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opencc-zeroOct 2021View details →

Interspecific variation in evaporative water loss and temperature response, but not metabolic rate, among hibernating bats

Hibernation is widespread among mammals in a variety of environmental contexts. However, few experimental studies consider interspecific comparisons, and for many unstudied (or understudied) species we must assume the underlying physiology of hibernation is comparable to the relatively few species that have been studied in detail. Studies of interspecific variation provide insight into general patterns of hibernation strategies. We studied 13 species of free-living bats, including populations spread over thousands of kilometers and diverse habitats. We measured torpid metabolic rate and evaporative water loss (two key parameters for understanding hibernation energetics) across a range of temperatures. Response to ambient temperature varied among species, but all species achieved similar minimum torpid metabolic rate. Conversely, evaporative water loss varied among species and our results suggest two general hibernation strategies in North American bats, representing high and low evaporative water loss groups. Notably, species that have suffered population declines due to white-nose syndrome fall in the high evaporative water loss group and less affected species in the low evaporative water loss group. Documenting general patterns of physiological diversity, and associated ecological implications, contributes to broader understanding of biodiversity, and may help predict which species are at greater risk of environmental and anthropogenic stressors.

opencc-zeroJan 2022View details →

Island biogeography theory and the urban landscape: stopover site selection by the silver-haired bat (Lasionycteris noctivagans)

Many migratory bats require forested sites for roosting and foraging along their migration path, but increased urbanization and intensive agricultural practices may reduce the availability of stopover sites. Urban forests may provide important stopover habitat, maintaining landscape connectivity in regions where the majority of natural habitat has been cleared for development. Island biogeography theory can be applied to urbanized temperate forest biomes where small urban forests represent islands separated from the larger "mainland" forest. We used acoustic monitoring during the fall migration period to investigate the use of urban forest habitat by the migratory species Lasionycteris noctivagans (Le Conte 1831). We predicted that recorded activity would have a positive relationship with forest patch area and shape and a negative relationship with isolation from other forest patches, as suggested by island biogeography theory. We observed greater activity at larger forest patches, and although relationships for shape and isolation were not statistically supported the observed patterns were consistent with predictions. Our results demonstrate the need for more in-depth research on the habitat requirements for both migratory and resident bat species and the impact that ongoing urbanization has on local bat populations.

Figure 3 from: Gómez-Sánchez EF, Ochoa-Díaz-López H, Espinoza-Medinilla EE, Velázquez-Ramírez DD, Santos-Hernandez NG, Ruiz-Castillejos C, Vidal-López DG, Moreno-Rodríguez A, Flores-Villegas AL, López-Argueta E, De Fuentes-Vicente JA (2022) Mini-exon gene reveals circulation of TcI Trypanosoma cruzi (Chagas, 1909) (Kinetoplastida, Trypanosomatidae) in bats and small mammals in an ecological reserve in southeastern Mexico. ZooKeys 1084: 139-150. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1084.78664

Figure 3 PCR products of the mini-exon gene in blood of smalls mammals from the "El Zapotal" Ecological Reserve. Amplification resulted in a PCR product of 350 bp and this confirms that these parasites belong to the TCI group. L: ladder; samples: Q positive control (Qro. strain); 1–6 D. marsupialis; 7–10 P. mexicanus; 11 H. desmarestianus; 12 D. mexicana.

Figure 1 from: Gómez-Sánchez EF, Ochoa-Díaz-López H, Espinoza-Medinilla EE, Velázquez-Ramírez DD, Santos-Hernandez NG, Ruiz-Castillejos C, Vidal-López DG, Moreno-Rodríguez A, Flores-Villegas AL, López-Argueta E, De Fuentes-Vicente JA (2022) Mini-exon gene reveals circulation of TcI Trypanosoma cruzi (Chagas, 1909) (Kinetoplastida, Trypanosomatidae) in bats and small mammals in an ecological reserve in southeastern Mexico. ZooKeys 1084: 139-150. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1084.78664

Figure 1 Location of the "El Zapotal" Ecological Reserve in southeastern Mexico, note the border of the reserve with the urban area.

Figure 2 from: Gómez-Sánchez EF, Ochoa-Díaz-López H, Espinoza-Medinilla EE, Velázquez-Ramírez DD, Santos-Hernandez NG, Ruiz-Castillejos C, Vidal-López DG, Moreno-Rodríguez A, Flores-Villegas AL, López-Argueta E, De Fuentes-Vicente JA (2022) Mini-exon gene reveals circulation of TcI Trypanosoma cruzi (Chagas, 1909) (Kinetoplastida, Trypanosomatidae) in bats and small mammals in an ecological reserve in southeastern Mexico. ZooKeys 1084: 139-150. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1084.78664

Figure 2 PCR products of the mini-exon gene in blood of bats from the "El Zapotal" Ecological Reserve. Amplification resulted in a PCR product of 350 bp and this confirms that these parasites belong to the TCI group. L: Ladder; Samples: 1 positive control (Qro. strain); 2–11 A. jamaicensis; 12–14 A. lituratus; 15–16 C. perspicillata; 17–18 S. lilium; 19 G. soricina.

opencc-zeroFeb 2022View details →

Lean mass dynamics in hibernating bats and implications for energy and water budgets

Hibernation requires balancing energy and water demands over several months with no food intake for many species. Many studies have considered the importance of fat for hibernation energy budgets because it is energy dense and can be stored in large quantities. However, protein catabolism in hibernation has received less attention and whole animal changes in lean mass have not previously been considered. We used quantitative magnetic resonance body composition analysis to measure fat and lean mass in two systems of hibernating bats, emphasizing the importance of lean mass for energy and water budgets. For cave myotis ( Myotis velifer ), lean mass represented 38 and 25% (male and female respectively) of pre-hibernation mass gain. In Townsend's big-eared bats ( Corynorhinus townsendii ), lean mass accounted for 18 – 35% of mass change during hibernation, but lean only contributed 3 – 7% of the energy budget. Water is produced from the catabolism of both fat and lean, but net water production is much less than gross water production when accounting for the water required to excrete urea. Although most mammals can't rely on protein catabolism for metabolic water production due to the water cost of excreting urea, we propose a variation on the protein-for-water strategy whereby hibernators could temporally compartmentalize the benefits of protein catabolism to periods of torpor, and the water cost to periodic arousals when free drinking water is typically available. Combined, our analyses demonstrate that lean mass is dynamic in hibernation, with important functional consequences for both energy and water budgets.

opencc-zeroFeb 2022View details →

Relating wing morphology and immune function to patterns of partial and differential bat migration using stable isotopes

Migration is energetically expensive and is predicted to drive similar morphological adaptations and physiological trade-offs in migratory bats and birds. Previous studies suggest that fixed traits like wing morphology vary among species and individuals according to selective pressures on flight, while immune defenses can vary flexibly within individuals as energy is variably reallocated throughout the year. We assessed intraspecific variation in wing morphology and immune function in silver-haired bats (Lasionycteris noctivagans), a species that follows both partial and differential migration patterns. We hypothesized that if bats experience energy constraints associated with migration, then wing morphology and immune function should vary based on migratory tendency (sedentary or migratory) and migration distance. We predicted that long-distance migrants would have reduced immune function and more migration-adapted wing shapes compared to resident or short-distance migrating bats. We estimated breeding latitude of spring migrants using stable hydrogen isotope techniques. Our sample consisted primarily of male bats, which we categorized as residents, long-distance northern migrants, short-distance northern migrants, and southern migrants (apparent breeding location south of capture site). Controlling for individual condition and capture date, we related wing characteristics and immune indices among groups. Some, but not all, aspects of wing form and immune function varied between migrants and residents. Long-distance northern migrants had larger wings than short-distance northern migrants and lower wing loading than southern migrants. Compared with resident bats, short-distance northern migrants had reduced IgG while southern migrants had heightened neutrophils and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratios. Body fat, aspect ratio, wing tip shape, and bacteria killing ability did not vary with migration status or distance. In general, male silver-haired bats do not appear to mediate migration costs by substantially downregulating immune defenses or to be under stronger selection for wing forms adapted for fast, energy-efficient flight. Such phenotypic changes may be more adaptive for female silver-haired bats, which migrate farther and are more constrained by time in spring than males. Adaptations for aerial hawking and the use of heterothermy by migrating bats may also reduce the energetic cost of migration and the need for more substantial morphological and physiological trade-offs.

opencc-zeroFeb 2022View details →

Supplementary material 1 from: Akmali V, Abedini S, Malekpour Fard Z (2022) Bat fauna and conservation assessment of Kurdistan caves, Iran. Subterranean Biology 42: 79-95. https://doi.org/10.3897/subtbiol.42.73282

Figures S1, S2

Figure 2 from: Akmali V, Abedini S, Malekpour Fard Z (2022) Bat fauna and conservation assessment of Kurdistan caves, Iran. Subterranean Biology 42: 79-95. https://doi.org/10.3897/subtbiol.42.73282

Figure 2 Four caves of Kurdistan with the highest priority for conservation programs: A Karaftu B Kamtaran C Darvish Ouliya D Kouna Sham-Sham.

Figure 1 from: Akmali V, Abedini S, Malekpour Fard Z (2022) Bat fauna and conservation assessment of Kurdistan caves, Iran. Subterranean Biology 42: 79-95. https://doi.org/10.3897/subtbiol.42.73282

Figure 1 16 possible alphanumerical BCVI values resulted from a combination of BP and BV scores. Cave priorities are categorized into three groups: High priority, medium priority, and Low priority.

opennotspecifiedDec 2020View details →

Fig. 1 in Hibernation of bats in post-Soviet military objects in Poland

Fig. 1. Localization of study sites. Position numbers as in the text.

opencc-zeroMar 2022View details →

Molecular food webs of bat-plant interactions during an extreme El Nino event

Interaction network structure reflects the ecological mechanisms acting within biological communities, which are affected by environmental conditions. In tropical forests, higher precipitation usually increases fruit production, which may lead frugivores to increase specialization, resulting in more modular and less nested animal-plant networks. In these ecosystems, El Niño is a major driver of precipitation, however, we still lack knowledge of how species interactions change under this influence. To understand bat-plant network structure during an extreme ENSO event, we determined the links between frugivorous bat species and the plants they consume by DNA barcoding seeds and pulp in bat faeces. These interactions were recorded in the dry forest and rainforest of Costa Rica, during the dry and the wet seasons of an extreme El Niño year. From these we constructed seasonal and whole-year bat-plant networks and analyzed their structures and dissimilarities. In general, networks had low nestedness, high modularity, and were dominated by one large compartment which included most species and interactions. Contrary to our expectations, networks were less nested and more modular in drier conditions, both in the comparison between forest types and between seasons. We suggest that increased competition, when resources are scarce during drier seasons and habitats, lead to higher resource partitioning among bats and thus higher modularity. Moreover, we have found similar network structures between dry and rainforests during El Niño and non El Niño years. Finally, most interaction dissimilarity among networks occurred due to interaction rewiring among species, potentially driven by seasonal changes in resource availability.

opencc-zeroMar 2022View details →

Bat activity under three lighting treatments

Artificial light at night (ALAN) is a rapidly intensifying form of environmental degradation that can impact wildlife by altering light-mediated physiological processes that control a broad range of behaviors. Although nocturnal animals are most vulnerable, ALAN's effects on North American bats have been surprisingly understudied. Most of what is known is based on decades-old observations of bats around street lights with traditional lighting technologies that have been increasingly replaced by energy-efficient broad-spectrum lighting, rendering our understanding of the contemporary effects of ALAN on North American bats even less complete. We experimentally tested the effects of broad-spectrum ALAN on presence/absence, foraging activity, and species composition in a Connecticut, USA bat community by illuminating foraging habitat with light-emitting diode (LED) floodlights and comparing acoustic recordings between light and dark conditions. Lighting dramatically decreased presence and activity of little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus), which we detected on only 14% of light nights compared to 65% of dark (lights off) and 69% of control (lights removed) nights. Big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus) activity on light nights averaged only half that of dark and control nights. Lighting did not affect presence/absence of silver-haired bats (Lasionycteris noctivagans), but decreased their activity. There were no effects on eastern red bats (Lasiurus borealis) or hoary bats (L. cinereus), which have been described previously as light-tolerant. Aversion to lighting by some species but not others caused a significant shift in community composition, thereby potentially altering competitive balances from natural conditions. Our results demonstrate that only a small degree of ALAN can represent a significant form of habitat degradation for some North American bats, including the endangered little brown bat. Research on the extent to which different lighting technologies, colors, and intensities affect these species is urgently needed and should be a priority in conservation planning for North America's bats.

opennotspecifiedMar 2022View details →

FIGURES 6–7 in Two new species of Ptecticus Loew, 1855 (Diptera: Stratiomyidae), from bat guano in a Colombian cave

FIGURES 6–7. Stratiomyidae raising: 6, Selection and separation of larvae; 7, Rearing containers.

opencc-zeroMar 2022View details →

Darwin's Hawkmoth (Xanthopan praedicta) responds to bat ultrasound at sonar-jamming rates: Acoustic data set

This paper reveals that Xanthopan praedicta (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae) is part of the bat-moth coevolutionary dynamic. I played recordings of bat echolocation to live X. praedicta and found that males respond with such dense ultrasound they can likely jam bat sonar. Female X. praedicta and two other sphingid species do not produce ultrasonic responses.

opencc-by-4.0Sep 2018View details →

Fig. 5 in Results Of The 10-Year Monitoring Of Bat (Chiroptera, Vespertilionidae) Winter Aggregation From The North-Eastern Ukraine (Liptsy Mines, Kharkiv Region)

Fig. 5. Fluctuations in the number of hibernating batsin Liptsy 1: n— number of counts; Mdau — M. daubentonii; Mdas — M. dasycneme; Paur — P. auritus. In winters 2002–2003 and 2003–2004 there was censured any bats; in winter 2004–2005 censuses were not conducted.

opencc-by-4.0Jul 2015View details →

Fig. 1 in Some Factors Behind Density Dynamics Of Bat Flies (Diptera, Nycteribiidae) - Ectoparasites Of The Boreal Chiropterans: Omitted Predictors And Hurdle Model Identification

Fig. 1. Study area: winter bats colony — Smolinskaya (1) and Barsukovskaya (2) caves, Korliki village — summer settlement (3).

opencc-zeroMay 2022View details →

Who's for dinner? Bird prey diversity and choice in the great evening bat, Ia io

The mysterious predator-prey interaction between bats and nocturnally migrating birds is a very rare and incredible process in natural ecosystems. So far only three avivorous bat species, including two noctule bats (Nyctalus lasiopterus and Nyctalus aviator) and the great evening bat (Ia io), are known to regularly prey on songbirds during nocturnal avian migration. The information related to the diversity and the characteristics of the birds as prey, as well as the hunting strategy in both species of noctule bats are already clear. However, the diversity of bird prey in the diet of I. io as confirmed by molecular identification remains unknown. Moreover, like hunting insects, it remains unclear if the avivorous bats opportunistically prey on birds. Here, we used DNA metabarcoding to investigate the bird prey composition, diversity, and choice in diets of I. io. We found I. io consumed 22 species of seven families from Passeriformes with a body mass of 6–19 g, and preferentially selected small-sized passerine birds for optimizing the benefit/risk trade-off. Moreover, most of the species preyed upon were migratory birds, while four species were local resident birds, indicating that I. io may adopt both aerial-hawking and gleaning strategies on songbirds as do the other two noctules. Further, I. io body mass did not influence in prey choice and predation richness on birds, suggesting I. io is an opportunistic avivorous predator. This study provides novel insights into the avian dietary ecology of I. io and completes the analysis of predator/prey interaction between three avivorous bats and nocturnally migrating birds. Our results also indicate bat predation on birds which occurs as an act of ecological opportunity may subject bats to intense natural selection pressure, causing them access to the new diet-defined adaptive zones.

opencc-by-4.0Apr 2022View details →

BATS dataset

<pre>Paper: Predicting Patch Correctness Based on the Similarity of Failing Test Cases Collected patches</pre>