The following bioacoustics articles were in the latest issue of the Journal of
Mammalogy. Members of Bioacoustics-L can download them at
http://www.uvm.edu/~bmitchel/Bioacoustics.html.
Avila-Flores, Rafael, and M. Brock Fenton. 2005. Use of spatial features by
foraging insectivorous bats in a large urban landscape. Journal of Mammalogy
86(6):1193-1204.
We analyzed the patterns of habitat use by insectivorous bats in Mexico City,
one of the largest and most populated cities of the world. We tested the
hypotheses that richer patches of food, expected in more vegetated areas, have
higher bat activity levels, and that fast-flying species benefit most from
urbanization. We compared activity of insectivorous species and relative
abundance of insects in 5 habitats (large parks, small parks, illuminated open
areas, residential areas, and natural forest). Sampling of bat activity and
insects was conducted every 2 weeks in 12 sites per habitat during summer 2002.
Measures of bat activity were based on 3,600 one minute sequences of sound that
were recorded and analyzed. The average number of taxa per site was
significantly higher in the natural forest than in urban habitats, but overall
bat activity was significantly higher in large parks and illuminated open areas
than in small parks, residential areas and natural forest. Vespertili
onid bats (Eptesicus fuscus, Myotis, and an unidentified species), along with
Eumops perotis, occurred almost exclusively in extensive green areas (large
parks or natural forest). The molossid Nyctinomops macrotis made the broadest
use of the urban-natural mosaic, whereas Tadarida brasiliensis used urban sites
(illuminated areas and large parks) more intensively. Insect abundance was
higher in large parks and natural forest, and it was significantly correlated
with overall bat activity and with the number of taxa recorded per site. The
observed patterns of habitat use and foraging can be explained by considering
the flight and echolocation performance of species. Although some species
successfully exploited highly urbanized sites, large areas with vegetation are
needed to maintain the most diverse insectivorous bat fauna in Mexico City.
Miller-Butterworth, Cassandra M., Geeta Eick, David S. Jacobs, M. Corrie
Schoeman, and Eric H. Harley. 2005. Genetic and phenotypic differences between
South African long-fingered bats, with a global miniopterine phylogeny. Journal
of Mammalogy 86(6): 1121-1135.
The Natal long-fingered bat (Miniopterus natalensis) and lesser long-fingered
bat (M. fraterculus) are morphologically almost indistinguishable and occur
sympatrically over much of their southern African range. This raises the
possibility that they are sister taxa. We employed a multidisciplinary approach
to examine their taxonomic relationship to one another and to other Miniopterus
species, whose global phylogeny requires review. We examined echolocation,
morphological, and dietary differences between M. natalensis and M.
fraterculus, as well as both nuclear and mitochondrial DNA variation between
them in the context of a phylogeny incorporating 13 Miniopterus species and
subspecies. Despite similarities in their morphology and distribution, M.
natalensis and M. fraterculus echolocate at peak frequencies separated by 12
kHz, and both nuclear and mitochondrial DNA markers confirm they are distinct
species. Analysis of cytochrome-b (Cytb) sequences further indicates that M.
fraterculus and M. natalensis are not sister taxa; M. fraterculus appears to be
more closely related to the greater long-fingered bat (M. inflatus).
Examination of the global taxonomy of Miniopterus confirms that Schreibers?s
long-fingered bat (M. schreibersii) forms a paraphyletic species complex.
Furthermore, the miniopterine bats are divided into 2 geographically isolated
monophyletic groups, one containing African and European species, and the other
taxa from Australasia and Asia. Cytb sequence divergence also suggests that M.
natalensis is distinct from the European M. schreibersii. These results support
the elevation of M. natalensis to full species rank.
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