Reproductive status and vocalisation in swarming bats indicate a mating function of swarming and an extended mating period in Plecotus auritus

• Autorzy: Furmankiewicz J. , Duma K. , Manias K. , Borowiec M.
• Języki publikacji: EN

Abstrakty

EN

Subterranean swarming of bats takes place in the autumn and it is presumed that its main function is to facilitate mating. However, Plecotus auritus (brown long-eared bat) swarms twice a year, in spring (in March and April), and in autumn (from the end of August to October). The premise that both the autumn and spring swarming events have a mating function was tested by measuring the vocalisation activity and reproductive state of males at two subterranean swarming sites and at several maternity colony roosts in southwestern Poland. Vocal activity, as defined by the number of social calls emitted by swarming bats, was about ten times higher in the spring than in the autumn. The bats also emitted a wider range of call types in spring. From 45 to 100% of males examined in spring had distended caudae epididymides. Enlarged and distended epididymes contain spermatozoa and indicate that males are still able to copulate in spring. There was a significant positive correlation between the proportion of males with distended caudae epididymides and the vocal activity of swarming bats. This indicates that swarming behaviour plays a role in mating and that the mating season extends from autumn to spring. For the first time, a biphasic pattern of active mating behaviour has been observed in a European bat species. Mating occurs during swarming in autumn and spring and is accompanied by vocal advertisement. We suggest that the low number of females in spring increases competition between males and significantly increases the amount and diversity of vocal activity.

• Wydawca: -
• Czasopismo: Acta Chiropterologica
• Rocznik: 2013
• Tom: 15
• Numer: 2
• Opis fizyczny: p.371-385,fig.,ref.

Twórcy

autor

Furmankiewicz J.

• Department of Behavioural Ecology, University of Wroclaw, Sienkiewicza 21, 50-335 Wroclaw, Poland

autor

Duma K.

• The Faculty of Biology and Animal Science, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Chelmonskiego 38 C, 51-630 Wroclaw, Poland

autor

Manias K.

• The Faculty of Biology and Animal Science, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Chelmonskiego 38 C, 51-630 Wroclaw, Poland

autor

Borowiec M.

• Museum of Natural History, UNiversity of Wroclaw, Sienkiewicza 21, 50-335 Wroclaw, Poland

Bibliografia

• 1. I. Ahlén 1981. Identification of Scandinavian bats by their sounds. Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Wildlife Ecology, Uppsala, Report 6, 56 pp. Google Scholar
• 2. R. M. R. Barclay , M. B. Fenton , and D. W. Thomas . 1979. Social behaviour of the little brown bat, Myotis lucifugus. II. Vocal communication. Behavioural Ecology and Sociobiology, 6: 137–146. Google Scholar
• 3. K. E. Barlow , and G. Jones . 1996. Pipistrellus nathusii (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) in Britain in the mating season. Journal of Zoology (London), 240: 767–773. Google Scholar
• 4. K. E. Barlow , and G. Jones . 1997. Function of pipistrelle social calls: field data and a playback experiment. Animal Behaviour, 53: 991–999. Google Scholar
• 5. W. Bogdanowicz , K. Piksa , and A. Tereba . 2012a. Genetic structure in three species of whiskered bats (genus Myotis) during swarming. Journal of Mammalogy, 93: 799–807. Google Scholar
• 6. W. Bogdanowicz , K. Piksa , and A. Tereba . 2012b. Hybridization hotspots at bat swarming sites. PLoS ONE, 7(12): e53334. Google Scholar
• 7. A. K. Brunnet-Rossinni , and G. S. Wilkinson . 2009. Methods for age estimation and the study of senescence in bats. Pp. 315–325, in Ecological and behavioural methods for the study of bats ( T. H. Kunz , and S. Parsons , eds.). The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, 901 pp. Google Scholar
• 8. T. M. Burland , E. M. Barratt , R. A. Nichols , and P. A. Racey . 2001. Mating patterns, relatedness and the basis of natal philopatry in the brown long-eared bat, Plecotus auritus. Molecular Ecology, 10: 1309–1321. Google Scholar
• 9. J. B. Cope , and S. R. Humphrey . 1977. Spring and autumn swarming behaviour in the Indiana bat, Myotis sodalis. Journal of Mammalogy, 58: 93–95. Google Scholar
• 10. K. Duma , J. Furmankiewicz , and K. Mielcarek . 2004. Roost selection and population structure of the brown long-eared bat Plecotus auritus in Sudetic Foreland. Pp. 13–32, in Proceedings of the 2nd Polish-Czech-German Conference Bats of the Sudety Mts. [in Polish with English summary]. Google Scholar
• 11. J. A. Encarnação , M. Dietz , and U. Kiefdorf . 2002. Reproductive condition and activity pattern of male Daubenton's bats (Myotis daubentonii) in the summer habitat. Mammalian Biology, 69: 163–172. Google Scholar
• 12. A. C. Entwistle , P. A. Racey , and J. R. Speakman . 1998. The reproductive cycle and determination of sexual maturity in male brown long-eared bat (Plecotus auritus). Journal of Zoology (London), 244: 63–70. Google Scholar
• 13. A. C. Entwistle , P. A. Racey , and J. R. Speakman . 2000. Social and population structure of a gleaning bat, Plecotus auritus. Journal of Zoology (London), 252: 11–17. Google Scholar
• 14. M. B. Fenton 1969. Summer activity of Myotis lucifugus (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) at hibernacula in Ontario and Quebec. Canadian Journal of Zoology, 47: 597–602. Google Scholar
• 15. M. B. Fenton 2003. Eavesdropping on the echolocation and social calls of bats. Mammalian Review, 33(3–4): 193–204. Google Scholar
• 16. J. Furmankiewicz 2004. Social calls and vocal activity of the brown long-eared bat Plecotus auritus in SW Poland. Le Rhinolophe, 17: 101–120. Google Scholar
• 17. J. Furmankiewicz 2008. Population size, catchment area and sex-influenced differences in autumn and spring swarming of the brown long-eared bat Plecotus auritus. Canadian Journal of Zoology, 86: 207–216. Google Scholar
• 18. J. Furmankiewicz , and J. Altringham . 2007. Genetic structure in a swarming brown long-eared bat (Plecotus auritus) population: evidence for mating at swarming sites. Conservation Genetics, 8: 913–928. Google Scholar
• 19. J. Furmankiewicz , and J. Górniak . 2002. Seasonal changes in number and diversity of bat species (Chiroptera) in the Stolec mine (SW Poland). Przyroda Sudetów Zachodnich (Supplement 2), 5: 49–70. Google Scholar
• 20. I. Gottfried 2009. Use of underground hibernacula by the barbastelle (Barbastella barbastellus) outside the hibernation season. Acta Chiropterologica, 11: 363–373. Google Scholar
• 21. A. M. Glover , and J. D. Altringham . 2008. Cave selection and use by swarming bat species. Biological Conservation, 141: 1493–1504. Google Scholar
• 22. A. W. Gustafson 1979. Male reproductive patterns in hibernating bats. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility, 56: 317–331. Google Scholar
• 23. O. Helversen , and D. Helversen . 1994. The ‘advertisement song’ of the lesser noctule bat (Nyctalus leisleri). Folia Zoologica, 43: 331–338. Google Scholar
• 24. I. Horáček 1975. Notes on the ecology of bats of the genus Plecotus Geoffroy, 1818 (Mammalia: Chiroptera). Věstník Československé Společnosti Zoologické, 3: 195–210. Google Scholar
• 25. I. Horáček , and J. Zima . 1978. Net-revealed cave visitation and cave-dwelling in European bats. Folia Zoologica, 27: 135–148. Google Scholar
• 26. R. W. Howard 1995. A natural history of the brown long-eared bat. William Sessions Limited, York, England, 154 pp. Google Scholar
• 27. D. Johnston 2000. Cool Edit Pro. Syntrillium Software Corporation, Phoenix, USA. Google Scholar
• 28. G. Kerth , A. Kiefer , C. Trappmann , and M. Weishaar . 2003. High gene diversity at swarming sites suggests hot spots for gene flow in the endangered Bechstein's bat. Conservation Genetics, 4: 491–499. Google Scholar
• 29. E. I. Kozhurina 1996. What may the ‘song’ of noctule bats disclose to an observer? Myotis, 34: 5–15. Google Scholar
• 30. H. Limpens , and A. Roschen . 1995. Bestimmung der mitteleuropäischen Fledermausarten anhand ihrer Rufe. NABU-Umweltpyramide Bremervörde, Bremervörde, 45 pp. Google Scholar
• 31. K. Lundberg 1989. The influence of body mass, wing morphology, and call characteristics between three vespertilionid bat species. Pp. 51–66, in Social organization of the pipistrelle bat (Pipistrellus pipistrellus), and a comparison of advertisement behaviour in three polygynous bat species ( K. Lundberg , ed.). Ph.D. Thesis, University of Lund, Lund, 82 pp. Google Scholar
• 32. A. Maryjowski 2009. Flight activity and vocalisation of swarming bats in underground sites. M.Sc. Thesis, University of Wroclaw, Wroclaw, 44 pp. [In Polish with English summary]. Google Scholar
• 33. C. B. Moffat 1922. The habits of the long-eared bat. The Irish Naturalist, 31: 15–111. Google Scholar
• 34. K. J. Park , E. Masters , and J. D. Altringham . 1998. Social structure of three sympatric bat species (Vespertilionidae). Journal of Zoology (London), 244: 379–389. Google Scholar
• 35. K. N. Parsons , and G. Jones . 2003. Dispersion and habitat use by Myotis daubentonii and Myotis nattereri during the swarming season: implication for conservation. Animal Conservation, 6: 283–290. Google Scholar
• 36. K. N. Parsons , G. Jones , and F. Greenaway . 2003. Swarming activity of temperature zone microchiropteran bats: effects of season, time of night and weather conditions. Journal of Zoology (London), 261: 1–8. Google Scholar
• 37. L. Pettersson 1998. Bat Sound 1.2. Pettersson Elektronik AB, Uppsala, Sweden. Google Scholar
• 38. G. Pfalzer , and J. Kusch . 2003. Structure and variability of bat social calls: implication for specifity and individual recognition. Journal of Zoology (London), 261: 21–33. Google Scholar
• 39. B. Pfeiffer , and F. Mayer . 2013. Spermatogenesis, sperm storage and reproductive timing in bats. Journal of Zoology (London), 289: 77–85. Google Scholar
• 40. J. Piasecki 1997a. Temperatura powietrza. Mapa nr 47, in Atlas Śląska Dolnego i Opolskiego. Uniwersytet Wrocławski, Pracownia Atlasu Dolnego Śląska, Wrocław. [In Polish with English summary]. Google Scholar
• 41. J. Piasecki 1997b. Termiczne pory roku (1951–80). Mapa nr 48, in Atlas Śląska Dolnego i Opolskiego. Uniwersytet Wrocławski, Pracownia Atlasu Dolnego Śląska, Wrocław. [In Polish with English summary]. Google Scholar
• 42. K. Piksa 2008. Swarming of Myotis mystacinus and other bat species at high elevation in the Tatra Mountains, southern Poland. Acta Chiropterologica, 10: 69–79. Google Scholar
• 43. K. Piksa , W. Bogdanowicz , and A. Tereba . 2011. Swarming of bats at different elevations in the Carpathian Mountains. Acta Chiropterologica, 13: 113–122. Google Scholar
• 44. P. A. Racey 1974a. Ageing and assessment of reproductive status of pipistrelle bats, Pipistrellus pipistrellus. Journal of Zoology (London), 173: 264–271. Google Scholar
• 45. P. A. Racey 1974b. The reproductive cycle in male noctule bats, Nyctalus noctula. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility, 41: 169–182. Google Scholar
• 46. P. A. Racey 1979. The prolonged storage and survival of spermatozoa in Chiroptera. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility, 56: 391–402. Google Scholar
• 47. P. A. Racey 2009. Reproductive assessment of bats. Pp. 249–264, in Ecological and behavioral methods for the study of bats ( T. H. Kunz and S. Parsons , eds.). The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, 901 pp. Google Scholar
• 48. P. A. Racey , and W. H. Tam . 1974. Reproduction in male Pipistrellus pipistrellus (Mammalia: Chiroptera). Journal of Zoology (London), 172: 101–122. Google Scholar
• 49. P. A. Racey , and A. C. Entwistle . 2000. Life-history and Reproductive Strategies of Bats. Pp. 363–414, in Reproductive biology of bats ( E. C. Crichton and P. H. Krutzsch , eds.). Academic Press, London, 510 pp. Google Scholar
• 50. P. A. Racey , T. A. Uchida , T. Mori , M. I. Avery , and M. B. Fenton . 1987. Sperm-epithelium relationships in relation to the time of insemination in the little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus). Journal of Reproduction and Fertility, 80: 445–154. Google Scholar
• 51. N. Rivers 2005. Seasonal changes in population structure and behaviour of the Natterer's bat (Myotis nattereri). Ph.D. Thesis, University of Leeds, Leeds, 164 pp. Google Scholar
• 52. N. M. Rivers , R. K. Butlin , and J. D. Altringham . 2005. Genetic population structure of Natetterer's bats explained by mating at swarming sites and philopatry. Molecular Ecology, 14: 4299–4312. Google Scholar
• 53. N. M. Rivers , R. K. Butlin , and J. D. Altringham . 2006. Autumn swarming behaviour of Natterer's bats in the UK: population size, catchment area and dispersal. Biological Conservation, 127: 215–226. Google Scholar
• 54. T. Sendor 2002. Population ecology of the pipistrelle bat (Pipistrellus pipistrellus Schreber, 1774): the significance of the year-round use of hibernacula for life histories. Ph.D. Thesis, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, 147 pp. Google Scholar
• 55. J. R. Speakman , and P. A. Racey . 1986. The influence of body condition on sexual development of male long-eared bats (Plecotus auritus) in the wild. Journal of Zoology (London), 210: 515–525. Google Scholar
• 56. R. E. Stebbings 1966. A population structure of bats of the genus Plecotus. Journal of Zoology (London), 150: 53–75. Google Scholar
• 57. R. E. Stebbings 1970. A comparative study of Plecotus auritus and P. austriacus (Chiroptera, Vespertilionidae) inhabiting one roost. Bijdragen tot de Dierkunde, 40: 91–94. Google Scholar
• 58. P. P. Strelkov 1962. The peculiarities of reproduction in bats (Vespertilionidae) near the northern border of their distribution. Pp. 306–311, in Proceedings of the International Symposium for Methods of Mammal Investigation, Publishing House of the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences, Praha. Google Scholar
• 59. S. M. Swift 1998. Long-eared bats. T&AD Poyser Natural History, London, 182 pp. Google Scholar
• 60. D. W. Thomas , M. B. Fenton , and R. M. R. Barclay . 1979. Social behaviour of the little brown bat, Myotis lucifugus. I. Mating behaviour. Behavioural Ecology and Sociobiology, 6: 129–136. Google Scholar
• 61. M. Veith , A. Kiefer , J. Johannesen , and A. Seitz . 2004. The role of swarming sites for maintaining gene flow in the brown long-eared bat (Plecotus auritus). Heredity, 93: 342–349. Google Scholar
• 62. E. M. Watt , and M. B. Fenton . 1995. DNA fingerprinting provides evidence of discriminate suckling and non-random mating in little brown bats Myotis lucifugus. Molecular Ecology, 4: 261–264. Google Scholar
• 63. R. Weid 1988. Occurrence of the particoloured bat Vespertilio murinus (Linné, 1758) in Greece and some observations on its display behaviour. Myotis, 26: 117–128. Google Scholar

Uwagi

Rekord w opracowaniu