Genetic structure in three species of whiskered bats (genus<i>Myotis</i>) during swarming

Bogdanowicz, Wiesław; Piksa, Krzysztof; Tereba, Anna

doi:10.1644/11-mamm-a-180.3

Cited by 24 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…As documented by Vähä & Primmer [43], 12 or 24 loci with pairwise F ST values between hybridizing parental populations of 0.21 or 0.12, respectively, are required for the successful detection of F1 hybrids. In our case, all species pairs showed highly significant ( P <0.001) genotypic differentiation (see also [34]). The highest F ST value (only purebred individuals used) were recovered between M. alcathoe and M. brandtii (0.18).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 60%

“…However, this explanation is unlikely given the presence of well-mixed assemblages and the relatively low level of genetic differentiation between swarming sites [34].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In fact, mating in these taxa is not random. Bogdanowicz et al [34] showed that during the swarming period, 4.1%, 5.9%, and 8.7% of individuals of M. mystacinus , M. brandtii , and M. alcathoe respectively were full siblings. A much higher percentage of individuals (47.0–47.8%) was assigned to kin groups representing bats sharing one parent (i.e., half siblings).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Bats were mist-netted outside cave entrances between July and October 2007–2010 [34]. Tissues for DNA extraction were taken using a 3-mm diameter wing membrane biopsy from the plagiopatagium.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Hybridization Hotspots at Bat Swarming Sites

2012

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During late summer and early autumn in temperate zones of the Northern Hemisphere, thousands of bats gather at caves, mainly for the purpose of mating. We demonstrated that this swarming behavior most probably leads not only to breeding among bats of the same species but also interbreeding between different species. Using 14 nuclear microsatellites and three different methods (the Bayesian assignment approaches of STRUCTURE and NEWHYBRIDS and a principal coordinate analysis of pairwise genetic distances), we analyzed 375 individuals belonging to three species of whiskered bats (genus Myotis) at swarming sites across their sympatric range in southern Poland. The overall hybridization rate varied from 3.2 to 7.2%. At the species level, depending on the method used, these values ranged from 2.1–4.6% in M. mystacinus and 3.0–3.7% in M. brandtii to 6.5–30.4% in M. alcathoe. Hybrids occurred in about half of the caves we studied. In all three species, the sex ratio of hybrids was biased towards males but the observed differences did not differ statistically from those noted at the population level. In our opinion, factors leading to the formation of these admixed individuals and their relatively high frequency are: i) swarming behaviour at swarming sites, where high numbers of bats belonging to several species meet; ii) male-biased sex ratio during the swarming period; iii) the fact that all these bats are generally polygynous. The highly different population sizes of different species at swarming sites may also play some role. Swarming sites may represent unique hybrid hotspots, which, as there are at least 2,000 caves in the Polish Carpathians alone, may occur on a massive scale not previously observed for any group of mammal species in the wild. Evidently, these sites should be treated as focal points for the conservation of biodiversity and evolutionary processes.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 60%

“…However, this explanation is unlikely given the presence of well-mixed assemblages and the relatively low level of genetic differentiation between swarming sites [34].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Hybridization Hotspots at Bat Swarming Sites

2012

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“…Levels of diversity are high, and are similar to more common Myotis species found in Europe, such as M. daubentonii (Smith et al 2011), M. nattereri (Rivers et al 2005), M. myotis (Ruedi and Castella 2003), M. mystacinus and M. brandtii (Bogdanowicz et al 2012). The use of numerous autumn swarming sites throughout their range is likely to play an important role in maintaining high genetic diversity as it is frequently observed behaviour in Myotis bats (Kerth et al 2003).…”

Section: Genetic Diversitymentioning

confidence: 67%

Genetic structure and diversity of a rare woodland bat, Myotis bechsteinii: comparison of continental Europe and Britain

et al. 2018

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The Bechstein's bat (Myotis bechsteinii) is a rare sedentary bat considered to be highly reliant on the presence of ancient woodland. Understanding the genetic connectivity and population structure of such elusive mammals is important for assessing their conservation status. In this study, we report the genetic diversity and structure of M. bechsteinii across Britain and Europe. Assessments were made using 14 microsatellite markers and a 747 bp region of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene. Nuclear DNA (microsatellites) showed high levels of genetic diversity and little inbreeding across the species range, though genetic diversity was slightly lower in Britain than in mainland Europe. Bayesian and spatial PCA analysis showed a clear separation between the British and European sites. Within Europe, the Italian population south of the Alps was isolated from the other sites. In Britain, there was genetic structuring between the northern and southern part of the geographical range. Despite there being little genetic divergence in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequences throughout most of Europe, the mtDNA patterns in Britain confirmed this separation of northern and southern populations. Such genetic structuring within Britain-in the absence of any obvious physical barriers-suggests that other factors such as land-use may limit gene-flow.

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Genetic connectivity among swarming sites in the wide ranging and recently declining little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus)

Burns

Frasier

Broders

2014

Ecology and Evolution

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Characterizing movement dynamics and spatial aspects of gene flow within a species permits inference on population structuring. As patterns of structuring are products of historical and current demographics and gene flow, assessment of structure through time can yield an understanding of evolutionary dynamics acting on populations that are necessary to inform management. Recent dramatic population declines in hibernating bats in eastern North America from white-nose syndrome have prompted the need for information on movement dynamics for multiple bat species. We characterized population genetic structure of the little brown bat, Myotis lucifugus, at swarming sites in southeastern Canada using 9 nuclear microsatellites and a 292-bp region of the mitochondrial genome. Analyses of FST, ΦST, and Bayesian clustering (STRUCTURE) found weak levels of genetic structure among swarming sites for the nuclear and mitochondrial genome (Global FST = 0.001, P < 0.05, Global ΦST = 0.045, P < 0.01, STRUCTURE K = 1) suggesting high contemporary gene flow. Hierarchical AMOVA also suggests little structuring at a regional (provincial) level. Metrics of nuclear genetic structure were not found to differ between males and females suggesting weak asymmetries in gene flow between the sexes. However, a greater degree of mitochondrial structuring does support male-biased dispersal long term. Demographic analyses were consistent with past population growth and suggest a population expansion occurred from approximately 1250 to 12,500 BP, following Pleistocene deglaciation in the region. Our study suggests high gene flow and thus a high degree of connectivity among bats that visit swarming sites whereby mainland areas of the region may be best considered as one large gene pool for management and conservation.

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Genetic structure in three species of whiskered bats (genusMyotis) during swarming

Cited by 24 publications

References 46 publications

Hybridization Hotspots at Bat Swarming Sites

Hybridization Hotspots at Bat Swarming Sites

Genetic structure and diversity of a rare woodland bat, Myotis bechsteinii: comparison of continental Europe and Britain

Genetic connectivity among swarming sites in the wide ranging and recently declining little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus)

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