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The diet of a single Maghreb Owl Strix mauritanica (family Strigidae) was examined within its natural habitat at Kahf Lakhal cave on Jbel Moussa, a mountain in northern Morocco. The two distinct batches of pellets collected contained a total of 190 prey items. Pellet analysis revealed a diet comprised of four primary taxonomic classes of prey: mammals, insects, birds and reptiles. We identified 29 prey species, representing 21 families. Mammals were the most prominent component, accounting for 49.5% of the diet items and included at least nine distinct species. Insects constituted 28.9% of the diet, representing at least eight species; birds comprised 20%, representing at least 11 species; and reptiles were represented by a single species (3.4%). Numerically, the most frequently captured prey species were the common bent-wing bat Miniopterus schreibersii (22.1%), black rat Rattus rattus (8.4%) and European rhinoceros beetle Oryctes nasicornis (7.9%). In biomass, black rats were the biggest component of the owl's diet (31.8%), followed by Barbary Partridges Alectoris barbara and hares Lepus sp. (each 11.9%); together these three species comprised more than half the estimated biomass of the prey types consumed by the owl. This investigation significantly improves our knowledge of the diet of the Maghreb Owl in the North African region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural caves play a crucial role in providing habitat for numerous bat species in temperate regions. While the potential of man-made structures to support biodiversity gains attention, there is a lack of information regarding the suitability of artificial tunnels as viable alternatives to natural ones. In this study, we assessed the use of artificial tunnels of hydroelectric power plants by bats in the NE Iberian Peninsula (Spain) during the breeding season for most species. Between 2013 and 2014, we monitored bat activity in 37 individualized tunnel entrances using harp traps and mist nets. To understand factors influencing their habitat use, we built competitive models to assess the effect of surrounding landscape, environment and tunnel factors on the richness and abundance of both cave-dwelling and generalist species, as well as on its suitability as breeding habitat for bats. We captured and identified a total of 738 bats representing 60% of species occurring in the South-West countries of Europe, including three regionally and two globally threatened species. Of the total, 67% of surveyed tunnels were used by bats. Our findings highlight that tunnel characteristics such as tunnel height, absence of grilles, and cover of surface runoff influenced all bat groups. Relative humidity primarily favours richness and abundance of females with pups. When properly designed and managed, man-made tunnels of hydroelectric power plants can play an important role in bat conservation by offering essential roosts and breeding sites; however, other potential ecological impacts of these infrastructures on local ecosystems must be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Hypsugo: Journal of Bat Research in the Balkans / Hypsugo: Glasnik za Istraživanje šišmiša Balkana is the property of Centar za Krs i Speleologiju and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Better empirical knowledge of how bat and insect phenology are influenced by seasonal environmental conditions and how this may affect fitness is essential in the face of changing climatic conditions. We examined the winter diet of the Schreibers’ bent-winged bat Miniopterus schreibersii (Kuhl, 1817) from Razhishkata Cave, Balkan Mountains, Bulgaria during four sampling periods in the winter of 2021 (end of January - end of March). We used a combination of DNA metabarcoding and a microscope-based morphological analyses of bats droppings. Additionally, we tracked prey availability in the studied area using insect flight interception traps (FIT). The species was actively feeding outside the cave and did not use the cave fauna. Our samples indicate a shift in the winter diet of the bats throughout the studied periods. Even though Diptera was the most abundant order of insects during two of the study periods, bats were preying predominantly on Lepidoptera and Hymenoptera. The metabarcoding also supported this with data for the presence of insects with diurnal activity in the samples. The temperature loggers showed a strong correlation between the outside temperature and the temperature in the cave where the colony was located, probably impacting the activity patterns of the bats. To our knowledge, this is the first study of winter bat activity and diet in Bulgaria. Our research can serve as a potential framework for studying winter bat activity and insect activity during this sensitive period.

Bats form a diverse order of mammals with a crucial ecological role. Bat populations appear to be declining because of human-induced environmental stress. Genetic methods contribute to study the species’ diversity and assess their population status. We aimed to study the genetic diversity of bats across the Rhodope Mountain Range, where both species with a large distribution as well as rare species with a limited distribution are found. Βat samples were collected and morphologically identified within the catchment area of Nestos (Mesta) River and from caves in the region of Momchilgrad – Komotini. Based on the analysis of a mitochondrial COI gene region of 650 bp length, the samples were classified in 9 distinct genera and 21 species, an important part of Balkan bat species diversity. Miniopterus schreibersii displayed the highest number of haplotypes and Rhinolophus hipposideros the highest mtDNA diversity levels. The majority of the samples were grouped with other European sequences and no specific geographic distribution of haplotypes was observed, except for Barbastella barbastellus and Hypsugo savii, where a western/eastern divide is apparent. Three species with the most numerous samples were further analyzed using 4-5 microsatellite markers per species. No sign of population differentiation was found between studied samples for these three species and moderate to high diversity levels were detected for Rhinolophus blasii and Rhinolophus euryale in contrast to mitochondrial analysis. The results confirm the presence of specific bat species in the cross-border area of Greece and Bulgaria through genetic identification and provide information for levels of genetic variation for some of them that may contribute to future bat management efforts in the region.

Bats form a diverse order of mammals with a crucial ecological role. Bat populations appear to be declining because of human-induced environmental stress. Genetic methods can contribute to detailed investigations of species diversity and assessments of population status. Here, we aimed to study the genetic diversity of bats across the Rhodope Mountain Range, where species with a large distribution as well as rare species with a limited distribution are found. Bat samples were collected and morphologically identified within the catchment area of Nestos (Mesta) River and from caves in the region of Momchilgrad - Komotini. Based on the analysis of a mitochondrial COI gene region of 650 bp length, the samples were classified in 9 distinct genera and 21 species, an important part of Balkan bat species diversity. Miniopterus schreibersii displayed the highest number of haplotypes and Rhinolophus hipposideros the highest mtDNA diversity levels. The majority of the samples were grouped with other European sequences and no specific geographic distribution of haplotypes was observed, except for Barbastella barbastellus and Hypsugo savii, where a western/eastern divide is apparent. Three species with the highest number of samples were further analyzed using 4-5 microsatellite markers per species. No sign of population differentiation was found between studied samples for these three species and moderate to high diversity levels were detected for Rhinolophus blasii and Rhinolophus euryale, in contrast to mitochondrial analysis. The results confirm the presence of specific bat species in the cross-border area of Greece and Bulgaria through genetic identification and provide information for levels of genetic variation for some of them that may contribute to future bat management efforts in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Better empirical knowledge of how bat and insect phenology are influenced by seasonal environmental conditions and how this may affect fitness is essential in the face of changing climatic conditions. We examined the winter diet of the Schreibers' bent-winged bat Miniopterus schreibersii (Kuhl, 1817) from Razhishkata Cave, Balkan Mountains, Bulgaria during four sampling periods in the winter of 2021 (end of January -- end of March). We used a combination of DNA metabarcoding and a microscope-based morphological analyses of bats droppings. Additionally, we tracked prey availability in the studied area using insect flight interception traps (FIT). The species was actively feeding outside the cave and did not use the cave fauna. Our samples indicate a shift in the winter diet of the bats throughout the studied periods. Even though Diptera was the most abundant order of insects during two of the study periods, bats were preying predominantly on Lepidoptera and Hymenoptera. The metabarcoding also supported this with data for the presence of insects with diurnal activity in the samples. The temperature loggers showed a strong correlation between the outside temperature and the temperature in the cave where the colony was located, probably impacting the activity patterns of the bats. To our knowledge, this is the first study of winter bat activity and diet in Bulgaria. Our research can serve as a potential framework for studying winter bat activity and insect activity during this sensitive period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Acta Vet Indones. The Indonesian Veterinary Journal / Jurnal Acta Veterinaria Indonesiana is the property of IPB University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Hypsugo: Journal of Bat Research in the Balkans / Hypsugo: Glasnik za Istraživanje šišmiša Balkana is the property of Centar za Krs i Speleologiju and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The presence of Pipistrellus kuhlii and Eptesicus serotinus is documented for the first time in the archipelago of Cabrera. The inventory of bats for these islands consists of six species: Pipistrellus kuhlii, Hypsugo savii, Eptesicus serotinus, Plecotus austriacus, Miniopterus schreibersii and Tadarida teniotis. Given the lack of reliable evidence on the presence of species of the genus Rhinolophus and Myotis in Cabrera, mentioned by other authors, is excluded from the catalog. Geographical distribution of the different species of bats within this area is provided in the attached maps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In June 2020, a cat from Arezzo (Italy) that died from a neurological disease was diagnosed with West Caucasian Bat Lyssavirus (WCBV). The virus retained high identity across the whole-genome with the reference isolate found in 2002 from a Russian bent-winged bat. We applied control measures recommended by national regulations, investigated a possible interface between cats and bats using visual inspections, bioacoustics analyses and camera trapping and performed active and passive surveillance in bats to trace the source of infection. People that were exposed to the cat received full post-exposure prophylaxis while animals underwent six months of quarantine. One year later, they are all healthy. In a tunnel located near the cat’s house, we identified a group of bent-winged bats that showed virus-neutralizing antibodies to WCBV across four sampling occasions, but no virus in salivary swabs. Carcasses from other bat species were all negative. This description of WCBV in a non-flying mammal confirms that this virus can cause clinical rabies in the absence of preventive and therapeutic measures, and highlights the lack of international guidelines against divergent lyssaviruses. We detected bent-winged bats as the most probable source of infection, testifying the encroachment between these bats and pets/human in urban areas and confirming free-ranging cats as potential hazard for public health and conservation.

This research was based on some characteristics of the erythrocyte and leukocyte cells of 9 Miniopterus schreibersii (♀♀) samples collected from Balıkesir Province in Turkey between July 2015 and September 2016. Bats were caught from an artificial cave using special nets. Blood was taken in heparinized hematocrit tubes from the forearm or tail membrane in the laboratory and the blood smears were prepared. The erythrocyte and leukocyte counts, hemoglobin concentration, and hematocrit values in the blood were determined. In M. schreibersii, the number of erythrocytes in 1 mm3 of blood was between 7.5 and 10 million, and the mean value was 8.8 million. The diameter values of the erythrocyte, monocyte, lymphocyte, eosinophil, neutrophil, and basophil cells were measured as 5.65, 9.66, 8.4, 8.66, 10, and 8.5 µm, respectively. Blood values of M. schreibersii were recorded for the first time in this study in Anatolia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bat rabies cases are attributed in Europe to five different Lyssavirus species of 16 recognized Lyssavirus species causing rabies. One of the most genetically divergent Lyssavirus spp. has been detected in a dead Miniopterus schreibersii bat in France. Brain samples were found positive for the presence of antigen, infectious virus and viral RNA by classical virological methods and molecular methods respectively. The complete genome sequence was determined by next‐generation sequencing. The analysis of the complete genome sequence confirmed the presence of Lleida bat lyssavirus (LLEBV) in bats in France with 99.7% of nucleotide identity with the Spanish LLEBV strain (KY006983). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on a study related to role of telomeres in bats' longevity. Topics discussed include protective nucleotide repeats on chromosome tips that shorten with cell division; telomeres shortening with age in Rhinolophus ferrumequinum and Miniopterus schreibersii; and contribution of telomeres, telomerase, and DNA repair genes for longevity in Myotis bats.

Abstract: The interaction between agricultural production and wildlife can shape, and even condition, the functioning of both systems. In this study, we i) explored the degree to which a widespread European bat, namely the common bent‐wing bat Miniopterus schreibersii, consumes crop‐damaging insects at a continental scale, and ii) tested whether its dietary niche is shaped by the extension and type of agricultural fields. We employed a dual‐primer DNA metabarcoding approach to characterize arthropod 16S and COI DNA sequences within bat faecal pellets collected across 16 Southern European localities, to first characterize the bat species’ dietary niche, second measure the incidence of agricultural pests across their ranges and third assess whether geographical dietary variation responds to climatic, landscape diversity, agriculture type and vegetation productivity factors. We detected 12 arthropod orders, among which lepidopterans were predominant. We identified >200 species, 44 of which are known to cause agricultural damage. Pest species were detected at all but one sampling site and in 94% of the analysed samples. Furthermore, the dietary diversity of M. schreibersii exhibited a negative linear relation with the area of intensive agricultural fields, thus suggesting crops restrict the dietary niche of bats to prey taxa associated with agricultural production within their foraging range. Overall, our results imply that M. schreibersii might be a valuable asset for biological pest suppression in a variety of agricultural productions and highlight the dynamic interplay between wildlife and agricultural systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Rotavirus comprises eight species designated A to H and one tentative species, Rotavirus I . In a virus metagenomic analysis of Schreiber's bats sampled in Serbia in 2014 we obtained sequences likely representing novel rotavirus species. Whole genome sequencing and phylogenetic analysis classified the representative strain into a tentative tenth rotavirus species, we provisionally called Rotavirus J . The novel virus shared a maximum of 50% amino acid sequence identity within the VP6 gene to currently known members of the genus. This study extends our understanding of the genetic diversity of rotaviruses in bats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mercury (Hg) is a highly toxic and widely distributed metal that is bioaccumulated in insectivorous mammals and may cause adverse effects on the reproductive system. Bats are considered excellent Hg bioindicators due to their wide distribution, life span, trophic position, metabolic rate and food intake. However, few studies have analysed Hg residues in bats, and to the best of our knowledge, no studies have been made in the Iberian Peninsula. The main aim of this study was to undertake the first ever assessment of Hg exposure in Schreiber's bent-winged bats inhabiting a natural cave in the southeast of Spain. The findings suggest that Schreiber's bent-winged bats in the sampling area are chronically exposed to low levels of Hg. The Hg concentrations found in different tissues (fur, kidney, liver, muscle and brain) were below the threshold levels associated with toxic effects in mammals. Non-gestating females showed Hg concentrations in the brain and muscle that doubled those found in gestating females. This could be due to Hg mobilization from the mother to the foetus in gestating females, although other factors could contribute to explain this result such as variations in hunting areas and the insect-prey consumed and/or different energetic needs and average food consumption during the breeding season. Hg levels were 1.7 times higher, although not significant, in foetus' brains than in the maternal brains, and Hg concentration in foetus' brain was significantly correlated with levels in the corresponding mothers' kidney. These results suggest that there could be an active mother-to-foetus transfer of Hg in bats, which would be of special relevance in a scenario of higher Hg exposure than that found in this study. However, further research is needed to support this view due to the limited number of samples analysed. Given the scarce ecotoxicological data available for bats and their protected status, we encourage further opportunistic studies using carcasses found in the field, the validation of non-destructive samples such as fur and guano for Hg monitoring, and new modelling approaches that will increase the data needed for proper ecological risk assessment in bat populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coastal lagoons provide key habitat for a wide range of biota but are often degraded by intense urbanization pressures. Insectivorous bats use these highly productive ecosystems and are likely to be impacted by their decline in quality. We compared bat activity and richness and invertebrate biomass and richness across a gradient of lagoon quality (9 lagoons) in the Greater Sydney region, Australia to determine the extent to which bats and their prey were impacted by lagoon degradation. Bats were more diverse and 19 times more active at higher quality lagoons. The trawling bat, Myotis macropus , was absent from all low quality lagoons, but these lagoons were used by other species such as Miniopterus schreibersii oceanensis . Invertebrate richness and biomass did not differ significantly across lagoon quality. We examined potential mechanisms of insectivorous bat decline at degraded lagoons by measuring toxic metal concentrations in bat fur, invertebrates and sediment. Lead and zinc were detected at environmentally significant levels in the sediments of lower quality lagoons. Furthermore, lead concentrations were 6 times the lowest observable adverse effects level for small mammals in the hair of one individual M. macropus . The present study demonstrates that coastal lagoons support a rich bat community, but ongoing development and pollution of these habitats is likely to negatively impact on insectivorous bat species, especially trawling species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The isolation of populations in the Iberian, Italian and Balkan peninsulas during the ice ages define four main paradigms that explain much of the known distribution of intraspecific genetic diversity in Europe. In this study we investigated the phylogeography of a wide-spread bat species, the bent-winged bat, Miniopterus schreibersii around the Mediterranean basin and in the Caucasus. Environmental Niche Modeling (ENM) analysis was applied to predict both the current distribution of the species and its distribution during the last glacial maximum (LGM). The combination of genetics and ENM results suggest that the populations of M. schreibersii in Europe, the Caucasus and Anatolia went extinct during the LGM, and the refugium for the species was a relatively small area to the east of the Levantine Sea, corresponding to the Mediterranean coasts of present-day Syria, Lebanon, Israel, and northeastern and northwestern Egypt. Subsequently the species first repopulated Anatolia, diversified there, and afterwards expanded into the Caucasus, continental Europe and North Africa after the end of the LGM. The fossil record in Iberia and the ENM results indicate continuous presence of Miniopterus in this peninsula that most probably was related to the Maghrebian lineage during the LGM, which did not persist afterwards. Using our results combined with similar findings in previous studies, we propose a new paradigm explaining the general distribution of genetic diversity in Europe involving the recolonization of the continent, with the main contribution from refugial populations in Anatolia and the Middle East. The study shows how genetics and ENM approaches can complement each other in providing a more detailed picture of intraspecific evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, Ag-nucleolar organizing region (NOR) banding patterns of Myotis myotis and Miniopterus schreibersii were presented. The karyotype of Myotis myotis has a diploid number (2n) of 44, a fundamental number (NF) of 54, and an autosomal fundamental number (NFa) of 50. The 2n, NF, and NFa numbers of Miniopterus schreibersii were 46, 54, and 56, respectively. In Myotis myotis, a homomorphic NOR was localized in 1 of the medium-sized acrocentric pairs; however, NORs were located in 2 pairs on the secondary constriction of Miniopterus schreibersii. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on a study related to serosurvey of Malsoor virus among Rousettus leschenaulti bat & human population nearby Robber's cave in Mahabaleshwar, Maharashtra, India. Topics discussed include large colonies of fruit bats R. leschenaulti and insectivorous microchiropteran bat Miniopterus schreibersii; testing presence of Malsoor virus among bat and human population; and negative diagnosis for Malsoor virus-specific IgG antibodies.

In the summer of the year 2012 we identified 15 bat species in the Carei Plain natural protected area (ROSCI0020): Barbastella barbastellus, Eptesicus nilssonii, E. serotinus, Miniopterus schreibersii, Myotis bechsteinii, M. daubentonii, M. myotis, M. mystacinus, Nyctalus leisleri, N. noctula, Pipistrellus nathusii, P. pipistrellus, P. pygmaeus, Rhinolophus ferrumequinum and Vespertilio murinus. Between them, five species have a special importance for conservation, as species of community interest, which require the designation of special areas for conservation. From a zoogeographical point of view, we can notice in the Carei Plain the presence of some bat species rare in Romania, tied to higher areas, like E. nilssonii. This fact confirms, for bats also, the biogeographical particularities of the Carei Plain, which have been previously mentioned for other groups. Species tied to forests and wetlands are predominant in the region, but we have also identified species considered tied to caves and mines, even if the last two habitat types lack from the area. From a conservation point of view, we notice the importance of protecting the natural forest fragments and wetlands from Carei Plain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines the abundance patterns of nycteribiid flies and wing mites infesting Miniopterus schreibersii and M. pallidius populations in Asia Minor. Topics discussed include the factors that affect host species' susceptibility to parasite infestation, the effects of the rising population of flies on the population of wing mites and the presence of sex-biased parasitism in two instances.

We recorded 10 species of parasitic spinturnicids on bats in Albania.Eyndhovenia euryalis euryaliswas collected onRhinolophus euryaleandR. ferrumequinum;Spinturnix acuminataonNyctalus noctula;S. emarginataonMyotis emarginatus;S. helvetiaeonN. leisleri;S. kolenatiionEptesicus serotinus;S. myotionM. capaccinii, M. nattereri, M. myotisandM. oxygnathus;S. mystacinaonM. mystacinus;S. nobletionHypsugo savii;S. plecotinaonPlecotus auritus, P. austriacusandP. macrobullaris; andS. psionMiniopterus schreibersiiandM. capaccinii. All mite species recorded are new for the Albanian fauna and three are new for the Balkans.Plecotus macrobullarisis a new host species forS. plecotina.We confirmed low levels of mite species co-occurrence on the same bat hosts. All mite species included in the present study were separable based on their measurements, with idiosoma length and width and dorsal shield length as the most important characters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study that investigated the outbreak of white nocular cutaneous lesions associated with Riouxgolvania beveridgei in one of two known breeding colonies of the southern bentwing bat at Naracoorte, South Australia. Findings show that majority of the lesions were granulomas, typically centered on a nematode. The nematodes were identified morphologically as Riouxgolvania beveridgei.

The diet of Miniopterus schreibersii was investigated by morphological analysis of prey remains in droppings from the spring to the autumn of 2000 from a bat roost in northeastern Slovenia (Central Europe). Lepidoptera dominated, having an average percent volume (APV) of 79% and constituting the bulk of the diet throughout the year. By decreasing importance in the diet, the insects identified were Neuroptera - mostly Chrysopidae (APV 9.2%), Diptera (APV 7.4%), Trichoptera (APV 2.2%) and Coleoptera (APV 1.4%). The diet was most diverse in late October. It seems that M. schreibersii is an aerial hawker that specialises in eating moths, but can opportunistically switch to other seasonably abundant prey. It hunts small- to medium-sized winged prey (wing length: 2-18 mm), of which most are tympanate insects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bats and other vertebrates form large colonies concentrating key populations of multiple endangered species. Their foraging ranges are of critical importance for the colony but can be too vast to preserve in full extent. We evaluated an approach to prioritize areas within this range that conciliates the distinct needs of various species. Our model colony was a large cave-bat nursery harboring Rhinolophus mehelyi, Myotis myotis and Miniopterus schreibersii located in Southern Portugal. With radio-tracking data of foraging bats and spatially explicit modeling, we generated habitat suitability maps for each species. Models incorporated both habitat variables and distance to the roost. The resulting maps were then used separately or in combinations to identify the areas with greatest multispecies conservation value. The best results were obtained by combining individual suitabilities in a single value, weighting each species by its threat risk. Although the overall range of the colony was very extensive, this approach identified the areas that had most multispecies value; more than half of the foraging sites are included in the best 13% of the range, and adding the next best 12% includes almost all sites of the most threatened study species, R. mehelyi. The efficiency of the prioritization can be evaluated not only for the species ensemble, but also for individual species. The concentration of most multispecies conservation value in a small area is partly due to the importance of distance to roost as a determinant of foraging habitat selection in all species, so this factor is essential in suitability models used for prioritization. This prioritization process successfully minimizes the amount of land required for protection, while maximizing the quality of the habitat to protect. Such prioritizations should spur the preservation of foraging areas of large multispecies colonies, thus improving the chances of survival of populations of great conservation value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on a study on the postnatal growth of Miniopterus schreibersii pallidus, or the Long-fingered Bat in Iran. The study used a method of measuring estimated age based on forearm length and the total gap of the fourth metacarpal-phalanageal joint while in the pre-flight and post-flight periods. The author discusses the similarities of the Long-fingered Bat's postnatal growth pattern compared to other species of microbats and its importance on the onset of flight.

V prispevku so opisane najdbe netopirjev v Spodnji Klevevški jami. V njej smo našli porodniški koloniji južnega podkovnjaka (Rhinolophus euryale) in navadnega netopirja (Myotis myotis) ter posamezne male (Rhinolophus hipposideros) in velike podkovnjake (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum). Septembra 2004 se je v Spodnji Klevevški jami verjetno med selitvijo v prezimovališče zadrževala skupina 15 dolgokrilih netopirjev (Miniopterus schreibersii). To je edina najdba kolonije te vrste v novejšem času na Dolenjskem.

The article presents the study on the syntopic occurrence of bat species Miniopterus schreibersii schreibersii and M. Schreibersii pallidus in Turkey. It states that the difference between the two bat species were reflected in the morphology. The differentiation of the mitochondrial DNA was reflected in the nuclear DNA. It cites that the differentiation of the two species were shown in the frequency based assignment test. It also mentions that the species show differentiation in the phenotype and genomes.

The discovery of novel viruses in animals expands our knowledge of viral diversity and potentially emerging zoonoses. High-throughput sequencing (HTS) technology gives millions or even billions of sequence reads per run, allowing a comprehensive survey of the genetic content within a sample without prior nucleic acid amplification. In this study, we screened 156 rectal swab samples from apparently healthy bats (n = 96), pigs (n = 9), cattles (n = 9), stray dogs (n = 11), stray cats (n = 11) and monkeys (n = 20) using a HTS metagenomics approach. The complete genome of a novel papillomavirus (PV), Miniopterus schreibersii papillomavirus type 1 (MscPV1), with L1 of 60% nucleotide identity to Canine papillomavirus (CPV6), was identified in a specimen from a Common Bent-wing Bat (M schreibersii). It is about 7.5kb in length, with a G+C content of 45.8% and a genomic organization similar to that of other PVs. Despite the higher nucleotide identity between the genomes of MscPV1 and CPV6, maximum- likelihood phylogenetic analysis of the L1 gene sequence showed that MscPV1 and Erethizon dorsatum papillomavirus (EdPV1) are most closely related. Estimated divergence time of MscPV1 from the EdPV1 /MscPV1 common ancestor was approximately 60.2-91.9 millions of years ago, inferred under strict clocks using the L1 and E1 genes. The estimates were limited by the lack of reliable calibration points from co-divergence because of possible host shifts. As the nucleotide sequence of this virus only showed limited similarity with that of related animal PVs, the conventional approach of PCR using consensus primers would be unlikely to have detected the novel virus in the sample. Unlike the first bat papillomavirus RaPV1, MscPV1 was found in an asymptomatic bat with no apparent mucosal or skin lesions whereas RaPV1 was detected in the basosquamous carcinoma of a fruit bat Rousettus aegyptiacus. We propose MscPV1 as the first member of the novel Dyolambda-papillomavirus genus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Many studies indicated that small mammals are important reservoirs for Bartonella species. Using molecular methods, several studies have documented that bats could harbor Bartonella. This study was conducted to investigate the relationship of Bartonella spp. identified in bats and small mammals living in the same ecological environment. During May 2009 and March 2010, a total of 102 blood specimens were collected. By whole blood culture and molecular identification, a total of 6 bats, 1 rodent and 9 shrews were shown to be infected by Bartonella species. After sequencing and phylogenetic analyses of the sequences of gltA, ftsZ, rpoB and ribC genes, these specific isolates from bats were not similar to the known Bartonella species (the similarity values were less than 91.2%, 90.5%, 88.8%, and 82.2%, respectively); these isolates formed an independent clade away from other known Bartonella type strains. The Bartonella spp. isolated from small mammals, which were closely related to Bartonella tribocorum, Bartonella elizabethae, Bartonella grahamii, Bartonella rattimassiliensis and Bartonella queenslandensis, were similar to the findings in previous studies worldwide. Therefore, the results implied that the species of Bartonella strains isolated from small mammals were different from those identified in bats. Our results strongly suggested that the bat isolate could be a new Bartonella species. This study is also the first one to isolate Bartonella organisms from Asian gray shrews, Crocidura attenuata tanakae. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

On 21 April 2011, an adult male of the Schreibers' bat (Miniopterus schreibersii) was caught in the Hranická propast (Hranická Chasm, 49° 32' N, 17° 45' E, 315 m a. s. l., Hranice na Moravě, Přerov District), from a crevice of the chasm wall above a pond. This record represents the first evidence of this bat species as well as a new family in the Czech Republic. It documents the affinity of marginal populations of the species to warmer cave systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The large bent-wing bat, Miniopterus schreibersii (Kuhl 1819), has a long history of taxonomic uncertainty and many populations are known to be in a state of decline. Microsatellite loci were developed for the taxonomic and population genetic assessment of the Australian complex of this species. Of the 33 primer sets designed for this research, seven (21%) were deemed suitably polymorphic for population-level analyses of the Australian taxa, with five (71%) of these loci revealing moderate to high levels of polymorphism (PIC = 0.56 to 0.91). The cross-taxa utility of the M. schreibersii microsatellite markers was assessed in the microbat (Chiroptera) family Miniopteridae. Sub-species and species covering the Miniopteridae's global distribution (with the exception of the Middle East) were selected, numbering 25 taxa in total. Amplification was successful for 26 loci, of which 20 (77%) were polymorphic. High cross-taxa utility of markers was observed with amplification achieved for all taxa for between four (20%) and 20 (100%) loci, and polymorphism was considered moderate to high (PIC = 0.47-0.91) for 12 (60%) of these loci. The high cross-taxa utility of the microsatellites reported herein reveal versatile and cost-effective molecular markers, contributing an important genetic resource for the research and conservation of Miniopteridae species worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The jump performance of five insectivorous bat species (Miniopterus schreibersii, Myotis blythil, Myotis capaccinii, Myotis myotis and Rhinolophus biasii) was filmed using a high-speed camera. All study bats jumped using a similar technique, with the wing musculature providing the force. The bats jumped off the wrist joint of their wings, typically with their feet already off the ground. Contrary to expectations, jump performance did not correlate with ecology and was instead strongly determined by body size. In general, the larger bats produced more jump force, left the ground at higher speeds and jumped higher than the smaller bats. The differences in force production disappeared when the data were corrected for body size, with the exception of Myotis capaccinii, which produced significantly less force. Scaling of jump performance with body size measured here was compared against two existing muscle performance scaling models. The model suggesting that muscle contraction velocity is proportional to muscle length was better supported than that based on muscle cross-sectional area. Both models, however, failed to accurately predict the scaling of jump forces, with the slope of the relationship being significantly steeper than predicted, highlighting the need for further investigations of vertebrate muscle performance scaling. The results of this study indicate that a bat's jumping ability is a secondary locomotor ability that uses the strongly selected-for flight apparatus with no apparent ecological trend present, i.e. flight so dominates bat locomotor morphology that other locomotor abilities tend to be derivative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on a research that investigated the phylogenetics of Miniopterus schreibersii (M. s.) schreibersii and M. s. pallidus from Asia Minor by means of two mitochondrial DNA markers, NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 (ND2) and cytochrome-b (Cytb). It cites the similarity between M. s. schreibersii and M. s. pallidus. The presence of two distinct lineages of M. schreibersii in Anatolia was revealed in the work of Bilgin et. al. It mentions the unresolved issue of the phylogenetic position of M. s. pallidus within other Miniopterus taxa.

The article focuses on a study which analyzed the different sequences of the first hypervariable domain of the control region of Miniopterus (M.) schreibersii sampled in colonies located in the western- and eastern-most borders of its distribution. The glacial refugia species are said to be the main causal factors for the presence of divergent genetic lineages associated with distinct geograhical patterns discovered within many European taxa. The study examined whether M. schreibersii originated from the same ancestral population that survived the major glaciations.

Dispersal and migratory behaviours are often important determinants of gene flow in wild species, and we have studied their role using ringing-recapture data in the Portuguese population of Miniopterus schreibersii, a cave-dwelling bat that forms large maternity colonies. Juvenile dispersal, usually a major agent of gene flow, appears to be negligible, as young females never settled to give birth in foreign colonies. Likewise, there was virtually no dispersal of adult females to foreign maternity colonies. This strong philopatry virtually eliminated female-mediated gene flow, but we found a great potential for male-mediated gene flow among colonies, as regional migrations temporarily joined both sexes from different colonies in the same roosts, during the mating season. In fact, females from some colonies were more likely to mate with males from foreign colonies than from their own, thus potentially bringing home genes of foreign males. In spite of this abundant gene flow, we found a pattern of isolation by distance and even strong barriers to gene flow, which is explained by the fact that migrations were usually too short to allow direct flow among distant colonies. We concluded that potential gene flow is influenced by the distance between colonies and the availability of mating roosts between them. In addition, we found this flow to be asymmetrical, with a dominant direction from the largest to the smallest colonies. Our ringing-recapture estimates of potential gene flow based on dispersal and migratory behaviour are compatible with the genetic structure of the population for both nuclear and mitochondrial DNA. Our conclusions have implications for the conservation of bats with a spatial behaviour similar to that of M. schreibersii. Colonies should be managed individually because strict female philopatry not only promotes their isolation but also minimises the contribution of immigration in rescuing declining colonies. Furthermore, the results underline the importance of preserving mating roosts to maintain gene flow among colonies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many colonial bat species make regional migrations, and the consequent gene flow may eliminate geographic genetic structure resulting from history of colonization. In this study, we verified that history and social organization have detectable impacts on the genetic structure of Miniopterus schreibersii, a cave-dwelling bat with high female philopatry. After studying all known nursing colonies in Portugal, we concluded that there is a significant geographic structure and that the overall pattern is similar for mitochondrial and nuclear DNA. Both pairwise ΦST and FST were significantly correlated with geographical distance, suggesting that isolation by distance is relevant for both mitochondrial and nuclear markers. However, structuring of mitochondrial DNA was much more marked than that of nuclear DNA, a consequence of the strong female philopatry arid a bias for male-mediated gene flow. Wintering colonies were more genetically diverse than nursing colonies because the former receive individuals from distinct breeding populations. Haplotype diversity of the northern colonies, the more recent according to population expansion analyses, is only about half of that of the central and southern colonies. This is most likely a consequence of the colonization history of M. schreibersii, which presumably expanded northward from the south of the Iberian Peninsula or North Africa after the last glacial age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on recent molecular phylogenetic studies, the Old World bat family Miniopteridae, composed of species in the genus Miniopterus, has been shown to contain complex paraphyletic species, many of which are cryptic based on convergent morphological characters. Herein we resolve the phylogenetic relationships and taxonomy of the species complex M. manavi on Madagascar and in the Comoro Archipelago, where these animals occur in different bioclimatic zones. First using mitochondrial cytochrome- b sequence data to define clades and then morphology to corroborate the molecular data, including comparisons to type specimens, we demonstrate that animals identified as this taxon are a minimum of three species: M. manavi sensu stricto occurs in at least the central portion of the Central Highlands; M. griveaudi has a broad distribution in lowland northern and central western Madagascar and the Comoros (Anjouan and Grande Comore), and M. aelleni sp. n. has been found in northern and western Madagascar and the Comoros (Anjouan). In each case, these three clades were genetically divergent and monophyletic and the taxa are diagnosable based on different external and craniodental characters. One aspect that helped to define the systematics of this group was isolation of DNA from one of the paratypes of M. manavi collected in 1896 and new topotypic material. Miniopterus manavi is most closely allied to a recently described species, M. petersoni. At several localities, M. griveaudi and M. aelleni have been found in strict sympatry, and together with M. manavi sensu stricto show considerable convergence in morphological characters, but are not immediate sister taxa. In defining and resolving the systematics of cryptic species, such as miniopterid bats, the process of defining clades with molecular tools, segregating the specimens accordingly, and identifying corroborative morphological characters has been notably efficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study which examined the effect of gating the entrance to derelict mines on roosting bats in southeastern Australia. The study investigated whether the gate construction altered the number of bats occupying the mines, the flight behavior and the species composition of roosting bats. The study allotted an 11-day period of acclimatisation for each work process of gate construction to examine the extent to which the bats learnt to negotiate with the bars and thus habituate to new hurdles at the mine entrances before dawn.