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Bats harbour diverse coronaviruses (CoVs), some of which are associated with zoonotic infections, as well as inter‐species transmission. In this study, a total of 512 bat faecal samples from the bat habitats at different geographical locations in South Korea were investigated between 2016 and 2019. Seventy‐eight samples were positive for coronaviruses (15.2%), comprising 68 alphacoronaviruses (13.3%) and 10 betacoronaviruses (2.0%). The positive rates tended to increase during the awakening (April) period. Notably, betacoronaviruses were only found in the site where Rhinolophus ferrumequinum was the major species of bats, and were related to SARS‐ and MERS‐related CoVs identified in China and South Korea, respectively. No betacoronaviruses were closely related to SARS‐CoV‐2 in this study. Alphacoronaviruses were detected in the sites where Hypsugo alaschanicus, Miniopterus fuliginosus, Miniopterus schreibersii, Rhinolophus ferrumequinum, Myotis bombinus, Myotis macrodactylus and Myotis petax were found to be the major bat species. Furthermore, alphacoronaviruses had higher genetic diversity than betacoronaviruses and had a wider distribution in Korea. Considering that different bat species are co‐roosting in crowded conditions in the same habitat, the diverse coronaviruses in Korean bats are likely to undergo cross‐species transmission events due to the richness in host species. Therefore, continuous monitoring should be performed, especially at the awakening time of the hibernating bats in the habitats where diverse bat species co‐roost, to better understand the evolution of coronaviruses in bats.

Bats emit a series of echolocation calls with an increasing repetition rate (the terminal buzz), when attempting to capture prey. This is often used as an acoustic indicator of prey-capture attempts. However, because it is directly linked to foraging efficiency, predation success is a more useful measure than predation attempts in ecological research. The characteristics of echolocation calls that consistently signify predation success across different situations have not been identified. Due to additional influencing factors, identification of these characteristics is particularly challenging for wild bats foraging in their natural environment compared to those in flight chambers. This study documented the natural foraging behavior of wild Japanese large-footed bat Myotis macrodactylus using synchronized acoustic and video recordings. From the video recordings, we could assign 137 attacks to three outcome categories: prey captured (51.8%), prey dropped (29.2%), and failed attempt (19%). Based on previous indications from laboratory studies that the length of the silent interval following the terminal buzz (post-buzz pause) might reflect the prey capture outcome, we compared post-buzz pause durations among categories of attack outcomes. The post-buzz pause was longest in the case of successful capture, suggesting that the length of the post-buzz pause is a useful acoustic indicator of predation success during natural foraging in M. macrodactylus. Our finding will advance the study of bat foraging behavior using acoustic data, including estimations of foraging efficiency and analyses of feeding habitat quality.Summary statementWe investigated the natural foraging behavior of wild Myotis macrodactylus and found that the length of the post-buzz pause is a useful acoustic indicator of predation success.

Bats have been identified as a natural reservoir for several potentially zoonotic viruses. Recently, astroviruses have been reported in bats in many countries, but not Korea. We collected 363 bat samples from thirteen species at twenty-nine sites in Korea across 2016 and tested them for astrovirus. The detection of the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) gene in bat astroviruses was confirmed in thirty-four bats across four bat species in Korea: twenty-five from Miniopterus fuliginosusi, one from Myotis macrodactylus, four from M. petax, and four from Rhinolophus ferrumequinum. The highest detection rates for astrovirus were found in Sunchang (61.5%, 8/13 bats), and in the samples collected in April (63.2%, 12/19 bats). The amino acid identity of astroviral sequences identified from bat samples was ≥ 46.6%. More specifically, the amino acid identity within multiple clones from individual bats was ≥ 50.8%. Additionally, the phylogenetic topology between astroviruses from different bat families showed a close relationship. Furthermore, phylogenetic analysis of the partial ORF2 sequence of bat astroviruses was found to have a maximum similarity of 73.3–74.8% with available bat astrovirus sequences. These results indicate potential multiple-infection by several bat astrovirus species in individual bats, or hyperpolymorphism in the astrovirus strains, as well as the transmission of astroviruses across bat families; furthermore, our phylogenetic analysis of the partial ORF2 implied that a novel astrovirus may exist. However, the wide diversity of astroviral sequences appeared to have no significant correlation with bat species or the spatiotemporal distribution of Korean bat astroviruses.

Echolocating bats have developed advanced auditory perception systems, predominantly using acoustic signaling to communicate with each other. They can emit a diverse range of social calls in complex behavioral contexts. This study examined the vocal repertoire of five pregnant big-footed myotis bats (Myotis macrodactylus). In the process of clustering, the last individual to return to the colony (LI) emitted social calls that correlated with behavior, as recorded on a PC-based digital recorder. These last individuals could emit 10 simple monosyllabic and 27 complex multisyllabic types of calls, constituting four types of syllables. The social calls were composed of highly stereotyped syllables, hierarchically organized by a common set of syllables. However, intra-specific variation was also found in the number of syllables, syllable order and patterns of syllable repetition across call renditions. Data were obtained to characterize the significant individual differences that existed in the maximum frequency and duration of calls. Time taken to return to the roost was negatively associated with the diversity of social calls. Our findings indicate that variability in social calls may be an effective strategy taken by individuals during reintegration into clusters of female M. macrodactylus.

476. Big-footed Myotis Myotis macrodactylus French: Murin macrodactyle / German: Ostasiatische Wasserfledermaus / Spanish: Ratonero macrodactilo Other common names: Japanese Large-footed Bat Taxonomy. Vespertilio macrodactylus Temminck, 1840, “Le Japon [= Japan].” Subgenus Myotis; macrodactylus species group. See M. petax. Myotis macrodactylus has been treated as a subspecies of M. capaccinii, but its species status is supported by morphology and genetic data. Three subspecies recognized. Subspecies and Distribution. M.m.macrodactylusTemminck,1840—NEChina,N,SKoreanPeninsula(includ-ingJejuI),andmostofJapan(includingSado,Oki,Tsuslima,lk,Goto,Osumi,andAmami-OshimaIs). M.m.continentalisTiunov,1997—RussianFarEast. M. m. insularis Tiunov, 1997 — S Sakhalin I. Descriptive notes. Head—body 40-71 mm, tail 29-49 mm, ear 12-16- 2 mm, hindfoot 9-13 mm, forearm 33-642 mm; weight 6-8 g. Fur of the Big-footed Myotis is soft and short. Dorsal pelage is frosted dark grayish brown (hairs with dark blackish brown bases and glossy light grayish brown tips); venteris paler grayish but becomes more yellowish white toward abdomen and groin. Bare parts of ears, face, and membranes are pale blackish brown. Ears are slender and moderately long, with rounded tips and smoothly outturned central anterior margins; they are concave up to one-third of posterior margins and convex on lower one-third of posterior margins. Tragus is narrow and taller than one-half the ear length, being widest at base, crescent-shaped, and pointed at tip. Wings attach to ankle, uropatagium is covered in sparse downy hair, and posterior border is fringed with fine hair. Baculum is generally Yshaped, barely tapering toward broadly roundedtip; venteris deeply concave along entire length; and base is bifurcated. Skull is robust and large, with slightly convex braincase; sagittal and lambdoidal crests are weakly developed; rostrum is short and low; forehead rises abruptly from rostrum; C' is tall; P? is very small and in tooth row; C, is relatively low; and P, is small and in tooth row. Chromosomal complement has 2n = 44 and FNa = 50 or 52 (Korea and Japan). Habitat. Areas surrounding subterranean roosting sites near permanent bodies of water. Food and Feeding. Big-footed Myotis feed mostly on Diptera, Trichoptera, and Lepidoptera, with body lengths of 7-20 mm. Spiders are regularly found in diets. They are fast, erratic, and low flying, often observed foraging in woodlands or over open water, (e.g. fast-moving streams,rivers, lakes, and reservoirs). Breeding. The Big-footed Myotisis seasonally monoestrous and has delayed fertilization. It breeds in autumn, and fertilization is delayed until after hibernation. Females give birth to one young in July-August. Most females have theirfirst young at the end of their second year. Females breed every year, and pregnancy ratio of adult females is very high. At least one female bred at 15 years old. Maximum longevity is 19 years. Activity patterns. Big-footed Myotis typically roost in caves, abandoned mines, tunnels, bomb shelters, and occasionally rock crevices, preferring humid roosts. They leave roosts early before dark to forage through the night. They hibernate in November— March. Calls have steep FM sweeps, with average start frequencies of 62:6-81-3 kHz, end frequencies of 40-8-43-6 kHz, peak frequencies of 45-8-52-9 kHz, interpulse intervals of 55-5-86-3 milliseconds, and durations of 5:3-7-1 milliseconds in Jilin, China. On Hokkaido, recordings had an average start frequency of 82-4 kHz (54-1- 91-7 kHz), end frequency of 39-4 kHz (37-8-50-1 kHz), peak frequency of 49-2 kHz (45-51-8 kHz), and duration of 65-8 milliseconds (44-144 milliseconds). Recordings based on five samples in South Korea had an average peak frequency of 49 kHz (45-2— 52-7 kHz), pulse interval of 66-3 milliseconds (53-2-71-5 milliseconds), and duration of 3-1 milliseconds (2-1-3-8 milliseconds). Movements, Home range and Social organization. Male and female Big-footed Myotis roost together throughout much of the year. Maternity colonies with tens to hundreds of individuals are formed in summer. In spring and autumn, males and females tend to separate. They also form clusters with other bat species during the breeding season, including GreaterJapanese Horseshoe Bats (Rhinolophus nippon), LittleJapanese Horseshoe Bats (R. cornutus), Asian Long-fingered Bats (Miniopterusfuliginosus), Hilgendorf’s Tube-nosed Bats (Murina hilgendorfi), Far Eastern Myotis (M. bombinus), Ikonnikov’s Myotis (M. tkonnikovi), and Russian Myotis (M. petax). Small numbers of female Big-footed Myotis join maternity colonies of another speciesto give birth and rear their young. Females roosting with other species and males might obtain increased thermoregulatory advantage. In winter, Big-footed Myotis hibernate in small clusters or alone in crevices and rocky holes in caves, but they also share hibernacula with other species, including Greater Horseshoe Bats (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum), Far Eastern Myotis, Ikonnikov’s Myotis, Alashanian Pipistrelles (Hypsugo alaschanicus), and Asian Long-fingered Bats. Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. The Bigfooted Myotis is widespread and relatively common and does not appear to have any major threats currently. Bibliography. Abe et al. (2005), Ando et al. (1980c), Chung Chul-Un, Han Sang-Hoon, Lim Chun-Woo et al. (2010), Findley (1972), Fukui et al. (2004), Harada & Yoshida (1978), Harada et al. (1991), Jo Yeong-Seok et al. (2018), Kawai et al. (2003), Lee Jung-Hun (2003), Lee Jung-Hun & Mori (2004), LiuYing, Jin Longru et al. (2009), Luo Jinhong et al. (2012), Maeda (1976), Ohdachi et al. (2009), Ono & Obara (1994), Park Si-Ryong & Won Pyong-Oh (1978), Tiunov (1997), Tsytsulina (2008i), Son Sung-Won et al. (1995), Wang Lei et al. (2014), Xiao Yanhong et al. (2018), Yoo & Yoon Myung-Hee (1992), Yoshiyuki (1989)., Published as part of Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2019, Vespertilionidae, pp. 716-981 in Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona :Lynx Edicions on page 973, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.6397752

Bats are considered reservoirs of severe emerging human pathogens. Notably, bats host major mammalian paramyxoviruses from the family Paramyxoviridae, order Mononegavirales. In this study, paramyxoviruses were investigated by reverse transcription semi-nested polymerase chain reaction (RT-semi-nested PCR) and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), based on the RT-semi-nested PCR using the consensus paramyxovirus primers targeting the RNA dependent-RNA-polymerase (RdRp) region. In addition, RT-PCR was performed using newly designed primers targeting regions of the fusion protein (F) and hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN). The dominant bat species in the collection site of paramyxoviruses were Miniopterus schreibersii, Myotis macrodactylus, Myotis petax, and Rhinolophus ferrumequinum. Paramyxoviruses were detected in four samples in 2016 and six in 2019. Meanwhile, in samples collected in 2017 and 2018, no paramyxoviruses were detected. Phylogenetic analysis based on the partial nucleotide sequences of RdRp, F, and HN proteins suggested that the viruses belonged to the proposed genus Shaanvirus. In conclusion, this study revealed that bat paramyxoviruses in Korea belonged to a single genus and circulated sporadically in several provinces, including Chungbuk, Gangwon, Jeju, and Jeonnam.

Myotis macrodactylus (Temminck, 1838) —Big-footed Myotis Ƒespertilio macrodactylus Temminck, 1838 p.231; Type locality- Japan. Ƒ. (leuconoe) capaccinii macrodactylus: Trouessart, 1897 p.124 . Myotis (? daubentonii) macrodactylus: Kuroda, 1938 p.92. M. capaccinii: Won, 1968 p.88. M. capaccinii macrodactylus: Won, 1968 p.88. M. macrodactylus: Yoon, 1992 p.40; Han, 1994 p.45; Won & Smith, 1999 p.13; Son, 2001 p.94; Yoon, 2010 p.36; Jo et al., 2012 p.251. M. macrodactylus macrodactylus: Yoon, 2004 p.64. Range: The big-footed myotis inhabits the Korean Peninsula and Jeju Island and is one of the most common bat species (Won & Smith 1999; Jo et al. 2012; Fig. 25). Remarks: This species was previously classified as a subspecies of M. capaccinii (Won 1968), but the absence of hair on the uropatagium margin near the calcar clearly distinguishes M. macrodactylus from M. capaccinii (Corbet 1978; Yoshiyuki 1989). Conservation status: The Red Data Book of North Korea lists M. macrodactylus as a ‘Rare’ species (MAB National Committee of DPR Korea 2002)., Published as part of Jo, Yeong-Seok, Baccus, John T. & Koprowski, John L., 2018, Mammals of Korea: a review of their taxonomy, distribution and conservation status, pp. 1-216 in Zootaxa 4522 (1) on page 44, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4522.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/2610198, {"references":["Temminck, C. J. (1838) Monographies de Mammalogie ou Descrition de Quelgues Genres de Mamiferes, Don't les especes ont ete observes dans les deferens musees de l'europe, Tome Second. C. C. Vander Hoek, Leiden, 511 pp. [in French]","Trouessart, E. L. (1897) Catalogus mammalium tam viventium quam fossilium. R. Friedlander and Sohn, Berlin, 982 pp. [in Latin]","Kuroda, N. (1938) A list of the Japanese Mammals. Published by Author, Tokyo, 122 pp.","Won, H. K. (1968) The mammals of Korea. Institute of Science Press, Pyeongyang, 408 pp. [in Korean]","Yoon, M. H. (1992) The wildlife of Korea. Daewonsa Publishing Company, Seoul, 142 pp. [in Korean]","Han, S. H. (1994) The checklist of Mammals in North Korea. Nature Conservation, 86, 44 - 50. [in Korean]","Won, C. M. & Smith, K. G. (1999) History and current status of mammals of the Korean Peninsula. Mammal Review, 29, 3 - 33. https: // doi. org / 10.1046 / j. 1365 - 2907.1999.00034. x","Son, S. W. (2001) Ji-sung natural history series. Fol. 3. Bats. Ji-Sung Publishing, Seoul, 164 pp. [in Korean]","Yoon, M. H. (2010) Fertebrate Fauna of Korea. Fol. 5. No. 1 (Chordata: Fertebrata: Mammalia: Theria: Chiroptera) Bats. National Institute of Biological Resources, Incheon, 123 pp.","Jo, Y. S., Kim, T. W., Choi, B. J. & Oh, H. S. (2012) Current status of terrestrial mammals on Jeju Island. Journal of Species Research, 1, 249 - 256. https: // doi. org / 10.12651 / JSR. 2012.1.2.249","Yoon, M. H. (2004) Order Chiroptera. In: Won, B. O. (Ed.), The mammals of Korea. Dongbang Media Press, Seoul, pp. 36 - 94. [in Korean]","Corbet, G. B. (1978) The mammals of the Palaearctic region: a taxonomic review. British Museum (Natural History), London, 314 pp.","Yoshiyuki, M. (1989) A Systematic Study of the Japanese Chiroptera. National Science Museum, Tokyo, 242 pp.","MAB National Committee of DPR Korea (2002) Red Data Book of DPRK (Animal). Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Pyongyang, 316 pp."]}

Bats hibernating in caves and unused mines were surveyed during six hibernation periods (from December to February, 2005 and 2011) in Korea. We recorded 13,288 individuals of 11 species at 140 hibernacula (60 caves and 80 abandoned mines): Rhinolophus ferrumequinum (n=3,509), Eptesicus serotinus (n=6), Hypsugo alaschanicus (n=349), Miniopterus fuliginosus (n=5,919), Murina hilgendorfi (n=417), Myotis aurascens (n=294), Myotis bombinus (n=2), Myotis formosus (n=401), Myotis macrodactylus (M.mac, n= 151), Myotis petax (n=2,131) and Plecotus ognevi (n=109). We studied the thermal preference and selection of hibernacula of seven dominant bat species. Four species (Myotis petax, Hypsugo alaschanicus, Plecotus ognevi and Murina hilgendorfi) hibernated mainly at the cold site below than 7.C, while three species (Myotis formosus, Rhinolophus ferrumequinum and Miniopterus fuliginosus) hibernated at warm site above than 7.C. Rhinolophus ferrumequinum had broad-ranged temperature zone for their hibernating site. The mean body temperature of each species was 2.64±0.98.C for Murina hilgendorfi, 2.76±1.68.C for Hypsugo alaschanicus, 2.78±0.98.C for Plecotus ognevi, 4.52±1.02.C for Myotis petax, 7.83±1.94.C for Miniopterus fuliginosus, 9.19±2.35.C for Rhinolophus ferrumequinum and 13.64±0.76.C for Myotis formosus, respectively. The body temperatures of hibernating bats were closely related to the rock surface temperatures rather than the ambient temperatures. In conclusion, the diversity of bats community in hibernacula were closely related to the range of inner ambient temperature of hibernacula, and more species of bats were occupied at sites presenting a broad range of ambient temperatures.

We studied the postnatal development of wing morphology and echolocation calls during flight in a free-ranging population of the big-footed bat, Myotis macrodactylus, using the mark-recapture methodology. Young bats were reluctant to move until 7 days of age and started fluttering at a mean age of 10 days. The wingspan and wing area of pups followed a linear pattern of growth until 22 days of age, by which time the young bats exhibited flapping flight, with mean growth rates of 0.62 mm/day and 3.15 mm2/day, for wingspan and area, respectively, after which growth rates decreased. Pups achieved sustained flight at 40 days of age. Of the three nonlinear growth models (logistic, Gompertz, and von Bertalanffy), the logistic equation provided the best fit to the empirical curves for wingspan and wing area. Neonates emitted long echolocation calls with multiple harmonics. The duration of calls decreased significantly between flutter (19 days) and flight (22 days) stages. The peak and start frequency of calls increased significantly over the 3-week period of development, but the terminal frequency did not change significantly over the development period.

Riouxgolvania kapapkamui sp. n. (Nematoda: Muspiceoidea: Muspiceidae), a peculiar intradermal parasite, is described based on gravid adults, eggs, and first-, second-, and third-stage larvae collected from dermal nodules formed in Myotis macrodactylus and Myotis ikonnikovi bats from Hokkaido, Japan. The nematode is readily distinguished from 3 previously described congeners in having a globular body with brown, transverse striae in the anterior region of fully grown females. The third-stage larva is also distinguished from other congeners by having a round tail end. Nucleotide sequences of the analyzed partial SSU rDNA-ITS1 region and partial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 of mtDNA showed greater similarity to chromadoreans rather than to enopleans. This is the first report of muspiceoid nematodes from Asia.

Rivers are habitats favored by insectivorous bats. The Japanese large-footed bat (Myotis macrodactylus) is one of such species strongly associated with rivers. To clarify the population structure and migration pattern of M. macrodactylus, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) phylogeography was investigated in 15 subpopulations along three rivers (Tokachi, Ishikari and Teshio Rivers) on Hokkaido Island, northern Japan. Of 267 bats examined, nine mtDNA cytochrome b haplotypes were identified and separated into two major genetic clades, which did not reflect geographic distributions within and among the river regions. Principal component analysis of mtDNA haplotypes showed that most subpopulations in Ishikari and Teshio of the three river regions were grouped into one genetically related group, whereas those in the Tokachi river region were remotely related to those of the other two river regions. The results could be ascribed to no geographic barriers preventing bats' migration between the former two river regions. By contrast, it is possible that the Daisetsuzan and Hidaka mountain ranges play a role as effective geographic barriers against migrations of this species between the Tokachi and Ishikari/Teshio river regions.

Poor knowledge of the intraspecific variability in echolocation calls is recognized as an important limiting factor for the accurate acoustic identification of bats. We studied the echolocation behaviors of an ecologically poorly known bat species, Myotis macrodactylus, while they were commuting in three types of habitats differing significantly in the amount of background clutter, as well as searching for prey above the water surface in a river. Results showed that M. macrodactylus altered their echolocation call structure in the same way during commuting as foraging bats do in relation to the changing level of clutter. With increasing level of clutter, M. macrodactylus generally produced echolocation calls with higher start, end, and peak frequencies; wider bandwidth; and shorter pulse duration. Compared to commuting, bats emitted significantly lower frequency calls with narrower bandwidth while searching for prey. Discriminant function analysis indicated that 79.8% of the calls from the three commuting habitats were correctly grouped, and 87% of the calls were correctly classified to the commuting and foraging contexts. Our finding has implications for those who would identify species by their calls.

In this study, we analyzed the pulse-duration, pulse-interval and peak-frequency of echolocation call in three species as Rhinolophus ferrumequinum, Pipistrellus abramus, and Myotis macrodactylus. The peak frequency and pulse duration for above mentioned species were 69 kHz, 47 kHz and 49 kHz and , and for R. ferrumequinum, P. abramus and M. macrodactylus, respectively. The pulse intervals for R. ferrumequinum, P. abramus and M. macrodactylus were , and , respectively. The pulse pattern of R. ferrumequinum was setting into a short FM call and linked to long CF call and went through the short FM call again. The pulse pattern of M. macrodactylus was comprised with serial short FM call and the CF call was not checked up in accordance with the spectrogram analysis. The long FM call and short CF call got join together for the P. abramus and the peak frequency was checked up at the pulse ending as CF call.

To the Editor: Emerging infectious diseases have caused catastrophic declines in wildlife populations, and the introductions of many pathogen have been linked to increases in global trade and travel (1). Mapping the distribution of pathogens is necessary to identify species and populations at risk and identify sources of pathogen spillover and introduction. Once pathogen distributions are known, management actions can be taken to reduce the risk for future global spread (2). Bats with symptoms of white-nose syndrome (WNS) were first detected in the United States in 2006, and the disease has subsequently caused precipitous declines in temperate bat populations across eastern North America (3,4). Pseudogymnoascus destructans, the causative agent of WNS, is a cold-growing fungus that infects bats’ skin during hibernation, leading to more frequent arousals from torpor and death (3). P. destructans is widespread throughout Europe (5), but, to our knowledge, its presence in Asia has not been documented. We sampled bats and hibernacula surfaces (cave walls and ceilings) across northeastern China during 2 visits (June–July 2014 and March 2015) using a previously described swab-sampling technique (6). Bats were captured inside caves and at their entrances. DNA was extracted from samples by using a modified QIAGEN DNeasy blood and tissue kit (QIAGEN, Valencia, CA, USA) and tested in duplicate for the presence of P. destructans with a quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) (6,7). In the summer of 2014 and winter of 2015, we collected 385 samples from hibernacula surfaces at 12 sites in 3 provinces and 1 municipality (Figure, panel A) and 215 samples from 9 species of bats at 10 sites (summer: Rhinolophus ferrumequinum, Rhinolophus pusillus, Myotis adversus, Myotis macrodactylus, Myotis pilosus, Myotis chinensis, Murina usseriensis; winter: R. ferrumequinum, Murina leucogaster, Myotis petax). During the summer, P. destructans was widely distributed across the study region with positive samples (determined on the basis of qPCR results) obtained from cave surfaces at 9 of 12 sites and from bats at 2 of the 9 sites where bats were sampled (Figure, panel A). Figure A) Distribution of Pseudogymnoascus destructans in cave environments during summer at 9 sites in northeastern China. Pie charts show the prevalence (red indicates fraction of positive samples) of P. destructans, and the size of pie graphs indicates the ... Prevalence of P. destructans was low during summer in the environment (mean prevalence across sites 0.06 ± 0.03) and in bats. Bats of 3 species tested positive for P. destructans in the summer: M. macrodactylus (1/10), M. chinensis (1/1), and M. ussuriensis (1/1). P. destructans was not detected in bats of 4 other species, of which >20 individual animals of each species were sampled (R. ferrumequinum, R. pusillus, M. pilosus, and M. adversus). The low prevalence of P. destructans in bats and on hibernacula surfaces in China during the summer was similar to comparable results from studies in North America (6). In winter, prevalence at the 2 sites we revisited was much higher; 75% of 85 samples from 3 species tested positive, including samples from 16/17 M. petax bats. We also detected P. destructans in bats from 2 additional species (R. ferrumequinum [11/19 bats] and M. leucogaster [11/16 bats]). In addition, during March 2015, we observed visual evidence of P. destructans in bats (M. petax; Figure, panel C) and obtained 2 fungal cultures from swab specimens taken from these bats. To isolate P. destructans from these samples, we plated swab specimens from visibly infected bats on Sabouraud dextrose agar at 10°C. We identified potential P. destructans isolates on the basis of morphologic characteristics. DNA was then extracted from 2 suspected fungal cultures and tested for P. destructans by qPCR, as previously described. To further confirm the presence of P. destructans, we prepared the fungal isolates for Sanger sequencing (Technical Appendix). The 600-nt amplification products from these 2 isolates were sequenced and found to be 100% identical to the P. destructans rRNA gene region targeted for amplification. In addition, using BLAST (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/blast.cgi), we found that sequences were a 100% match with isolates from Europe (GenBank accession no. {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"GQ489024","term_id":"284944064","term_text":"GQ489024"}}GQ489024) and North America (GenBank accession no. {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"EU884924","term_id":"211905147","term_text":"EU884924"}}EU884924). This result confirms that the same species of fungus occurs on all 3 continents. We also obtained wing biopsy punches from these bats and found lesions characteristic of WNS by histopathologic examination (Figure, panel B; Technical Appendix). The occurrence of P. destructans at most sites sampled indicates that this pathogen is widespread in eastern Asia (Figure, panel A). The presence of P. destructans in bats from 6 species in China and on bats in 13 species in Europe (8) confirms the generalist nature of this fungus and suggests that it may occur throughout Eurasia (Figure, panel D). Decontamination and restrictions on the use of equipment that has been used in caves in Asia would help reduce the probability of introducing P. destructans to uninfected bat populations (e.g., western North America, New Zealand, southern Australia, and temperate areas of South America). These measures would also reduce the risk of introducing new strains of P. destructans to regions where bats are already infected (e.g., eastern North America and Europe). These measures are necessary to prevent the devastating effects this pathogen has had on bats in North America and would help maintain the ecosystem services that bats provide (9,10). Technical Appendix: The Technical Appendix describes the DNA sequencing of fungal isolates to confirm the presence of Pseudogymnoascus destructans and histologic examination of bat fungal lesions. Click here to view.(238K, pdf)

The annual cycle of Myotis macrodactylus seminiferous epithelium and morphological features of spermatids during spermiogenesis were observed using a light microscope. Seminiferous tubule diameters gradually began to increase from April (60-63;d;m) in the early arousal period, attained a peak in July (172-175~lm), and decreased rapidly to the size in October (70-75jum), and gradually decreased to March (48-50lhm) the next year. M. macroducylus spermatogenesis begins in April, peaks in mid summer (July) and is suspended from October to March in the next year. Spermatocyiogenesis have occurred from April to June only. Sperrniogenesis occurred from July to September. The transformation of spermatids into spermatozoa M. macrodactylus was divided into six stages. When the mating periods were finished, from October, the redundant spermatogenic cells in the seminiferous tubules were engulfed by phagocytosis of Sertoli cells, and ~hagocytosis was continually observed from November to March the next year. During the phagocytosis, the seminiferous tubule contains only Sertoli cells and sperrnatogonia. The lumen of the serniniferous tubules was opened from July to September, and closed from October to June the next year. Therefore, the male reproductive pattern of the Korean bat, M. macroductylus belong to "Pcp~strellus pattern" according to the opinion of Gustafson (1979). These results suggest that the adaptive strategy for long hibernation serves as the mechanism to regulate the breeding cycle.

Assessing the impact of forest management on bat communities requires a reliable method for measuring patterns of habitat use by individual species. A measure of activity can be obtained by monitoring echolocation calls, but identification of species is not always straightforward. We assess the feasibility of using analysis of time-expanded echolocation calls to identify free-flying bats in the Tomakomai Experimental Forest of Hokkaido University, Hokkaido, northern Japan. Echolocation calls of eight bat species were recorded in one or more of three conditions: from hand-released individuals, from bats flying in a confined space and from bats emerging from their roost. Sonograms of 171 calls from 8 bat species were analyzed. These calls could be categorized into 3 types according to their structure: FM/CF/FM type (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum), FM types (Murina leucogaster, Murina ussuriensis, Myotis macrodactylus and Myotis ikonnikovi) and FM/QCF types (Eptesicus nilssonii, Vespertilio superans and Nyctalus aviator). Sonograms of the calls of R. ferrumequinum could easily be distinguished from those of all other species by eye. For the remaining calls, seven parameters (measures of frequency, duration and inter-call interval) were examined using discriminant function analysis, and 92% of calls were correctly classified to species. For each species, at least 80% of calls were correctly classified. We conclude that analysis of echolocation calls is a viable method for distinguishing between species of bats in the Tomakomai Experimental Forest, and that this approach could be applied to examine species differences in patterns of habitat-use within the forest.

Echolocation and audiovocal communication have been studied extensively in bats. The manner in which these abilities are incorporated within escape behaviors during life-threatening distress is largely unknown. Here we tested the hypothesis that behavioral response profiles expressed during distress are relatively stereotypic given their evolutionary adaptations to avoid predators. We subjected juvenile and adult big-footed myotis (Myotis macrodactylus) to a sequence of three types of life threatening distress: 1) trapping them in a mist-net (environmental threat), 2) approaching them when trapped (predator threat), and 3) partially restraining their freedom to move (arrest), and recorded their escape behavior in each of the three conditions. Response profiles differed across individuals and with the context in which they were expressed. During environmental and predator threat, bats displayed significantly more biting and wing-flapping behaviors and emitted more echolocation pulses than during arrest. Response profiles also varied with age. During arrest, juveniles were more likely than adults to emit distress calls and vice-versa for biting and wing flapping during environmental and predator threat. Overall, individualized response profiles were classified into ten clusters that were aligned along two divergent response trajectories when viewed within two-dimensional, multifactorial decision space. Juvenile behaviors tended to follow a predominantly “social-dependence” trajectory, whereas adult behaviors were mostly aligned along a “self-reliance” trajectory. We conclude that bats modify their vocal behavior and make age-appropriate and contextually adaptive decisions when distressed. This decision-making ability is consistent with observations in other social species, including humans.

Aerial-feeding bats actively emit sonar sounds and capture large amounts of airborne insects a night. Microphone-array system allows us to know not only the positions where the bat emits sonar sounds (i.e., 3-D flight path) but how the bats dynamically control the acoustical field of view during searching and approaching target-prey. Here, we show echolocation strategy of bats during natural foraging revealed by the large-scale microphone-array system which covered the horizontal area of approximately 20 m × 20 m. Pipistrellus abramus was found to expand the width of their sonar beams in both horizontal and vertical planes just before the prey-capture. Since the bats emit echolocation pulses at a high rate (i.e., feeding buzz) just before capturing, the capture positions can additionally be measured. Recently, we have investigated the relationship between flight patterns, capture positions, and foraging efficiency of Myotis macrodactylus during natural foraging above the pond. Further investigation from t...

Sixty seven pellets of Long-eared Owls, Asio otus, were collected in a village, Ehime Prefecture, during 19February 2001to 6 April 2001. The bones of 164 Mus musculus, ten Micromys minutus, two Apodemus speciosus, two Rattus sp., seventeen Pipistrellus abramus, two Myotis macrodactylus, twelve Crocidura dsinezumi and a bird were found in the pellets. M. minutus, P. abramus, M. macrodactylus and C. dsinezumi were new records in diet of the Long-eared owls.

In this study, 3-D flight paths and directivity pattern of the sounds emitted by Pipistrellus abramus during natural foraging were measured by a large scale microphone array system. The results show that the bats approached prey with covering the direction of them within their sonar beam. The means of horizontal and vertical beam widths were 49 deg and 46 deg, respectively. Just before capturing prey, the bats decreased the terminal frequency (TF) of the pulse. Simultaneously, the beam widths were expanded to 64 deg (horizontal) and 57 deg (vertical). We assumed a circular piston model to estimate how much the beam width was changed by decreasing the frequency of emitted pulse. It was found that the observed expansion of the beam width was smaller than those of theoretical estimations. This suggests that the bats decrease the TF of pulse for compensating their beam width narrowed by taking a large bite for the prey. We also measured echolocation calls and flight behavior of Myotis macrodactylus during natural foraging. M. macrodactylus uses FM echolocation pulse which is similar to P. abramus, but they forage for prey above the water surface. We compare echolocation strategies between two FM bats with different foraging habitat.

The complete mitochondrial genome was sequenced and characterized newly from a large-footed bat, Myotis macrodactylus (Vespertilionidae). The total length of the M. macrodactylus genome is 17,562 bp, with a base composition of 34.0% A, 29.9% T, 23.0% C and 13.0% G. A short sequence of CATACG is repeated 60 times in D-loop region. Amino acid of M. macrodactylus was 92.7% similar to that of M. formosus. Nucleotide similarity was 86.6% in all the other gene regions except for D-loop with low 66.8% similarity.

Myotis macrodactylus (Temminck, 1840). Monogr. Mamm., 2:231. TYPE LOCALITY: Japan. DISTRIBUTION: Japan, Kurile Isis (Russia), S China, republics of the former SE USSR. SYNONYMS: fimbriatus, hirsutus. COMMENTS: Subgenus Leuconoe. Includes fimbriatus, probably conspecific with capaccinii, see Wallin (1969:294-296); but see also Corbet (1978c:51)., Published as part of Karl F. Koopman, 1993, Order Chiroptera, pp. 137-241 in Mammal Species of the World (2 nd Edition), Washington and London :Smithsonian Institution Press on page 212, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7353060, {"references":["Wallin, L. 1969. The Japanese bat fauna. Zoologiska Bidrage Fran Uppsala, 37: 223 - 440.","Corbet, G. B. 1978 c. The mammals of the Palaearctic region: A taxonomic review. British Museum (Natural History), London, 314 pp."]}

This article deals with A) period and sequence of shedding in deciduous dentition, B) abnormal teeth formula in permanent dentition, C) period and sequence of alveolar eruption in the both dentitions and D) description of forms of the deciduous and permanent teeth in Japanese large-feooted bat, Myotis macrodactylus (Temminck). Furthermore these were compared with the other species of bats.The teeth formula with deciduous teeth was 120. 1. 1034. 123 12. 1. 34. 123. 1. 34. 123. 1. 1034. 123All deciduous teeth were complete and fully grown at birth. The shedding of these teeth started at 10 days of age and lasted until 30 days of age. The approximate sequence of the shedding was as follows: dI1; dI2; then either dPM4or dPM4; next dI3; either dPM3 or dPM3; dC1; and finally dI1, dI2and dC1. In formthe deciduous teeth were very similar to each other. On the other hand they were for the most part quite unlike those of the permanent dentition. They were usually slender and had more or less trifurcated and somewhat recurved tips.Of 219 males and 239 females, thirteen bats (2.8%) had abnormal teeth formula. Upper third premolar, lower third premolar, lower first premolar and upper canine were lost inseven, three, one and one individuals respectively. And another bat had all upper premolars missing. Frequencies of abnormal teeth formula were different among some populations. In permanentdentition some cusps of M1, M2, M1, M2and PM1protruded from limbus alveolaris at birth. Moreover, alveolar eruption of M3 and PM4 occured at 4 days of age. The approximate sequence of the eruption was as follows 1) M12) M13) M2 4) M2 5) PM16)M37) PM4 8) PM49) PM1 10) I111) I3 12) M3 13) C114) either I2 or C115) I116) either I2or PM317) PM3. At 21 days of age, the young had a complete set of dentition. These teeth grew until about 30 days of age, whenthey reached the adult size.

The karyotype of the vespertilionid bat, Myotis macrodactylus TEMMINCK, has been examined in the specimens from two localities (Akka; 5_??_ 1_??_, and Ashiro; 4_??_) of Iwate Pref., Japan. Eight (4_??_ 4_??_) of them had the consistent karyotype of 2n=44 (FN=52) and no chromosome abnormality was observed. Their karyotypic profiles were almost identical with those described by earlier investigators. On the contrary, the remaining two (1_??_ 1_??_) evidently revealed unusual chromosome constitution; heteromorphism of the pair No. 5, which is most probably explicable by the pericentric inversion mechanism, was found in one female from Akka, and normal diploid/ hyperdiploid mosaicism was observed in one male from Ashiro. In the former case no change was found in the chromosome number as well as in the fundamental number (2n=44, FN=52), and in the latter case the hyperdiploid cell was featured by one extra minute chromosome.The results obtained seem to present evidence for that occurrence of interpopulational karyotypic variation is not infrequent in Myotis macrodactylus. Thereby, cytogenetic instability of this species is suggested.Cytotaxonomic relations among the species of Myotis so far studied are discussed in relation to the stability of their karyotypes.

Myotis macrodactylus (Temminck, 1840). Monogr. Mamm., 2: 231. TYPE LOCALITY: Japan. DISTRIBUTION: Japan; Kurile Isis.; S. China; S.E. U.S. S.R. COMMENT: Includes fimbriatus, probably conspecific with capaccinii; see Wallin, 1969, Zool. Bidr. Upps., 37:294-296; but see also Corbet, 1978:51; Findley, 1972, Syst. Zool., 21:43. ISIS NUMBER: 5301405014014040001., Published as part of James H. Honacki, Kenneth E. Kinman & James W. Koeppl, 1982, Order Chiroptera, pp. 111-215 in Mammal Species of the World (1 st Edition), Lawrence, Kansas, USA :Alien Press, Inc. & The Association of Systematics Collections on page 189, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7352990, {"references":["Wallin, L. 1969. The Japanese bat fauna. Zoologiska Bidrage Fran Uppsala, 37: 223 - 440.","Findley, J. S. 1972. Phenetic relationships among bats of the genus Myotis. Systematic Zoology, 21: 31 - 52."]}