Dataset Information

Evidence for repeated independent evolution of migration in the largest family of bats.

ABSTRACT:

Background

How migration evolved represents one of the most poignant questions in evolutionary biology. While studies on the evolution of migration in birds are well represented in the literature, migration in bats has received relatively little attention. Yet, more than 30 species of bats are known to migrate annually from breeding to non-breeding locations. Our study is the first to test hypotheses on the evolutionary history of migration in bats using a phylogenetic framework.

Methods and principal findings

In addition to providing a review of bat migration in relation to existing hypotheses on the evolution of migration in birds, we use a previously published supertree to formulate and test hypotheses on the evolutionary history of migration in bats. Our results suggest that migration in bats has evolved independently in several lineages potentially as the need arises to track resources (food, roosting site) but not through a series of steps from short- to long-distance migrants, as has been suggested for birds. Moreover, our analyses do not indicate that migration is an ancestral state but has relatively recently evolved in bats. Our results also show that migration is significantly less likely to evolve in cave roosting bats than in tree roosting species.

Conclusions and significance

This is the first study to provide evidence that migration has evolved independently in bat lineages that are not closely related. If migration evolved as a need to track seasonal resources or seek adequate roosting sites, climate change may have a pivotal impact on bat migratory habits. Our study provides a strong framework for future research on the evolution of migration in chiropterans.

SUBMITTER: Bisson IA

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2759287 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Evidence for repeated independent evolution of migration in the largest family of bats.

Bisson Isabelle-Anne IA Safi Kamran K Holland Richard A RA

PloS one 20091021 10

<h4>Background</h4>How migration evolved represents one of the most poignant questions in evolutionary biology. While studies on the evolution of migration in birds are well represented in the literature, migration in bats has received relatively little attention. Yet, more than 30 species of bats are known to migrate annually from breeding to non-breeding locations. Our study is the first to test hypotheses on the evolutionary history of migration in bats using a phylogenetic framework.<h4>Meth ...[more]

PMID: 19844569

Similar Datasets

Project description:BackgroundAnnual movements of tri-colored bats (Perimyotis subflavus) are poorly understood. While this species has been considered a regional migrant, some evidence suggests that it may undertake annual latitudinal migrations, similar to other long distance North American migratory bat species.Methodology/principal findingsWe investigated migration in P. subflavus by conducting stable hydrogen isotope analyses of 184 museum specimen fur samples and comparing these results (?D(fur)) to published interpolated ?D values of collection site growing season precipitation (?D(precip)). Results suggest that the male molt period occurred between June 23 and October 16 and 33% of males collected during the presumed non-molt period were south of their location of fur growth. For the same time period, 16% of females were south of their location of fur growth and in general, had not travelled as far as migratory males. There were strong correlations between ?D(fur) from the presumed molt period and both growing season ?D(precip) (males--r(2) = 0.86; p<0.01; females--r(2) = 0.75; p < 0.01), and latitude of collection (males--r(2) = 0.85; p<0.01; females--r(2) = 0.73; p<0.01). Most migrants were collected at the northern (>40 °N; males and females) and southern (<35 °N; males only) extents of the species' range.Conclusions/significanceThese results indicate a different pattern of migration for this species than previously documented, suggesting that some P. subflavus engage in annual latitudinal migrations and that migratory tendency varies with latitude and between sexes. We suggest that this species' hibernation ecology makes it particularly susceptible to long winters, making migration from the northern extent of the species' range to more southern hibernacula preferable for some individuals. Fur ?D values for some of the northern individuals may indicate an increase in the currently accepted northern range of this species. Sex-biased differences in migration may be the result of differences in reproductive pressures.

Dataset Information

Evidence for repeated independent evolution of migration in the largest family of bats.

Background

Methods and principal findings

Conclusions and significance

Publications

Evidence for repeated independent evolution of migration in the largest family of bats.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets