Integrating population genetics to define conservation units from the core to the edge of Rhinolophus ferrumequinum western range

Abstract

The greater horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum) is among the most widespread bat species in Europe but it has experienced severe declines, especially in Northern Europe. This species is listed Near Threatened in the European IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals, and it is considered to be highly sensitive to human activities and particularly to habitat fragmentation. Therefore, understanding the population boundaries and demographic history of populations of this species is of primary importance to assess relevant conservation strategies. In this study, we used 17 microsatellite markers to assess the genetic diversity, the genetic structure, and the demographic history of R. ferrumequinum colonies in the western part of its distribution. We identified one large population showing high levels of genetic diversity and large population size. Lower estimates were found in England and northern France. Analyses of clustering and isolation by distance suggested that the Channel and the Mediterranean seas could impede R. ferrumequinum gene flow. These results provide important information to improve the delineation of R. ferrumequinum management units. We suggest that a large management unit corresponding to the population ranging from Spanish Basque Country to northern France must be considered. Particular attention should be given to mating territories as they seem to play a key role in maintaining high levels of genetic mixing between colonies. Smaller management units corresponding to English and northern France colonies must also be implemented. These insular or peripheral colonies could be at higher risk of extinction in the near future.

Conservation by trans-border cooperation: population genetic structure and diversity of geoffroy’s bat (Myotis emarginatus) at its north-western european range edge

“…Our results of interconnected colonies over a large spatial scale appeared comparable to results reported for the greater horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum). Colonies of this species from Portugal, Spain, France and Italy formed one genetic cluster that was characterised by a relatively weak IBD pattern (Rossiter et al 2007;Tournayre et al 2019). Similarly to Geoffroy's bat, the greater horseshoe bat usually covers between 10 and 60 km when moving between nursery colonies and hibernation sites, with occasional movement distances of over 100 km also reported in the literature (Hutterer et al 2005).…”

“…bats that breed and hibernate within a 50-km radius; Fleming 2019) the degree of gene flow, and hence population genetic structure, is determined by a species' dispersal capabilities as well as by mating strategies and historical processes (Moussy et al 2013). There are thus examples of both lack (Castella et al 2001;Rossiter et al 2007;Ibouroi et al 2018;Tournayre et al 2019) and presence (Kerth and Petit 2005;Campbell et al 2009;Meyer et al 2009;Wright et al 2018) of population genetic structure at smaller spatial scales. Understanding the degree of population structure across different parts of a species' range is, however, important to design adequate conservation strategies (Fahrig 2003).…”

Foraging Time and Temperature Affected Birth Timing of Rhinolophus ferrumequinum and Predicted Year-To-Year Changes for 25 Years in a Population in West Wales, U.K.

“…Although Rhinolophus ferrumequinum is widespread in Europe it is considered highly threatened by human activities and habitat fragmentation and this species is listed Near Threatened in the European IUCN Red List (IUCN, 2017;Tournayre et al, 2019). Good conservation of bat species requires long-term data sets for evaluation of climate change on reproductive phenology and reliable estimations of population trends (Hutson et al, 2001;Frick et al, 2010;Law, 2018;Linton and MacDonald, 2018;Locatelli et al, 2019).…”

Species delineation and genetic structure of two Chaerephon species (C. pusillus and C. leucogaster) on Madagascar and the Comoro archipelago

“…However, because of their nocturnal habits, generally small size and considerable mobility, bats are difficult to study and monitor in the wild. The genetic approach is thus an important method to provide a new understanding of these animals and has become extremely important in the field of conservation genetics (Dool, 2020 ; Tournayre et al, 2019 ). However, many bat genera and species complexes remain largely unstudied, especially for genetic markers (Dool, 2020 ).…”