I characterized various aspects of bat ecology in a prairie landscape, focussing on little brown ... more I characterized various aspects of bat ecology in a prairie landscape, focussing on little brown myotis (Myotis lucifugus), western small-footed myotis (M. ciliolabrum) and big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus). I used radio-telemetry, acoustic monitoring and molecular genetics to address questions of roosting ecology and landscape genetics at fine and large scales. Additionally, I used a population genetics approach to address a question of systematics that arose due to a discrepancy between mitochondrial and nuclear DNA. I compared the roosting ecology of female M. ciliolabrum and E. fuscus in SE Alberta. Despite substantial differences in physical attributes of roosts, roosts were similar in microclimate. Unlike E. fuscus, M. ciliolabrum roosted more inconspicuously, did not change roost structure during reproduction, and roosted with few individuals. M. ciliolabrum was geographically clustered by relatedness on a small scale, unlike female E. fuscus who roosted in unrelated groups over a larger area. I acoustically monitored along the Red Deer River for year-round bat activity. I determined that bats are active in all months at three locations, flying at unexpectedly cold temperatures. Using radiotelemetry, I located and described the first natural rock-crevice hibernacula for E. fuscus in the Canadian prairies. Acoustically I also determined that species composition and activity patterns along the river change seasonally, suggesting use of rivers as movement corridors. I tested the hypothesis that bats vary in genetic population structure according to their mobility and habitat specificity. I compared three species of bats in a prairie environment where river valleys were the dominant landscape feature. Greater flight ability corresponded to less genetic structure, and roost specificity may have caused greater dependency on rivers as movement corridors. I used population genetics to assess the systematics of M. lucifugus. Using nuclear microsatellites, I found that two groups differing substantially in mtDNA sequence (putative subspecies), were fully interbreeding. Sympatry occurs across western North America, making intact gene pools for each group unlikely. This, together with a lack of morphological and ecological distinction, suggests no biological basis for taxonomic distinction. Although recently proposed to be cryptic species based on mtDNA, my results suggest no taxonomic distinction is biologically warranted. I highlight the importance of investigating nuclear gene flow in widely sympatric animals suspected of being cryptic species.
The Silver-haired Bat (Lasionycteris noctivagans), is generally considered a ‘migratory-hibernato... more The Silver-haired Bat (Lasionycteris noctivagans), is generally considered a ‘migratory-hibernator,’ migrating to areas where it overwinters with periods of dormancy. It has long been hypothesized that this species may not be migratory in British Columbia, or migration distances are short, supported by its year-round detection in the province. We studied L. noctivagans at three study locations in SE B.C. from 2009 – 2014. Using temperature-sensitive transmitters in winter, we documented arousal patterns of both sexes. We determined that L. noctivagans hibernate in mines, rock-crevices, trees and snags, often switching roosts during the winter period. Hibernacula microclimates are high in humidity, but colder than required for optimal growth of Pseudogymnoascus destructans. By banding individuals at two mines in both summer and winter, we documented the first evidence of year-round residency at mines by male L. noctivagans. Recaptures of both males and females banded as juveniles and recaptured as adults in subsequent years confirms roost fidelity. Evidence of winter mating was found in some January and February captures. We present detailed methods on how to assess male reproductive status. Patterned acoustic recordings by L. noctivagans could be described as “songs” and may be associated with mating behavior given their predominance during fall and winter.
Four species of long-eared myotis bats occur in British Columbia: Keen’s Myotis (Myotis keenii),... more Four species of long-eared myotis bats occur in British Columbia: Keen’s Myotis (Myotis keenii), Northern Myotis (M. septentrionalis), Long-eared Myotis (M. evotis), and Fringed Myotis (M. thysanodes). Myotis keenii and M. evotis are especially difficult to tell apart in the hand in areas where the species are sympatric. Field differentiation is desired given the ‘vulnerable/sensitive’ conservation status listings of M. keenii across its range, versus the ‘secure’ listing of M. evotis. Small differences in skull morphology, colouration, and mitochondrial DNA have been used to try to distinguish the 2 species, but it has been unclear as to whether species distinction is biologically warranted. To examine this question, we microsatellite genotyped 257 long-eared myotis, sampled from a wide range of locations along the BC, Alaska and Washington coasts, and as far east as Alberta. One hundred ninety-five of these samples were potential M. keenii or M. evotis based on morphology. We also included 24 Little Brown myotis (Myotis lucifugus), as a closely related outgroup. We used 14 microsatellite markers and plotted all genotypes in Genetix (factorial correspondence analysis) to observe the nuclear population genetics relationships. Four clear clusters, representing 4 species were delineated: M. septentrionalis, M. thysanodes, M. lucifugus and a mixed cluster of M. keenii/M. evotis. The highly mixed cluster of all potential M. keenii and M. evotis provides clear evidence that these individuals represent a single species that interbreeds. A few cases of hybridization between M. thysanodes and M. evotis/keenii were also noted.
I characterized various aspects of bat ecology in a prairie landscape, focussing on little brown ... more I characterized various aspects of bat ecology in a prairie landscape, focussing on little brown myotis (Myotis lucifugus), western small-footed myotis (M. ciliolabrum) and big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus). I used radio-telemetry, acoustic monitoring and molecular genetics to address questions of roosting ecology and landscape genetics at fine and large scales. Additionally, I used a population genetics approach to address a question of systematics that arose due to a discrepancy between mitochondrial and nuclear DNA. I compared the roosting ecology of female M. ciliolabrum and E. fuscus in SE Alberta. Despite substantial differences in physical attributes of roosts, roosts were similar in microclimate. Unlike E. fuscus, M. ciliolabrum roosted more inconspicuously, did not change roost structure during reproduction, and roosted with few individuals. M. ciliolabrum was geographically clustered by relatedness on a small scale, unlike female E. fuscus who roosted in unrelated groups over a larger area. I acoustically monitored along the Red Deer River for year-round bat activity. I determined that bats are active in all months at three locations, flying at unexpectedly cold temperatures. Using radiotelemetry, I located and described the first natural rock-crevice hibernacula for E. fuscus in the Canadian prairies. Acoustically I also determined that species composition and activity patterns along the river change seasonally, suggesting use of rivers as movement corridors. I tested the hypothesis that bats vary in genetic population structure according to their mobility and habitat specificity. I compared three species of bats in a prairie environment where river valleys were the dominant landscape feature. Greater flight ability corresponded to less genetic structure, and roost specificity may have caused greater dependency on rivers as movement corridors. I used population genetics to assess the systematics of M. lucifugus. Using nuclear microsatellites, I found that two groups differing substantially in mtDNA sequence (putative subspecies), were fully interbreeding. Sympatry occurs across western North America, making intact gene pools for each group unlikely. This, together with a lack of morphological and ecological distinction, suggests no biological basis for taxonomic distinction. Although recently proposed to be cryptic species based on mtDNA, my results suggest no taxonomic distinction is biologically warranted. I highlight the importance of investigating nuclear gene flow in widely sympatric animals suspected of being cryptic species.
The Silver-haired Bat (Lasionycteris noctivagans), is generally considered a ‘migratory-hibernato... more The Silver-haired Bat (Lasionycteris noctivagans), is generally considered a ‘migratory-hibernator,’ migrating to areas where it overwinters with periods of dormancy. It has long been hypothesized that this species may not be migratory in British Columbia, or migration distances are short, supported by its year-round detection in the province. We studied L. noctivagans at three study locations in SE B.C. from 2009 – 2014. Using temperature-sensitive transmitters in winter, we documented arousal patterns of both sexes. We determined that L. noctivagans hibernate in mines, rock-crevices, trees and snags, often switching roosts during the winter period. Hibernacula microclimates are high in humidity, but colder than required for optimal growth of Pseudogymnoascus destructans. By banding individuals at two mines in both summer and winter, we documented the first evidence of year-round residency at mines by male L. noctivagans. Recaptures of both males and females banded as juveniles and recaptured as adults in subsequent years confirms roost fidelity. Evidence of winter mating was found in some January and February captures. We present detailed methods on how to assess male reproductive status. Patterned acoustic recordings by L. noctivagans could be described as “songs” and may be associated with mating behavior given their predominance during fall and winter.
Four species of long-eared myotis bats occur in British Columbia: Keen’s Myotis (Myotis keenii),... more Four species of long-eared myotis bats occur in British Columbia: Keen’s Myotis (Myotis keenii), Northern Myotis (M. septentrionalis), Long-eared Myotis (M. evotis), and Fringed Myotis (M. thysanodes). Myotis keenii and M. evotis are especially difficult to tell apart in the hand in areas where the species are sympatric. Field differentiation is desired given the ‘vulnerable/sensitive’ conservation status listings of M. keenii across its range, versus the ‘secure’ listing of M. evotis. Small differences in skull morphology, colouration, and mitochondrial DNA have been used to try to distinguish the 2 species, but it has been unclear as to whether species distinction is biologically warranted. To examine this question, we microsatellite genotyped 257 long-eared myotis, sampled from a wide range of locations along the BC, Alaska and Washington coasts, and as far east as Alberta. One hundred ninety-five of these samples were potential M. keenii or M. evotis based on morphology. We also included 24 Little Brown myotis (Myotis lucifugus), as a closely related outgroup. We used 14 microsatellite markers and plotted all genotypes in Genetix (factorial correspondence analysis) to observe the nuclear population genetics relationships. Four clear clusters, representing 4 species were delineated: M. septentrionalis, M. thysanodes, M. lucifugus and a mixed cluster of M. keenii/M. evotis. The highly mixed cluster of all potential M. keenii and M. evotis provides clear evidence that these individuals represent a single species that interbreeds. A few cases of hybridization between M. thysanodes and M. evotis/keenii were also noted.
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I compared the roosting ecology of female M. ciliolabrum and E. fuscus in SE Alberta. Despite substantial differences in physical attributes of roosts, roosts were similar in microclimate. Unlike E. fuscus, M. ciliolabrum roosted more inconspicuously, did not change roost structure during reproduction, and roosted with few individuals. M. ciliolabrum was geographically clustered by relatedness on a small scale, unlike female E. fuscus who roosted in unrelated groups over a larger area.
I acoustically monitored along the Red Deer River for year-round bat activity. I determined that bats are active in all months at three locations, flying at unexpectedly cold temperatures. Using radiotelemetry, I located and described the first natural rock-crevice hibernacula for E. fuscus in the Canadian prairies. Acoustically I also determined that species composition and activity patterns along the river change seasonally, suggesting use of rivers as movement corridors.
I tested the hypothesis that bats vary in genetic population structure according to their mobility and habitat specificity. I compared three species of bats in a prairie environment where river valleys were the dominant landscape feature. Greater flight ability corresponded to less genetic structure, and roost specificity may have caused greater dependency on rivers as movement corridors.
I used population genetics to assess the systematics of M. lucifugus. Using nuclear microsatellites, I found that two groups differing substantially in mtDNA sequence (putative subspecies), were fully interbreeding. Sympatry occurs across western North America, making intact gene pools for each group unlikely. This, together with a lack of morphological and ecological distinction, suggests no biological basis for taxonomic distinction. Although recently proposed to be cryptic species based on mtDNA, my results suggest no taxonomic distinction is biologically warranted. I highlight the importance of investigating nuclear gene flow in widely sympatric animals suspected of being cryptic species.
I compared the roosting ecology of female M. ciliolabrum and E. fuscus in SE Alberta. Despite substantial differences in physical attributes of roosts, roosts were similar in microclimate. Unlike E. fuscus, M. ciliolabrum roosted more inconspicuously, did not change roost structure during reproduction, and roosted with few individuals. M. ciliolabrum was geographically clustered by relatedness on a small scale, unlike female E. fuscus who roosted in unrelated groups over a larger area.
I acoustically monitored along the Red Deer River for year-round bat activity. I determined that bats are active in all months at three locations, flying at unexpectedly cold temperatures. Using radiotelemetry, I located and described the first natural rock-crevice hibernacula for E. fuscus in the Canadian prairies. Acoustically I also determined that species composition and activity patterns along the river change seasonally, suggesting use of rivers as movement corridors.
I tested the hypothesis that bats vary in genetic population structure according to their mobility and habitat specificity. I compared three species of bats in a prairie environment where river valleys were the dominant landscape feature. Greater flight ability corresponded to less genetic structure, and roost specificity may have caused greater dependency on rivers as movement corridors.
I used population genetics to assess the systematics of M. lucifugus. Using nuclear microsatellites, I found that two groups differing substantially in mtDNA sequence (putative subspecies), were fully interbreeding. Sympatry occurs across western North America, making intact gene pools for each group unlikely. This, together with a lack of morphological and ecological distinction, suggests no biological basis for taxonomic distinction. Although recently proposed to be cryptic species based on mtDNA, my results suggest no taxonomic distinction is biologically warranted. I highlight the importance of investigating nuclear gene flow in widely sympatric animals suspected of being cryptic species.