Correlates of dispersal extent predict the degree of population genetic structuring in bats

Abstract

Dispersal is essential for maintaining demographic and genetic connectivity. For bats, correlates of dispersal extent such as morphology and movement dynamics are reported as having an influence on population genetic structure although these traits exhibit co-variance which has not been previously examined. We used a principal components framework with phylogenetically independent contrasts to compare five dispersal extent predictors (wing loading, aspect ratio, geographic range size, migratory status and median latitude) with population genetic structure among bats. We found that high wing loading values and migration negatively correlate with genetic structure after accounting for co-variance. These findings suggest that bats that can achieve higher flight speeds and migrate seasonally have higher gene flow and resultant genetic connectivity relative to bats that fly slower and do not migrate. These results represent a step towards understanding factors that shaped the genetic structure of bat populations.