Publications

mitochondrial dna (mtdna) reveals that female bechstein's bats live in closed societies.	we present a microgeographic analysis of mitochondrial dna (mtdna) in bechstein's bats using three sources of control region sequence variability, including a novel mtdna microsatellite, to assess individual relatedness both within and among 10 maternity colonies. comparison of marker variability among 268 adult females revealed little genetic variability within each colony. however, most colonies were clearly distinguished by colony-specific mitochondrial haplotypes (total n = 28). low intracol ...	2000	10849295
extreme sex-biased dispersal in the communally breeding, nonmigratory bechstein's bat (myotis bechsteinii).	maternity colonies of the communally breeding, nonmigratory bechstein's bat consist of closely related females that live together with unrelated females, and average colony relatedness is low despite the absence of immigration. we compared the genetic structure of both nuclear and mitochondrial microsatellites in order to quantify sex-specific dispersal rates. more specifically, we aimed at testing whether male dispersal is able to balance the genetic effect of strong (absolute) female philopatr ...	2002	12144668
information transfer about roosts in female bechstein's bats: an experimental field study.	information transfer among group members is believed to play an important part in the evolution of coloniality in both birds and bats. although information transfer has received much scientific interest, field studies using experiments to test the underlying hypotheses are rare. we used a field experiment to test if communally breeding female bechstein's bats (myotis bechsteinii) exchange information regarding novel roosts. we supplied a wild colony, comprising 17 adult females of known relatedn ...	2003	12641906
description of a cryptic species, spinturnix bechsteini n. sp. (acari, mesostigmata, spinturnicidae), parasite of myotis bechsteinii (kuhl, 1817) (chiroptera, vespertilionidae) by using ecoethology of host bats and statistical methods.	using ecoethology of bats and statistical methods, we anticipate the evidence of specific species of spinturnicids associated with myotis myotis and myotis bechsteinii (chiroptera, vespertilionidae) mixed colonies are unknown. traditional description of this new crpytic species spinturnix bechsteini, parasite of m. bechsteinii, is done. statistical approach is based on analysis of variance and principal component analysis. the current knowledge on parasites of the genus myotis in the west palear ...	2004	15535609
microsatellite evolution in the mitochondrial genome of bechstein's bat (myotis bechsteinii).	being highly polymorphic, microsatellites are widely used genetic markers. they are abundant throughout the nuclear genomes of eukaryotes but rare in the mitochondrial genomes (mtdna) of animals. we describe a short but highly polymorphic at microsatellite in the mtdna control region of bechstein's bat and discuss the role of mutation, genetic drift, and selection in maintaining its variability. as heteroplasmy and hence mutation rate were positively correlated with repeat number, a simple mutat ...	2005	16082564
colonization and dispersal in a social species, the bechstein's bat (myotis bechsteinii).	metapopulation genetic models consider that colonization and dispersal are distinct behaviours. however, whether colonization and dispersal indeed reflect different biological processes in nature is unclear. one possibility to test this assumption is to assess patterns of autosomal and mitochondrial genetic structure in species with strict female philopatry, such as the communally breeding bechstein's bat. in this species, mitochondrial dna can spread only when females establish new colonies, an ...	2005	16262850
the reproductive success of the parasitic bat fly basilia nana (diptera: nycteribiidae) is affected by the low roost fidelity of its host, the bechstein's bat (myotis bechsteinii).	we studied the reproductive ecology of the bat fly basilia nana on free-ranging colonial female and solitary male bechstein's bats (myotis bechsteinii) during one reproductive season. the reproduction of b. nana took place from april to september, and the production of puparia in bat roosts was high. the metamorphosis of the flies took a minimum of 30 days, and at least 86% of the puparia metamorphosed successfully. however, only about 30% of flies from puparia deposited in female roosts and 57% ...	2006	16341882
group decision making in fission-fusion societies: evidence from two-field experiments in bechstein's bats.	group decisions are required when group coordination is beneficial, but individuals can choose between alternatives. despite the increased interest in animal group decision making, there is a lack of experimental field studies that investigate how animals with conflicting information make group decisions. in particular, no field studies have considered the influence of fission-fusion behaviour (temporary splitting into subgroups) on group decisions. we studied group decision making in two wild b ...	2006	17015328
roost selection and roost switching of female bechstein's bats (myotis bechsteinii) as a strategy of parasite avoidance.	ectoparasites of vertebrates often spend part of their life cycle in their hosts' home. consequently, hosts should take into account the parasite infestation of a site when selecting where to live. in a field study, we investigated whether colonial female bechstein's bats (myotis bechsteinii) adapt their roosting behaviour to the life cycle of the bat fly basilia nana in order to decrease their contact with infective stages of this parasite. b. nana imagoes live permanently on the bat's body but ...	2007	17805579
communally breeding bechstein's bats have a stable social system that is independent from the postglacial history and location of the populations.	investigating macro-geographical genetic structures of animal populations is crucial to reconstruct population histories and to identify significant units for conservation. this approach may also provide information about the intraspecific flexibility of social systems. we investigated the history and current structure of a large number of populations in the communally breeding bechstein's bat (myotis bechsteinii). our aim was to understand which factors shape the species' social system over a l ...	2008	18429964
spatio-temporal population genetic structure of the parasitic mite spinturnix bechsteini is shaped by its own demography and the social system of its bat host.	information about the population genetic structures of parasites is important for an understanding of parasite transmission pathways and ultimately the co-evolution with their hosts. if parasites cannot disperse independently of their hosts, a parasite's population structure will depend upon the host's spatial distribution. geographical barriers affecting host dispersal can therefore lead to structured parasite populations. however, how the host's social system affects the genetic structure of p ...	2009	19674309
host-parasite determinants of parasite population structure: lessons from bats and mites on the importance of time.	by definition, parasitic organisms are strongly dependant on their hosts, and for a great majority, this dependence includes host-to-host transmission. constraints imposed by the host's spatial distribution and demography, in combination with those of the parasite, can lead to a metapopulation structure, where parasite populations are highly stochastic (i.e. prone to frequent extinctions and re-colonizations) and where drift becomes a major force shaping standing genetic variation. this, in turn ...	2009	19703249
communally breeding bats use physiological and behavioural adjustments to optimise daily energy expenditure.	small endotherms must change roosting and thermoregulatory behaviour in response to changes in ambient conditions if they are to achieve positive energy balance. in social species, for example many bats, energy expenditure is influenced by environmental conditions, such as ambient temperature, and also by social thermoregulation. direct measurements of daily fluctuations in metabolic rates in response to ambient and behavioural variables in the field have not been technologically feasible until ...	2010	20143039
bats are able to maintain long-term social relationships despite the high fission-fusion dynamics of their groups.	elephants, dolphins, as well as some carnivores and primates maintain social links despite their frequent splitting and merging in groups of variable composition, a phenomenon known as fission-fusion. information on the dynamics of social links and interactions among individuals is of high importance to the understanding of the evolution of animal sociality, including that of humans. however, detailed long-term data on such dynamics in wild mammals with fully known demography and kin structures ...	2011	21307051
causes and consequences of living in closed societies: lessons from a long-term socio-genetic study on bechstein's bats.	understanding the ecological, behavioural and genetic factors influencing animal social systems is crucial to investigating the evolution of sociality. despite the recent advances in population genetic methods and the analysis of social interactions, long-term studies exploring the causes and consequences of social systems in wild mammals are rare. here, we provide a synthesis of 15 years of data on the bechstein's bat (myotis bechsteinii), a species that raises its young in closed societies of ...	2012	21883583
first record of spinturnix bechsteini (acari: mesostigmata: spinturnicidae) from poland with remarks on the diagnostic value of some characters.	spinturnix bechsteini deunff et al., 2004 (acari: spinturnicidae) associated with myotis bechsteinii (kuhl, 1817) (chiroptera: vespertilionidae) is reported for the first time from poland. the usefulness of some morphological features for differentiating s. bechsteini from other spinturnicid mites belonging to the myoti group was studied. the mite fauna occurring on m. bechsteinii, the only host of s. bechsteini, are very poorly known. in poland only five species have been found.	2012	23094331
bechstein's bats maintain individual social links despite a complete reorganisation of their colony structure.	several social mammals, including elephants and some primates, whales and bats, live in multilevel societies that form temporary subgroups. despite these fission-fusion dynamics, group members often maintain long-term bonds. however, it is unclear whether such individual links and the resulting stable social subunits continue to exist after a complete reorganisation of a society, e.g. following a population crash. here, we employed a weighted network analysis on 7,109 individual roosting records ...	2013	23949307
female bechstein's bats adjust their group decisions about communal roosts to the level of conflict of interests.	most social animals depend on group decisions for coordination. recent models suggest that the level of interindividual conflict strongly influences whether groups reach a consensus during decision making. however, few experimental studies have explored how wild animals make group decisions in situations with conflicting interests. such experimental data are particularly lacking for animal societies with regular fission and fusion of subgroups. in this long-term study, we varied the level of con ...	2013	23954425
insectivorous bats digest chitin in the stomach using acidic mammalian chitinase.	the gastrointestinal tract of animals is adapted to their primary source of food to optimize resource use and energy intake. temperate bat species mainly feed on arthropods. these contain the energy-rich carbohydrate chitin, which is indigestible for the endogenous enzymes of a typical mammalian gastrointestinal tract. however, the gastrointestinal tract of bat species should be adapted to their diet and be able to digest chitin. we hypothesized that (i) european vespertilionid bat species have ...	2013	24019876
the effect of host social system on parasite population genetic structure: comparative population genetics of two ectoparasitic mites and their bat hosts.	the population genetic structure of a parasite, and consequently its ability to adapt to a given host, is strongly linked to its own life history as well as the life history of its host. while the effects of parasite life history on their population genetic structure have received some attention, the effect of host social system has remained largely unstudied. in this study, we investigated the population genetic structure of two closely related parasitic mite species (spinturnix myoti and spint ...	2014	24479530
stage of pregnancy dictates heterothermy in temperate forest-dwelling bats.	bats face high energetic requirements, as powered flight is costly and they have a disadvantageous surface-to-volume-ratio. to deal with those requirements energy saving mechanisms, such as heterothermy (torpor), have evolved. torpor during pregnancy, however, reduces rates of foetal development and consequently prolongs pregnancy. therefore, heterothermy has a great effect on reproduction, as an unhindered parturition can only be assured by high body temperatures. regardless of these adverse af ...	2015	25526657
host and parasite life history interplay to yield divergent population genetic structures in two ectoparasites living on the same bat species.	host-parasite interactions are ubiquitous in nature. however, how parasite population genetic structure is shaped by the interaction between host and parasite life history remains understudied. studies comparing multiple parasites infecting a single host can be used to investigate how different parasite life history traits interplay with host behaviour and life history. in this study, we used 10 newly developed microsatellite loci to investigate the genetic structure of a parasitic bat fly (basi ...	2015	25809613
insectivorous bats carry host specific astroviruses and coronaviruses across different regions in germany.	recently several infectious agents with a zoonotic potential have been detected in different bat species. however, there is still a lack of knowledge on the transmission dynamics within and between bat species, as well as from bats to other mammals. to better understand these processes, it is important to compare the phylogenetic relationships between different agents to that of their respective hosts. in this study, we analysed more than 950 urine, faeces and oral swab samples collected from 65 ...	2016	26584511
first record of ixodes ariadnae in western europe, belgium--short communication.	fourteen long-legged ixodid ticks (6 nymphs and 8 larvae) were collected from bechstein's bat (myotis bechsteinii) in rochefort, belgium. all ticks were morphologically identified as ixodes ariadnae, based on their long legs (haller's organ longer than maximum diameter of tarsus i), broad palps and posteriorly reverse bell-shaped scutum with wavy surface. the dna was extracted from these ticks, followed by pcr amplification of part of their cytochrome oxidase subunit i (coi) gene. all obtained s ...	2016	27993105
day roost selection in female bechstein's bats (myotis bechsteinii): a field experiment to determine the influence of roost temperature.	the decision where to live has far-reaching fitness consequences for animals. in contrast to most other mammals or birds that use sheltered nest sites, female bechstein's bats frequently switch day roosts during one breeding season, and therefore must often decide where to spend the day. selecting the right roost is important, because roost quality, e.g. microclimatic condition, influences survival and reproduction in bats. although thermal factors are very important for the quality of roosts oc ...	2001	28547427
rare catastrophic events drive population dynamics in a bat species with negligible senescence.	bats are remarkably long-lived with lifespans exceeding even those of same-sized birds. despite a recent interest in the extraordinary longevity of bats very little is known about the shape of mortality over age, and how mortality rates are affected by the environment. using a large set of individual-based data collected over 19 years in four free-ranging colonies of bechstein's bats (myotis bechsteinii), we found no increase in the rate of mortality and no decrease in fertility demonstrating no ...	2017	28779071
white-nose syndrome fungus in a 1918 bat specimen from france.	white-nose syndrome, first diagnosed in north america in 2006, causes mass deaths among bats in north america. we found the causative fungus, pseudogymnoascus destructans, in a 1918 sample collected in europe, where bats have now adapted to the fungus. these results are consistent with a eurasian origin of the pathogen.	2017	28820367
similar but not the same: metal concentrations in hair of three ecologically similar, forest-dwelling bat species (myotis bechsteinii, myotis nattereri, and plecotus auritus).	recently, a number of studies demonstrated the suitability of hair analysis to assess metal exposure of bats. as many bat species are endangered, such a non-destructive method is particularly suited for this taxon. the present study analyzed the levels of two non-essential (cadmium and lead) and four essential metals (copper, manganese, molybdenum, and zinc) in hairs of three ecologically similar, sympatric bat species, bechstein's bat (myotis bechsteinii), natterer's bat (myotis nattereri), and ...	2018	29214475
application of a novel molecular method to age free-living wild bechstein's bats.	the age profile of populations fundamentally affects their conservation status. yet, age is frequently difficult to assess in wild animals. here, we assessed the use of dna methylation of homologous genes to establish the age structure of a rare and elusive wild mammal: the bechstein's bat (myotis bechsteinii). we collected 62 wing punches from individuals whose ages were known as a result of a long-term banding study. dna methylation was measured at seven cpg sites from three genes, which have ...	2018	29981199
hyperparasitism in caves: bats, bat flies and ectoparasitic fungus interaction.	bat flies (diptera: nycteribiinae) are highly specialized bloodsucking bat ectoparasites. some of the ectoparasitic bat flies are themselves parasitized with an ectoparasitic fungus of the genus arthrorhynchus (laboulbeniales). ascospores of the fungus attach to the cuticle of a bat fly and develop a haustorium that penetrates the host cuticle. this interaction defines the fungus as a hyperparasite. both the fly and the fungus are obligate parasites and this peculiar case of hyperparasitism has ...	2019	31152770
free-ranging bats combine three different cognitive processes for roost localization.	animals have evolved different cognitive processes to localize crucial resources that are difficult to find. relevant cognitive processes such as associative learning and spatial memory have commonly been studied in a foraging related context under controlled laboratory conditions. however, in natural environments, animals can use multiple cognitive processes to localize resources. in this field study, we used a pairwise choice experiment and automatic roost monitoring to assess how individually ...	2020	32236689