Pteronotus Davyi Research Articles

Bat Inventories at Caves and Mines on the Islands of Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao, and Proposed Conservation Actions

Bats play key ecological roles on the islands of Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao (ABC islands), Caribbean Netherlands; however, most bat species on these islands are either threatened or their conservation status is unknown. We investigated the use of roosts by cave-dwelling bats in this insular system to propose conservation measures aimed at their protection. We conducted bi-monthly species inventories of cave-dwelling bats in 13 of the best-known caves and mines used as day and maternity roosts on the ABC islands. Bats were captured with mist nets and a harp trap (only one cave) placed either inside or at the entrance of the roosts during the first hours (3 to 5 hrs) after sunset. For Aruba and Curaçao, bat monitoring comprised two years of sampling. In the case of Bonaire, depending on the cave, bat monitoring involved one, two or four years of sampling. We identified six species of cave-dwelling bats associated with these roosts, Mormoops megalophylla, Pteronotus davyi, Natalus tumidirostris, Myotis nesopolus, Glossophaga longirostris and Leptonycteris curasoae. All the examined caves and mines were occupied year-round. The two abandoned mines were inhabited exclusively by the nectar-feeding G. longirostris and L. curasoae, whereas caves containing hot chambers were occupied by up to five species of bats, including insect-feeding M. megalophylla, P. davyi, M. nesopolus and N. tumidirostris, and migratory L. curasoae. Nursery roosts occupied by insect-feeding bats were Quadirikiri on Aruba; Orizjan, Pos di watapana and Pos di Antoin on Bonaire; and Raton and Noordkant on Curaçao. Nectar-feeding bats used all the caves and mines examined as day roosts, nursery roosts or both. All the cave-dwelling bats studied had a single annual reproductive period. In the case of insectivorous bats, pregnancy and lactation occurred mainly between July and December, overlapping with the rainy season. For nectar-feeding bats, pregnancy and lactation took place between March and September, overlapping with the flowering and fruiting seasons of chiropterophilous cacti. Most of the examined bat roosts require protection due to one or more of the following conditions: (1) the presence of multiple species dependent on hot chambers, (2) their use as nursery roosts, and (3) the presence of large colonies of L. curasoae.

Acoustic clue: bringing echolocation call data into the distribution dilemma of Pteronotus (Chiroptera: Mormoopidae) complexes in Central America

Abstract In Central America, the distributional limits and the contact zones of some Pteronotus species, such as the naked-backed bats and the lesser mustached bats, are unclear. To elucidate the distributional dilemma of the species groups Pteronotus fulvus + Pteronotus davyi and Pteronotus psilotis + Pteronotus personatus in Central America, we studied the acoustic variation of their echolocation calls along the range of possible contact zones and the existence of distinct phonic groups. We performed hierarchical k-means clustering on principal components (HCPC) using acoustic samples from Mexico, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Costa Rica to describe the global acoustic diversity, possibly overlooking differences between species groups. We assessed whether those acoustic differences were related to the geographical distance and geographical location. We found evidence of sympatry for three phonic groups within each species complex, without a clear correspondence to the known distribution of species. The changes in frequency of their echolocation calls seem to follow a similar pattern to the geographical variation in body size of the species. Future studies in Central America should include an integrative sampling of individually captured, tagged and recorded bats to help in resolution of the distribution dilemma raised here.

The ghost mammals from Mexico and their implications

The species records are key to determine their distribution. In México, there are records located up to more 200 km outside the known range of Ateles geoffroyi, Cryptotis mayensis, Pteronotus davyi and Tlacuatzin sinaloae. Other species were captured in their type locality but have not been recorded again over up to 100 years: Dipodomys gravipes, Oryzomys peninsulae, Peromyscus mekisturus, P. pembertoni, Sorex sclateri, S. stizodon, Tylomys bullaris and T. tumbalensis. This study analyzes these mammalian species records, their information gaps related with their known range, and discusses the likely implications for conservation. A survey of the literature and databases of scientific collections available on the Internet were conducted. A geographic information system was used for the spatial analysis of the records obtained. Records outside the limit of the known range of these species are due to misidentification of specimens, accidental introduction and lack of field corroboration. Some of the species captured only in their type locality can be deemed extinct while others require field and laboratory work. Geographic records of the species are valuable inputs to define the distribution range of species and advance our current knowledge about the Mexican. The use of records with errors or that should no longer be considered have an impact on the risk categorization of species and the development of conservation strategies.

Natural infection with Trypanosoma cruzi in bats captured in Campeche and Yucatán, México.

Introduction: Bats have been reported as hosts of the Trypanosoma cruzi protozoan, the etiologic agent of American trypanosomiasis, an endemic zoonotic disease in México. Objective: To describe T. cruzi infection in bats from the states of Campeche and Yucatán, México.Materials and methods: Captures were made from March to November, 2017 at three sites in Yucatán and one in Campeche. Up to four mist nets on two consecutive nights were used for the capture. The bats' species were identified and euthanasia was performed to collect kidney and heart samples for total DNA extraction. Trypanosoma cruzi infection was detected by conventional PCR with the amplification of a fragment belonging to the T. cruzi DNA nuclear. Results: Eighty-six bats belonging to five families (Vespertilionidae, Noctilionidae, Mormoopidae, Phyllostomidae, and Molossidae) and 13 species (Rhogeessa aeneus, Noctilio leporinus, Pteronotus davyi, P. parnellii, Artibeus jamaicensis, A. lituratus, A. phaeotis, Glossophaga soricina, Carollia sowelli, Chiroderma villosum, Uroderma bilobatum, Sturnira parvidens, and Molossus rufus) were captured. Infection frequency by PCR was 30,2% (26/86) detected only in the renal tissue. The infected species were P. parnellii, G. soricina, A. lituratus, A. jamaicensis, S. parvidens, C. villosum, and R. aeneus.Conclusions: Our results confirmed the participation of several bat species as hosts in the T. cruzi transmission cycle in the region. Further studies are necessary to establish the importance of these animals in the zoonotic transmission of T. cruzi.

Genetic Introgression and Morphological Variation in Naked-Back Bats (Chiroptera: Mormoopidae: Pteronotus Species) along Their Contact Zone in Central America

Two sibling bare-backed bat species (Pteronotus fulvus and P. gymnonotus) have been traditionally differentiated by their size. However, intermediate specimens between the two species have been found in sympatric populations along southern Mexico and it has been suggested that they may be the outcome of a hybridization process between the two species. We used one mitochondrial (COI), three nuclear markers (PRKCL, STAT5A and RAG2) and 13 microsatellites to explore the evolutionary relationships between these two species and elucidate whether the intermediate morphotypes correspond to hybrid individuals. These markers have been analyzed in sympatric and allopatric populations of the two species plus the closely related species Pteronotus davyi. We confirmed the species-level differentiation of the three lineages (P. fulvus, P. davyi and P. gymnonotus), but the phylogenetic hypotheses suggested by the nuclear and mitochondrial markers were discordant. We confirm that the discordance between markers is due to genetic introgression through the mitochondrial capture of P. fulvus in P. gymnonotus populations. Such introgression was found in all P. gymnonotus specimens across its sympatric distribution range (Mexico to Costa Rica) and is related to expansion/retraction species distribution pulses associated with changes in forest distribution during the Quaternary climate cycles. Microsatellite analyses showed contemporary genetic contact between the two sympatric species and 3.0% of the samples studied were identified as hybrids. In conclusion, we found a historical and asymmetric genetic introgression (through mitochondrial capture) of P. fulvus into P. gymnonotus in Mexico and Central America and a limited contemporary gene exchange between the two species. However, no relationship was found between hybridization and the intermediate-sized specimens from southern Mexico, which might likely result from a clinal variation with latitude. These results confirm the need for caution when using forearm size to identify these species in the field and when differentiating them in the laboratory based on mitochondrial DNA alone.

<p class="Body"><strong>The myobiid mites (Acariformes, Eleutherengona, Myobiidae) from Mexico: hosts, distribution and identification key for the genera and species</strong></p>

The family Myobiidae Mégnin, 1878 includes permanent parasites of the fur of different orders of mammals. Because the information on this family is scarce and scattered, in this work, we compile the available information on Myobiidae in Mexico. In total, we recorded 41 species (one undetermined, one a species inquirenda) belonging to 13 genera and three subfamilies, associated with four orders of mammals: Chiroptera, Didelphimorphia, Rodentia and Soricomorpha. We also reported for the first time in Mexico Eudusbabekia jimenezi (Dusbábek, 1967) and E. saguei (Dusbábek, 1967), parasitizing bats of the family Mormoopidae in the States of Colima, Nayarit and San Luis Potosí, and Acanthophthirius lasiurus (Fain & Whitaker, 1976) associated with the bat Lasiurus cinereus (Palisot de Beauvois) (family Vespertilionidae) in Ciudad de México. We recorded new associations with bat hosts: E. provirilia Morales-Malacara, Guzmán-Cornejo & López-Ortega, 2002 with Leptonycteris yerbabuenae Martínez & Villa (Phyllostomidae); E. saguei with Pteronotus davyi Gray (Mormoopidae), and Ioannela leptonycteris (Fain, 1973) with L. yerbabuenae. In this work, Zacaltepetla hoffmannae Basurto-R., 1973 is treated as a species inquirenda for the first time. We also provide an identification key to the genera and species of Myobiidae found in Mexico.

On the Taxonomic Identity of Pteronotus davyi incae Smith, 1972 (Chiroptera: Mormoopidae)

The subgenus Pteronotus (naked-backed bats) comprises three species, P. davyi, P. fulvus, and P. gymnonotus, which are distinguished from other members of the genus Pteronotus by wing membranes that are fused along the dorsal midline and by skulls with noticeably upturned rostrums. Pteronotus davyi currently includes two morphologically differentiated subspecies, P. d. davyi and P. d. incae, with strikingly disjunct geographic ranges. Whereas the nominotypical form is found in Central America, the Caribbean coastal region of northern South America, and the Lesser Antilles, the subspecies P. d. incae is restricted to a small area in northwestern Peru; to date, the phylogenetic relationships of these nominal taxa have not been explored. In the present contribution, we employed analyses of mitochondrial gene sequences, morphometrics, and qualitative-morphological comparisons to provide new information on P. d. incae and place the taxon in a phylogenetic context. Our results suggest that the geographically disjunct populations of P. davyi are genetically very similar even though they are morphologically and ecologically distinct. Recognizing that speciation is a process with intermediate stages that merit formal recognition, we support the retention of incae as a valid subspecies of Pteronotus davyi.

Estimation of bat colony size even with low recapture rates: an example based on the Cormack-Jolly-Seber model in Oaxaca, México

Introduction: Reproduction is a critical phase for most living organisms and in bats the reproductive strategies exhibit considerable complexity and variability. Objective: In this paper, we describe the reproductive patterns and population dynamics of seven bat species (Artibeus toltecus, Carollia perspicillata, Glossophaga soricina, Mormoops megalophylla, Pteronotus davyi, Pteronotus parnellii and Natalus stramineus) that roost in a mine (La Mina) and two caves (El Apanguito and Cerro Huatulco) found in the municipalities of Pluma Hidalgo and Santa Maria Huatulco, in the State of Oaxaca, in southeastern México. Methods: Sampling was conducted once a month from July 2016 to June 2017. Results: A total of 5 836 bats were captured, tagged and, released, including 14 species, 10 genera, and five families. The most abundant species were Pteronotus davyi and P. parnellii, representing 41.01 % and 32.34 % of the captures, respectively. Artibeus toltecus, Carollia perspicillata, and Glossophaga soricina showed seasonal bimodal polyoestry without a postpartum oestrus pattern, whereas Mormoops megalophylla, Natalus stramineus, Pteronotus davyi, and Pteronotus parnellii showed a restricted seasonal monoestrous pattern. Conclusions: The reproductive activity of each species seems to be synchronized with the beginning of the rainy season. Future studies should consider aspects of vaginal cytology and include environmental factors to better understand the relationship of certain factors with the onset of reproductive activity of neotropical bat species.

Seasons influence acarine infestation in bats from tropical dry forests of Western Mexico

Bats are parasitized by a wide variety of ectoparasite groups, including mites and ticks (Acari). In temperate regions, infestation patterns are regulated by the host reproductive cycle, which results in parasite reproduction peaking during bat pregnancy and lactation, and declines in winter, when bats are hibernating. The host-parasite dynamics in tropical bat assemblages are less known, and might show more complexity due to the importance of biotic factors over abiotic ones in influencing community dynamics. In this study, we test the hypothesis that parasite fluctuations across the year will peak in the wet season in a tropical dry forest area, when food resources for bats are more abundant and parasites would be favoured accordingly. To test this hypothesis, we assessed the presence and abundance of mites and ticks in one nectarivorous – Leptonycteris yerbabuenae (Martínez and Villa-R) – and three insectivorous – Pteronotus davyi (Gray), P. parnellii (Gray) and P. personatus (Wagner) – bat species. We collected 3005 acarine specimens belonging to 18 species and 12 genera from 412 bats. We did not find significant seasonal variation in most cases. However, the prevalence, mean abundance and intensity of eight acarine species were significantly higher during one of the seasons. In P. parnellii, percentage of infested bats, mean number of acarines per examined individual host, and mean number of acarines per infested individual host were significantly higher during the wet season. However, the percentage of infested individuals of L. yerbabuenae was higher during the dry season, while for P. davyi and P. personatus it was almost the same in both seasons. The actual number of acarine species was also significantly higher during the wet season in the three Pteronotus species whereas in L. yerbabuenae this was higher in the dry season. Our study contributes to shed light on little known host-parasite relationships in tropical forests, highlights the relevance of biotic and abiotic factors on parasitic interactions and provides information on acarine ecology in relation to seasonality in a tropical dry forest.

New data on the bats (Chiroptera) of Martinique island (Lesser Antilles), with an emphasis on sexual dimorphism and sex ratios

Abstract For deciphering the biodiversity of native mammals on the island of Martinique (Lesser Antilles), bats (Chiroptera) were netted in various localities during the course of two separate studies spanning 2004–2015. A total of 2613 individuals were caught in ground-level mist nets at 79 localities. In this study, we concentrate on 1859 captures of nine species of bats caught at 24 capture-rich localities. We provide sex-ratio values, forearm and body weight measurements for each taxon. The order of decreasing abundance in captures was Artibeus jamaicensis, Sturnira angeli, Brachyphylla cavernarum, Monophyllus plethodon, Myotis martiniquensis, Molossus molossus, Ardops nichollsi, Pteronotus davyi and Tadarida brasiliensis. Our results suggest a strong sex-bias in capture rates, with males much more abundant for Ardops and Monophyllus, whereas females are more abundant for Molossus, Pteronotus and Sturnira. A clear sexual dimorphism exists with larger females in Ardops and Pteronotus, whereas males are larger in Molossus, Monophyllus and Sturnira. Reproductive females (pregnant, lactating) were found almost exclusively during the dry season (January to June) for A. jamaicensis, M. plethodon and S. angeli.

Seasonal variation of bat-flies (Diptera: Streblidae) in four bat species from a tropical dry forest

Abstract Seasonality of climate promotes differences in abundance and species composition of parasites, affecting host-parasite interactions. Studies have reported seasonal variation in bat-flies, which are obligate bat ectoparasites. We characterized the bat-fly load of three insectivores [Pteronotus davyi (Gray), Pteronotus parnellii (Gray) and Pteronotus personatus (Wagner)] and one nectarivorous [Leptonycteris yerbabuenae (Martínez and Villa-R.)] bat species in a tropical dry forest to test the existence of seasonality in response to the availability of resources during the wet and dry seasons. We collected 3710 bat-fly specimens belonging to six species and two genera from 497 bats. Most of the ectoparasite load parameters examined (mean abundance, mean intensity, richness, etc.), including comparisons among reproductive conditions and sex of the host, were similar in both seasons. Prevalence was the parameter that varied the most between seasons. The six bat-fly species were found in all bat species except P. personatus. The latter species and L. yerbabuenae had four and five bat-fly species in the wet and dry seasons, respectively. This study provides significant information of ectoparasites ecology in relation to seasonality, contributes to the understanding of host-parasite relationships in tropical dry forests and discusses the relevance of the abiotic and biotic factors that could impact host-parasite interactions.

Helminth Fauna Associated with Three Neotropical Bat Species (Chiroptera: Mormoopidae) in Veracruz, México.

Bats are recognized as potential hosts of pathogens exploiting the food chain to reach them as definitive hosts. However, very little is known about their endoparasites, especially for Neotropical bats. In this study, we assessed the helminth fauna associated with 3 insectivorous bat species roosting in the same single hot cave in central Veracruz, México: Mormoops megalophylla, Pteronotus davyi, and Pteronotus personatus. During a period of 1 yr (April 2007-2008), 135 mormoopid bats in total were collected and examined for helminths. Six parasite species representing 3 types of intestinal helminths were found: 1 cestode Vampirolepis elongatus; 2 trematodes Maxbraunium tubiporum and Ochoterenatrema labda; and 3 nematodes Linustrongylus pteronoti, Molineidae gen. sp., and Capillaria sp. Overall, trematodes were the most abundant parasite group (72.4%), followed by nematodes (20.7%) and cestodes (6.9%). Species-accumulation curves suggest that the worms collected (n = 1,331) from these 6 parasite species comprise the helminth fauna associated with the 3 bat populations studied. The only species shared by the 3 bat species was Capillaria sp. Most (5/6) of the helminth species recorded use Lepidoptera and Diptera as intermediate hosts; therefore, diet is likely the main source of infection. Although insectivorous bats are considered dietary generalist species, the differences found in helminth diversity in these sympatric populations of closely related bat species, suggest that diet partitioning occurs in mormoopid bat communities. Helminths tend to exploit the food chain to reach their final hosts; therefore, studying these parasites can provide useful information to further understand the biology of bats.

Presencia de un representante del género Nycterophilia Ferris, 1916 (Diptera: Streblidae) en Costa Rica

Nycterophilia fairchildi Wenzel (Diptera: Streblidae) is reported from Costa Rica for the first time. The specimens studied and Trichobius sp. were collected on the same bats (Pteronotus davyi, Phyllostomatidae). The halteres, wings and arista of N. fairchildi are redescribed and illustrated.

Predation of Lesser Naked-backed Bats (Pteronotus davyi) by a Pair of American Kestrels (Falco sparverius) on the Island of Marie-Galante, French West Indies

Reportamos la depredación en una colonia de murciélagos de la especie Pteronotus davyi por parte de una pareja de Falco sparverius basados en observaciones en un periodo de 16 días. F. sparverius cazó murciélagos a medida que dejaban su dormidero en la tarde noche, habiendo dos factores que influenciaron la eficiencia de caza, a saber: (1) las condiciones meteorológicas y (2) el tiempo de la formación de la bandada de murciélagos. Aunque al menos un individuo de F. sparverius estuvo presente en 15 de las 16 tardes (93.8%), la tasa de éxito de caza fue de 16.4% (6 murciélagos capturados en 37 intentos). Esta es la primera depredación reportada de especies de murciélagos y la primera depredación regular documentada de una colonia de murciélagos por parte de F. sparverius. Este comportamiento se interpreta como un ejemplo de la adaptación trófica de F. sparverius en ambientes de isla típicos de las Antillas Menores.

Conservation Units of Pteronotus Davyi (Chiroptera: Mormoopidae) in Mexico Based on Phylogeographical Analysis

The analysis of genetic diversity is routinely used to identify divergent intraspecific units and contribute to the knowledge base of biodiversity. In this study we used mitochondrial genetic diversity to propose three management units (MUs) for the Davy's nakedbacked bat (Pteronotus davyi), an insectivorous forest-dwelling species that is distributed in tropical and subtropical areas of America. We analyzed a 555 bp segment of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region in 144 individuals from 18 localities spread across the species distribution range in Mexico. Our results demonstrated that the mitochondrial genetic diversity of P. davyi is distributed in three MUs, namely Gulf North, Pacific-Veracruz and Southeastern, with conservation priority, due to either the high mitochondrial genetic diversity or the high proportion of unique haplotypes, for the following populations: Playa de Oro, Arroyo del Bellaco and Catemaco in the Pacific-Veracruz region, and Agua Blanca, Sardina, Calakmul, Calcehtok and Kantemó from the Southeastern region. The Gulf North unit shows signs of the recent loss of genetic variability. These proposed conservation units could be considered a generalized model of conservation for other species of cave-dwelling bats that share the same habitats.

Novel Bat Coronaviruses, Brazil and Mexico

Novel Bat Coronaviruses, Brazil and Mexico

A New Spirurid (Nematoda) Parasite from Mormoopid Bats in Mexico

A new nematode species, Spirura mexicana n. sp., is described from specimens recovered from the esophageal mucosa of the Parnell's mustached bat Pteronotus parnellii , Davy's naked-backed bat Pteronotus davyi, Wagner's mustached bat Pteronotus personatus, and the ghost-faced bat Mormoops megalophylla in the State of Morelos, Mexico. This nematode is characterized by having a relatively short prostoma, 5-6 pairs of caudal papillae, and a smooth distal end of the tail in females. This is the first species of Spirura described from bats in the New World.

Pega-ropa (Mentzelia Hispida: Loasaceae), una planta que atrapa murciélagos

-The goal of this contribution is to inform for the first time, about bats that are trapped for blazingstar plants (Mentzelia hispida: Loasaceae). These plants are covered totally with hispid trichomes. The tip of the trichomes finishes in four recurved thorns, capable of embeding and fastening in the nude bat skin and impede to be freed of them, adhering it tightly. The observations were carried out while we studied the population dynamics of Leptonycteris yerbabuenae in the cave of Guano, located in the immediacies of San Pablo Tetlapayac, Municipality of Metztitlan, Hidalgo, Mexico, at the Biosphere Reservation of Barranca de Metztitlán (Metztitlan Canyon). During two consecutive years we found bats of the species Pteronotus personatus, Natalus stramineus, and Leptonycteris yerbabuenae trapped by blazingstar plants, without apparent possibilities to be freed, for which this circumstance was considered fatal for bats. Other bats of the species Mormoops megalophylla, Pteronotus parnelli, Pteronotus davyi, Leptonycteris nivalis, and Glossophaga soricina would be running the same danger, due to plant grows in the immediacies of the entrance of the cave where they take refuge.

Molecular phylogeography ofPteronotus davyi(Chiroptera: Mormoopidae) in Mexico

Pteronotus davyi, Davy's naked-backed bat, is a tropical bat whose current distribution in Mexico covers the watersheds of the Pacific and the Gulf coasts of Mexico, converges at the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, and continues into the Yucatan peninsula. We evaluated phylogeographic relationships among 18 populations in Mexico using data from the nucleotide sequence of the hypervariable II domain of the mitochondrial DNA control region from 105 specimens. Extant populations were distributed over 3 geographic regions (Pacific Coast, Gulf Coast, and Southeastern) that were delineated a priori according to floristic characteristics and biogeography. Coalescent simulations supported a phylogeographic model of 2 refugia situated in the south of Mexico (Arc and Soconusco refuges) during the late Pleistocene, followed by expansion into Pacific Coast, Gulf Coast, and Southeastern groups. The populations of the Southeast were genetically divergent from the Pacific and Gulf Coast populations, supporting the existence of 2 distinct lineages of P. davyi in Mexico, likely due to the Isthmus of Tehuantepec acting as a geographical barrier. Examination of our data revealed genetic differentiation of the Pacific and Gulf coastal groups but at a lower level relative to the Southeast. This pattern suggests that the Sierra Madre Occidental, Sierra Madre Oriental, and Sierra Madre del Sur act as physical barriers to dispersal for P. davyi.

Doppler-shift compensation behavior by Wagner’s mustached bat, Pteronotus personatus

Doppler-shift compensation behavior (DSC) is a highly specialized vocal response displayed by bats that emit pulses with a prominent constant frequency (CF) component and adjust the frequency of their CF component to compensate for flight-speed induced Doppler shifts in the frequency of the returning echoes. DSC has only been observed in one member of the Neotropical Mormoopidae, a family of bats that use pulses with prominent CF components, leading researchers to suspect that DSC is a uniquely derived trait in the single species Pteronotus parnellii. Yet recent phylogenetic data indicate that the lineage of P. parnellii originates from the most basal node in the evolutionary history of the genus Pteronotus. DSC behavior was investigated in another member of this family, Pteronotus personatus, because molecular data indicated that this species stems from the second most basal node in Pteronotus. DSC was tested for by swinging the bats on a pendulum. P. personatus performed DSC as well as P. parnellii under identical conditions. Two other closely related mormoopids, Pteronotus davyi and Mormoops megalophylla, were also tested and neither shifted the peak frequency of their pulses. These results shed light on the evolutionary history of DSC among the mormoopids.