Influence of ambient temperature on the phenology of the greater mouse‐eared bat (<i>Myotis myotis</i>)

Matthäus, Laura; Kugelschafter, K.; Fietz, Joanna

doi:10.1002/ece3.10081

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 32 publications

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“…Weather conditions and food availability during spring and summer are already frequently reported as main drivers of intraspecific variation in breeding phenology (Rydell 1989, Ransome and McOwat 1994, Arlettaz, et al 2001, Lučan, et al 2013, Linton and Macdonald 2018, Matthäus, et al 2023, reproductive success (Burles, et al 2009, Lučan, et al 2013, Linton and Macdonald 2018 and postnatal development in bats (Hoying and Kunz 1998, Koehler and Barclay 2000, Hood, et al 2002, Mundinger, et al 2021). In our study population, environmental conditions during spring and summer influenced both breeding phenology and postnatal development, despite the box being heated and a few mealworms being supplied daily.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Individual variation in breeding phenology and postnatal development in northern bats (Eptesicus nilssonii)

Fjelldal,

van der Kooij

2024

Preprint

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Bats inhabiting northern latitudes are faced with short reproductive seasons during which they must produce and rear pups before fattening up in time to survive the winter hibernation. Therefore, the timing of parturition has considerable impacts on future fitness prospects for mother and pup; however, little is known about individual variation in breeding phenology and its consequences for postnatal development within bat populations. Here, we studied the phenology of breeding inEptesicus nilssoniiacross seven years using data collected by day-to-day monitoring of a breeding colony in Norway (60.1°N) for which the identity and age of each mother (N = 8) and pup (N = 28) were known. By applying mixed-effect models, we found that arrival at the colony was largely dependent on late spring temperatures for all females, but that there were strong and consistent individual differences in arrival time across years. Females generally arrived ~31.6 days (± 0.8 SE) before giving birth but could delay the timing of parturition by leaving the colony during early gestation if faced with poor weather conditions. However, females arriving late expressed shorter gestations, and pups born later in the season were born smaller but had higher growth rates during the most rapid growth period (<10 days old). The within-individual effects suggest that the higher growth rates could be due to mothers compensating for late parturition rather than by improved food availability. Date of parturition did not influence adult body size in pups. Pups became volant at the earliest only 13.1 days after birth (mean: 15.3 ± 1.6 SD) and approached adult flight patterns during their first flight week. Our unique results suggest thatE. nilssoniiis highly adapted to a short breeding season and is able to buffer unfavourable weather conditions to avoid slowing pup development, although the mechanistic drivers remain unknown.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Individual variation in breeding phenology and postnatal development in northern bats (Eptesicus nilssonii)

Fjelldal,

van der Kooij

2024

Preprint

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Individual variation in breeding phenology and postnatal development in northern bats (Eptesicus nilssonii)

Fjelldal,

van der Kooij

2024

Ecology and Evolution

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Bats inhabiting northern latitudes are faced with short reproductive seasons during which they must produce and rear pups before fattening up in time to survive the winter hibernation. Therefore, the timing of parturition has considerable impacts on future fitness prospects for the mother and pup. However, little is known about individual variation in breeding phenology and its consequences for postnatal development within bat populations. Here, we studied the phenology of breeding in Eptesicus nilssonii across 7 years using data collected by day‐to‐day monitoring of a breeding colony in Norway (60.1° N) for which the identity and age of each mother (N = 8) and pup (N = 28) were known. Using mixed‐effect models, we found that arrival at the colony was influenced by temperature conditions from mid‐April to mid‐May across all females, but that there were strong and consistent individual differences in arrival‐ and parturition time across years. Females generally arrived ~32.1 days before giving birth, but the gestation duration was reduced if females arrived late and prolonged if females left the colony when faced with cold weather conditions. Pups born later in the season were born smaller but had higher growth rates during the most rapid growth period (<10 days old). The within‐individual effects suggest that the higher growth rates could be due to mothers compensating (e.g. through increased food intake) for late parturition rather than by improved food availability. Date of parturition did not influence adult body size in pups. Pups became volant at the earliest only 13.1 days after birth and approached adult flight patterns during their first flight week. Our results suggest that E. nilssonii is highly adapted to a short breeding season by producing large, fast developing and early volant pups, despite the environmental pressures bats face at northern latitudes.

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Gestation phenology of the greater mouse-eared bat (Myotis myotis)

Zukal,

Mrhálek,

Pikula

et al. 2024

Journal of Vertebrate Biology

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Influence of ambient temperature on the phenology of the greater mouse‐eared bat (Myotis myotis)

Cited by 3 publications

References 32 publications

Individual variation in breeding phenology and postnatal development in northern bats (Eptesicus nilssonii)

Individual variation in breeding phenology and postnatal development in northern bats (Eptesicus nilssonii)

Individual variation in breeding phenology and postnatal development in northern bats (Eptesicus nilssonii)

Gestation phenology of the greater mouse-eared bat (Myotis myotis)

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