Wing Loading Correlates Negatively with Genetic Structuring of Eight Afro-Malagasy Bat Species (Molossidae)

Taylor, Peter J.; Schoeman, M. Corrie; Ratrimomanarivo, Fanja H.; Lamb, Jennifer

doi:10.3161/150811012x654268

Cited by 9 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 48 publications

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“…Identifying the traits associated with dispersal distance would be valuable for predicting the dispersal ability of bats 27 . It has been demonstrated that wing loading influences the rate of gene flow between populations in several bat families, such as Vespertilionidae, Rhinolophidae, and Molossidae 27 , 40 . There is also a positive association between aspect ratio and maximum movement distance in some European bats 19 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Wing morphology predicts geographic range size in vespertilionid bats

Luo

Santana

Pang

et al. 2019

Sci Rep

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Why some species are widespread across continents while others are confined geographically remains an open question in ecology and biogeography. Previous research has attempted to explain interspecific variation in geographic range size based on differences in dispersal ability. However, the relationship between dispersal ability and geographic range size remains uncertain, particularly in mammals. The goal of this study is to test whether geographic range size can be predicted by dispersal capacity among vespertilionid bats within a phylogenetic comparative framework. We integrated a large dataset on range area, longitudinal extent, wing morphology (a proxy for dispersal ability), migratory habit, and biogeographic realm across 126 vespertilionid bat species. We used phylogenetic regressions to disentangle the associations between these predictor factors and species range size while controlling for the effects of migration and biogeographic realm. Our analyses revealed that bat species with higher wing loading exhibit larger distribution ranges than those with lower wing loading, and that the size of geographic ranges was associated with wing aspect ratio in bats. These results highlight the relationship between wing morphology and range size in flying mammals, and suggest a role of dispersal capacity in shaping species’ geographic distributions.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Wing morphology predicts geographic range size in vespertilionid bats

Luo

Santana

Pang

et al. 2019

Sci Rep

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“…In contrast, bats in the family Molossidae typically have wings with high aspect ratio, high wing loading, and average wing tip indices (Norberg & Rayner, ). These characteristics are associated with fast flight often above the canopy, inability to maneuver in clutter, high dispersal ability, and low population genetic structure (Burns & Broders, ; Norberg & Rayner, ; Taylor, Goodman, Schoeman, Ratrimomanarivo, & Lamb, ). If wing morphology and flight pattern are correlated with dispersal across open water, then we expect phyllostomid bats to show less population connectivity between islands than molossid bats.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Population structure of a widespread bat (Tadarida brasiliensis) in an island system

Speer

Petronio

Simmons

et al. 2017

Ecology and Evolution

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Dispersal is a driving factor in the creation and maintenance of biodiversity, yet little is known about the effects of habitat variation and geography on dispersal and population connectivity in most mammalian groups. Bats of the family Molossidae are fast‐flying mammals thought to have potentially high dispersal ability, and recent studies have indicated gene flow across hundreds of kilometers in continental North American populations of the Brazilian free‐tailed bat, Tadarida brasiliensis. We examined the population genetics, phylogeography, and morphology of this species in Florida and across islands of The Bahamas, which are part of an island archipelago in the West Indies. Previous studies indicate that bats in the family Phyllostomidae, which are possibly less mobile than members of the family Molossidae, exhibit population structuring across The Bahamas. We hypothesized that T. brasiliensis would show high population connectivity throughout the islands and that T. brasiliensis would show higher connectivity than two species of phyllostomid bats that have been previously examined in The Bahamas. Contrary to our predictions, T. brasiliensis shows high population structure between two groups of islands in The Bahamas, similar to the structure exhibited by one species of phyllostomid bat. Phylogenetic and morphological analyses suggest that this structure may be the result of ancient divergence between two populations of T. brasiliensis that subsequently came into contact in The Bahamas. Our findings additionally suggest that there may be cryptic species within T. brasiliensis in The Bahamas and the West Indies more broadly.

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“…Dispersal ability is also a key force in shaping the demography of natural populations (Proctor et al ., 2004). Both C. atsinanana and C. leucogaster show similar roosting patterns and flight capabilities and, therefore, dispersal capabilities, as indicated by aerodynamic aspects of wing shape (Taylor et al. , in press).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genetically and geographically isolated lineages of a tropical bat (Chiroptera: Molossidae) show demographic stability over the late Pleistocene

Lamb

Naidoo

Taylor

et al. 2012

Biological Journal of the Linnean Society

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The newly described molossid bat, Chaerephon atsinanana Goodman et al., 2010, endemic to eastern Madagascar, shows notably high levels of phylogeographic and genetic structure compared with allopatric Chaerephon leucogaster Grandidier, 1869 from western Madagascar. Such highly significant structuring of haplotypes among altitudinally and latitudinally stratified population groups is contrary to the expected panmixia in strong flying bats. The null model of concordance in historical demographic patterns across these two Chaerephon species was not supported. Mismatch and Bayesian skyline analyses indicated ancient stable C. atsinanana populations of constant size during the last two major Pleistocene glacial periods, making retreat into and expansion from glacial refugia an unlikely explanation for such high levels of structure, in accordance with expectations for tropical bats. Analyses were consistent with post‐refugial population expansion in the less diverse and structured C. leucogaster during the end of the last Pleistocene glacial period. We hypothesise that the pronounced genetic structuring in C. atsinanana may result from female philopatry. Furthermore, differing demographic histories of the two species may have been shaped by differing climate or habitat preferences, consistent with evidence from MaxEnt ecological niche modelling, which shows differences in variables influencing the current predicted distributions. Fossil Quaternary pollen deposits further indicate greater stability in past climatic patterns in eastern versus western Madagascar. © 2012 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2012, 106, 18–40.

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Wing Loading Correlates Negatively with Genetic Structuring of Eight Afro-Malagasy Bat Species (Molossidae)

Cited by 9 publications

References 48 publications

Wing morphology predicts geographic range size in vespertilionid bats

Wing morphology predicts geographic range size in vespertilionid bats

Population structure of a widespread bat (Tadarida brasiliensis) in an island system

Genetically and geographically isolated lineages of a tropical bat (Chiroptera: Molossidae) show demographic stability over the late Pleistocene

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