited isolation by distance (IBD) between sites (p = 0.01) and within one site (p = 0.04) while nuclear markers did not show IBD between or within sites (p = 0.17 and p = 0.66). Due to the discordant results between nuclear and mitochondrial markers, our results suggest male-biased dispersal. Overall, salamander populations showed little genetic differentiation and structure with some gene flow, at least historically, among sampling sites. Given historic gene flow and a lack of population structure, carefully considered reintroductions could begin to expand the limited range of this salamander to ensure its long-term resilience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven T. Williams
- School of Renewable Natural ResourcesLouisiana State University AgCenterBaton RougeLouisianaUSA
| | | | - Sabrina S. Taylor
- School of Renewable Natural ResourcesLouisiana State University AgCenterBaton RougeLouisianaUSA
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4
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Lehnen L, Jan PL, Besnard AL, Fourcy D, Kerth G, Biedermann M, Nyssen P, Schorcht W, Petit EJ, Puechmaille SJ. Genetic diversity in a long-lived mammal is explained by the past's demographic shadow and current connectivity. Mol Ecol 2021; 30:5048-5063. [PMID: 34402111 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16123] [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] [Received: 11/14/2018] [Revised: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Within-species genetic diversity is crucial for the persistence and integrity of populations and ecosystems. Conservation actions require an understanding of factors influencing genetic diversity, especially in the context of global change. Both population size and connectivity are factors greatly influencing genetic diversity; the relative importance of these factors can, however, change through time. Hence, quantifying the degree to which population size or genetic connectivity are shaping genetic diversity, and at which ecological time scale (past or present), is challenging, yet essential for the development of efficient conservation strategies. In this study, we estimated the genetic diversity of 42 colonies of Rhinolophus hipposideros, a long-lived mammal vulnerable to global change, sampling locations spanning its continental northern range. Here, we present an integrative approach that disentangles and quantifies the contribution of different connectivity measures in addition to contemporary colony size and historic bottlenecks in shaping genetic diversity. In our study, the best model explained 64% of the variation in genetic diversity. It included historic bottlenecks, contemporary colony size, connectivity and a negative interaction between the latter two. Contemporary connectivity explained most genetic diversity when considering a 65 km radius around the focal colonies, emphasizing the large geographic scale at which the positive impact of connectivity on genetic diversity is most profound and hence, the minimum scale at which conservation should be planned. Our results highlight that the relative importance of the two main factors shaping genetic diversity varies through time, emphasizing the relevance of disentangling them to ensure appropriate conservation strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Lehnen
- Applied Zoology and Nature Conservation, Zoological Institute and Museum, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Pierre-Loup Jan
- ESE, Ecology and Ecosystem Health, Institut Agro, INRAE, Rennes, France
| | | | - Damien Fourcy
- ESE, Ecology and Ecosystem Health, Institut Agro, INRAE, Rennes, France
| | - Gerald Kerth
- Applied Zoology and Nature Conservation, Zoological Institute and Museum, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Martin Biedermann
- Interessengemeinschaft für Fledermausschutz und -forschung in Thüringen (IFT) e.V, Bad Liebenstein, Germany
| | | | | | - Eric J Petit
- ESE, Ecology and Ecosystem Health, Institut Agro, INRAE, Rennes, France.,NACHTaktiv - Biologists for Bat research GbR, Erfurt, Germany
| | - Sebastien J Puechmaille
- Applied Zoology and Nature Conservation, Zoological Institute and Museum, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
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5
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Browning E, Barlow KE, Burns F, Hawkins C, Boughey K. Drivers of European bat population change: a review reveals evidence gaps. Mamm Rev 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/mam.12239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Ella Browning
- Centre for Biodiversity and Ecology Research Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment Division of Biosciences University College London LondonWC1E 6BTUK
- Institute of Zoology Zoological Society of London Regents Park LondonNW1 4RYUK
| | - Kate E. Barlow
- The Bat Conservation Trust Quadrant House, 250 Kennington Lane LondonSE11 5RDUK
| | - Fiona Burns
- The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds Centre for Conservation Science SandySG19 2DLUK
| | - Charlotte Hawkins
- The Bat Conservation Trust Quadrant House, 250 Kennington Lane LondonSE11 5RDUK
| | - Katherine Boughey
- The Bat Conservation Trust Quadrant House, 250 Kennington Lane LondonSE11 5RDUK
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6
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von Hirschheydt G, Kindvall O, de Jong J. Testing bat abundance and diversity predictions by PREBAT, a connectivity-based habitat suitability model for insectivorous bats. EUR J WILDLIFE RES 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s10344-020-1368-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
AbstractWhere large landscape modifications are planned, e.g. for infrastructure or exploitation, ecological impact assessments are required because of their potential effects on environment and species. Methods that make such assessments more standardized, efficient, and reliable are highly desirable. This paper proposes a new connectivity-based habitat model for bats (PREBAT), which could be used as a tool for impact assessments. Using data that was specifically collected for this purpose, the performance of PREBAT is critically analyzed and discussed. For this study, 50 sites within an area of 850 km2 in eastern Sweden were inventoried for four nights each using automatic ultrasound recorders to get an empiric measure of bat occurrence that could be compared with PREBAT predictions. The correlation between the predicted values from PREBAT and the observed bat activity (number of recordings) or species richness was tested using generalized linear mixed models. Predicted values of PREBAT are significantly correlated to the number of species that regularly (more than one night) occur at a given site, but not to the total number of species. PREBAT performed also much better at predicting the activity of forest-living species than overall bat activity, which makes PREBAT particularly suitable for predicting conflicts for those species. This study proposes a new habitat model for bats that takes spatial connectivity between habitat patches into account. PREBAT is shown to perform satisfyingly and has the potential to become a useful tool in assessing the ecological impact of large-scale landscape modifications.
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7
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Gürün K, Furman A, Juste J, Ramos Pereira MJ, Palmeirim JM, Puechmaille SJ, Hulva P, Presetnik P, Hamidovic D, Ibáñez C, Karataş A, Allegrini B, Georgiakakis P, Scaravelli D, Uhrin M, Nicolaou H, Abi-Said MR, Nagy ZL, Gazaryan S, Bilgin R. A continent-scale study of the social structure and phylogeography of the bent-wing bat, Miniopterus schreibersii (Mammalia: Chiroptera), using new microsatellite data. J Mammal 2019. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyz153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractMiniopterus schreibersii is a cave-dwelling bat species with a wide distribution in the western Palearctic spanning southern and central Europe, North Africa, Anatolia, the Middle East, and the Caucasus. We investigated the social structure and its effects on the genetic makeup of this species, using 10 nuclear microsatellite markers and a partial fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene. Samples were examined from the species' entire circum-Mediterranean range. Local structuring that was previously detected among populations of M. schreibersii using mitochondrial markers was not observed for microsatellite markers, indicating male-biased dispersal for the species. Some support was found for postglacial expansions in Europe, with Anatolia potentially acting as the primary refugium during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). However, support for this hypothesis is not as strong as that previously detected using mitochondrial DNA markers. This is likely due to the diminishing effect of male-mediated dispersal, replenishing the nuclear diversity faster than the mitochondrial diversity in regions that are relatively far from the glacial refugia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kanat Gürün
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Boğaziçi University, Bebek, Istanbul 34342, Turkey
| | - Andrzej Furman
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Boğaziçi University, Bebek, Istanbul 34342, Turkey
| | - Javier Juste
- Estación Biológica de Doñana (CSIC), Avda. Américo Vespucio s/n, Seville 41092, Spain
| | - Maria J Ramos Pereira
- CIBER of Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid 28029, Spain
- Department of Zoology, Institute of Biosciences, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves 9500, Porto Alegre, RS 91540-000, Brazil
- Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Wildlife Research Unit, University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Jorge M Palmeirim
- Center for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Change, Dept. Biologia Animal, Faculdade de Ciencias, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Sebastien J Puechmaille
- University College Dublin, School of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
- Zoology Institute, University of Greifswald, 17489 Greifswald, Germany
- Chauves-souris Aveyron (CSA), 12310, Vimenet, France
| | - Pavel Hulva
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Viničná 7, CZ-128 44 Praha 2, Czech Republic
- Department of Biology and Ecology, University of Ostrava, Chittussiho 10, 710 00 Ostrava, Czech Republic
| | - Primoz Presetnik
- Centre for Cartography of Fauna and Flora, Ljubljana Office, Klunova 3, SI-1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Daniela Hamidovic
- Croatian Biospeleological Society, Zagreb, Demetrova 1, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Carlos Ibáñez
- Estación Biológica de Doñana (CSIC), Avda. Américo Vespucio s/n, Seville 41092, Spain
| | - Ahmet Karataş
- Department of Biology, Niğde University, Niğde 51100, Turkey
| | | | - Panagiotis Georgiakakis
- Natural History Museum of Crete, University of Crete, Knossos Ave., P.O. Box: 2208, GR71 409 Irakleion, Crete, Greece
| | - Dino Scaravelli
- Department Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, via Tolara di Sopra 50, 40064 Ozzano dell'Emilia (BO), Italy
| | - Marcel Uhrin
- Institute of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice, Moyzesova 11, SK-040 01 Košice, Slovakia
- Department of Forest Protection and Wildlife Management, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences, Kamycká 1176, 165 21 Praha 6, Czech Republic
| | - Haris Nicolaou
- Parks and Environment Sector, Forestry Department, Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment, 1414 Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Mounir R Abi-Said
- Animal Encounter, Aley, Lebanon
- Faculty of Sciences II, Lebanese University, Al Fanar, 90656 Jdeidet, Lebanon
| | | | - Suren Gazaryan
- Institute of Ecology of Mountain Territories RAS, Armand 37A360000, Nalchik, Russia
| | - Raşit Bilgin
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Boğaziçi University, Bebek, Istanbul 34342, Turkey
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8
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Jan PL, Lehnen L, Besnard AL, Kerth G, Biedermann M, Schorcht W, Petit EJ, Le Gouar P, Puechmaille SJ. Range expansion is associated with increased survival and fecundity in a long-lived bat species. Proc Biol Sci 2019; 286:20190384. [PMID: 31288708 PMCID: PMC6650714 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2019.0384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2019] [Accepted: 06/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The speed and dynamics of range expansions shape species distributions and community composition. Despite the critical impact of population growth rates for range expansion, they are neglected in existing empirical studies, which focus on the investigation of selected life-history traits. Here, we present an approach based on non-invasive genetic capture-mark-recapture data for the estimation of adult survival, fecundity and juvenile survival, which determine population growth. We demonstrate the reliability of our method with simulated data, and use it to investigate life-history changes associated with range expansion in 35 colonies of the bat species Rhinolophus hipposideros. Comparing the demographic parameters inferred for 19 of those colonies which belong to an expanding population with those inferred for the remaining 16 colonies from a non-expanding population reveals that range expansion is associated with higher net reproduction. Juvenile survival was the main driver of the observed reproduction increase in this long-lived bat species with low per capita annual reproductive output. The higher average growth rate in the expanding population was not associated with a trade-off between increased reproduction and survival, suggesting that the observed increase in reproduction stems from a higher resource acquisition in the expanding population. Environmental conditions in the novel habitat hence seem to have an important influence on range expansion dynamics, and warrant further investigation for the management of range expansion in both native and invasive species.
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Affiliation(s)
- P.-L. Jan
- ESE, Ecology and Ecosystem Health, Agrocampus Ouest, INRA, Rennes, France
| | - L. Lehnen
- Applied Zoology and Nature Conservation, Zoological Institute and Museum, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - A.-L. Besnard
- ESE, Ecology and Ecosystem Health, Agrocampus Ouest, INRA, Rennes, France
| | - G. Kerth
- Applied Zoology and Nature Conservation, Zoological Institute and Museum, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - M. Biedermann
- Interessengemeinschaft für Fledermausschutz und -forschung Thüringen (IFT) e.V., Bad Liebenstein, Germany
| | - W. Schorcht
- Nachtaktiv- Biologists for Bat research GbR, Germany
| | - E. J. Petit
- ESE, Ecology and Ecosystem Health, Agrocampus Ouest, INRA, Rennes, France
| | - P. Le Gouar
- UMR CNRS 6553 ECOBIO, Université Rennes 1, Station Biologique, Paimpont, France
| | - S. J. Puechmaille
- Applied Zoology and Nature Conservation, Zoological Institute and Museum, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
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9
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Lehnen L, Schorcht W, Karst I, Biedermann M, Kerth G, Puechmaille SJ. Using Approximate Bayesian Computation to infer sex ratios from acoustic data. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0199428. [PMID: 29928036 PMCID: PMC6013104 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0199428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2018] [Accepted: 06/07/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Population sex ratios are of high ecological relevance, but are challenging to determine in species lacking conspicuous external cues indicating their sex. Acoustic sexing is an option if vocalizations differ between sexes, but is precluded by overlapping distributions of the values of male and female vocalizations in many species. A method allowing the inference of sex ratios despite such an overlap will therefore greatly increase the information extractable from acoustic data. To meet this demand, we developed a novel approach using Approximate Bayesian Computation (ABC) to infer the sex ratio of populations from acoustic data. Additionally, parameters characterizing the male and female distribution of acoustic values (mean and standard deviation) are inferred. This information is then used to probabilistically assign a sex to a single acoustic signal. We furthermore develop a simpler means of sex ratio estimation based on the exclusion of calls from the overlap zone. Applying our methods to simulated data demonstrates that sex ratio and acoustic parameter characteristics of males and females are reliably inferred by the ABC approach. Applying both the ABC and the exclusion method to empirical datasets (echolocation calls recorded in colonies of lesser horseshoe bats, Rhinolophus hipposideros) provides similar sex ratios as molecular sexing. Our methods aim to facilitate evidence-based conservation, and to benefit scientists investigating ecological or conservation questions related to sex- or group specific behaviour across a wide range of organisms emitting acoustic signals. The developed methodology is non-invasive, low-cost and time-efficient, thus allowing the study of many sites and individuals. We provide an R-script for the easy application of the method and discuss potential future extensions and fields of applications. The script can be easily adapted to account for numerous biological systems by adjusting the type and number of groups to be distinguished (e.g. age, social rank, cryptic species) and the acoustic parameters investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Lehnen
- University of Greifswald, Zoological Institute and Museum, Applied Zoology and Nature Conservation, Greifswald, Germany
| | | | - Inken Karst
- NACHTaktiv – Biologists for Bat research GbR, Erfurt, Germany
| | | | - Gerald Kerth
- University of Greifswald, Zoological Institute and Museum, Applied Zoology and Nature Conservation, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Sebastien J. Puechmaille
- University of Greifswald, Zoological Institute and Museum, Applied Zoology and Nature Conservation, Greifswald, Germany
- * E-mail:
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10
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Shahabi S, Akmali V, Sharifi M. Taxonomic Evaluation of the Greater Horseshoe Bat Rhinolophus ferrumequinum (Chiroptera: Rhinolophidae) in Iran Inferred from the Mitochondrial D-Loop Gene. Zoolog Sci 2017; 34:361-367. [DOI: 10.2108/zs170001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Saeed Shahabi
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran
| | - Vahid Akmali
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran
| | - Mozafar Sharifi
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran
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11
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Jan PL, Farcy O, Boireau J, Le Texier E, Baudoin A, Le Gouar P, Puechmaille SJ, Petit EJ. Which temporal resolution to consider when investigating the impact of climatic data on population dynamics? The case of the lesser horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus hipposideros). Oecologia 2017; 184:749-761. [DOI: 10.1007/s00442-017-3901-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2016] [Accepted: 06/13/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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