Temperate forest ecosystems are important habitats for many bat species. However, these habitats are increasingly affected by anthropogenic disturbances, particularly urban development, leading to landscapes with vary...Temperate forest ecosystems are important habitats for many bat species. However, these habitats are increasingly affected by anthropogenic disturbances, particularly urban development, leading to landscapes with varying land cover composition and configuration. Limited research has examined how forest and urban landscape composition and configuration influence bat activity and diversity. Using a multi-year statewide bat acoustic monitoring dataset from North Carolina, USA, we investigated the effects of forest and urban composition and configuration at multiple spatial scales on bat activity and diversity. First, we constructed single-variable landscape index regression models and found that both the composition and configuration of forests and urban developments influenced bat activity and diversity in a species-specific manner. Next, we applied a hierarchical partitioning approach to compare the relative contributions of composition and configuration indices in explaining variance in bat activity. For big brown bats and hoary bats, evergreen forest and urban development composition indices contributed the most to explaining activity variance. In contrast, for eastern red bats, evening bats, and tricolored bats, deciduous forest fragmentation indices describing landscape configuration were the most influential factors. Silver-haired bat activity variance was primarily explained by an evergreen forest fragmentation index. Lastly, urban development configuration indices were the strongest predictors of Mexican free-tailed bat activity and total bat activity. These results suggest that forest and urban landscape configuration should be considered in conservation and management planning for North American temperate forest ecosystems, particularly in regions that have not experienced drastic deforestation in recent decades.展开更多
Horseshoe bats(genus Rhinolophus,family Rhinolophidae)represent an important group within chiropteran phylogeny due to their distinctive traits,including constant high-frequency echolocation,rapid karyotype evolution,...Horseshoe bats(genus Rhinolophus,family Rhinolophidae)represent an important group within chiropteran phylogeny due to their distinctive traits,including constant high-frequency echolocation,rapid karyotype evolution,and unique immune system.Advances in evolutionary biology,supported by high-quality reference genomes and comprehensive whole-genome data,have significantly enhanced our understanding of species origins,speciation mechanisms,adaptive evolutionary processes,and phenotypic diversity.However,genomic research and understanding of the evolutionary patterns of Rhinolophus are severely constrained by limited data,with only a single published genome of R.ferrumequinum currently available.In this study,we constructed a high-quality chromosome-level reference genome for the intermediate horseshoe bat(R.affinis).Comparative genomic analyses revealed potential genetic characteristics associated with virus tolerance in Rhinolophidae.Notably,we observed expansions in several immune-related gene families and identified various genes functionally associated with the SARS-CoV-2 signaling pathway,DNA repair,and apoptosis,which displayed signs of rapid evolution.In addition,we observed an expansion of the major histocompatibility complex class II(MHC-II)region and a higher copy number of the HLA-DQB2 gene in horseshoe bats compared to other chiropteran species.Based on whole-genome resequencing and population genomic analyses,we identified multiple candidate loci(e.g.,GLI3)associated with variations in echolocation call frequency across R.affinis subspecies.This research not only expands our understanding of the genetic characteristics of the Rhinolophus genus but also establishes a valuable foundation for future research.展开更多
Desmodus rotundus and Diphylla ecaudata, both of which are mammals of the order Chiroptera, Desmodontidae family, their diet consisting exclusively of blood. D. rotundus is the main vector and transmitter of the rabie...Desmodus rotundus and Diphylla ecaudata, both of which are mammals of the order Chiroptera, Desmodontidae family, their diet consisting exclusively of blood. D. rotundus is the main vector and transmitter of the rabies virus, which affects human beings as well as several livestock species so the study of this bat species is of high importance within the fields of animal agriculture and public health. The present study describes and compares the histologic characteristics of the urinary system of two hematophagous bat species. A total of 5 bats from each species were captured in the municipalities of Progreso de Obregón, Hidalgo (D. rotundus), and Huayacocotla, Veracruz (D. ecaudata). Organs belonging to the urinary system were extracted: kidneys, ureters, urinary bladder, and urethra;samples were fixed using 10% formalin and processed by the paraffin embedding technique, obtaining sections of 5 µm thickness, which in turn were stained using hematoxylin-eosin (H-E) and Gomori trichrome (GT) stains. From the obtained histologic preparations, a descriptive and comparative analysis of the structural organography of the urinary system of both species was made, and no noteworthy histological differences between samples were noted. The present research is intended to provide a framework for future studies of these species’ currently understudied microscopic anatomy.展开更多
基金funding support from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service,the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission,and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro,as part of a collective effort for the North American Bat Monitoring Program(NABat).
文摘Temperate forest ecosystems are important habitats for many bat species. However, these habitats are increasingly affected by anthropogenic disturbances, particularly urban development, leading to landscapes with varying land cover composition and configuration. Limited research has examined how forest and urban landscape composition and configuration influence bat activity and diversity. Using a multi-year statewide bat acoustic monitoring dataset from North Carolina, USA, we investigated the effects of forest and urban composition and configuration at multiple spatial scales on bat activity and diversity. First, we constructed single-variable landscape index regression models and found that both the composition and configuration of forests and urban developments influenced bat activity and diversity in a species-specific manner. Next, we applied a hierarchical partitioning approach to compare the relative contributions of composition and configuration indices in explaining variance in bat activity. For big brown bats and hoary bats, evergreen forest and urban development composition indices contributed the most to explaining activity variance. In contrast, for eastern red bats, evening bats, and tricolored bats, deciduous forest fragmentation indices describing landscape configuration were the most influential factors. Silver-haired bat activity variance was primarily explained by an evergreen forest fragmentation index. Lastly, urban development configuration indices were the strongest predictors of Mexican free-tailed bat activity and total bat activity. These results suggest that forest and urban landscape configuration should be considered in conservation and management planning for North American temperate forest ecosystems, particularly in regions that have not experienced drastic deforestation in recent decades.
基金supported by the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(2022M722020)to Z.L.Key Project of Scientific Research Program of Shaanxi Provincial Education Department(23JY020)to Z.L.+5 种基金Natural Science Basic Research Program of Shaanxi(2024JCYBMS-152)to Z.L.Key Projects of Shaanxi University of Technology(SLGKYXM2302)to Z.L.Opening Foundation of Shaanxi University of Technology(SLGPT2019KF02-02)to Z.L.Natural Science Basic Research Program of Shaanxi(2020JM-280)to G.L.Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(GK201902008)to G.LNational Natural Science Foundation of China(31570378)to X.M.
文摘Horseshoe bats(genus Rhinolophus,family Rhinolophidae)represent an important group within chiropteran phylogeny due to their distinctive traits,including constant high-frequency echolocation,rapid karyotype evolution,and unique immune system.Advances in evolutionary biology,supported by high-quality reference genomes and comprehensive whole-genome data,have significantly enhanced our understanding of species origins,speciation mechanisms,adaptive evolutionary processes,and phenotypic diversity.However,genomic research and understanding of the evolutionary patterns of Rhinolophus are severely constrained by limited data,with only a single published genome of R.ferrumequinum currently available.In this study,we constructed a high-quality chromosome-level reference genome for the intermediate horseshoe bat(R.affinis).Comparative genomic analyses revealed potential genetic characteristics associated with virus tolerance in Rhinolophidae.Notably,we observed expansions in several immune-related gene families and identified various genes functionally associated with the SARS-CoV-2 signaling pathway,DNA repair,and apoptosis,which displayed signs of rapid evolution.In addition,we observed an expansion of the major histocompatibility complex class II(MHC-II)region and a higher copy number of the HLA-DQB2 gene in horseshoe bats compared to other chiropteran species.Based on whole-genome resequencing and population genomic analyses,we identified multiple candidate loci(e.g.,GLI3)associated with variations in echolocation call frequency across R.affinis subspecies.This research not only expands our understanding of the genetic characteristics of the Rhinolophus genus but also establishes a valuable foundation for future research.
文摘Desmodus rotundus and Diphylla ecaudata, both of which are mammals of the order Chiroptera, Desmodontidae family, their diet consisting exclusively of blood. D. rotundus is the main vector and transmitter of the rabies virus, which affects human beings as well as several livestock species so the study of this bat species is of high importance within the fields of animal agriculture and public health. The present study describes and compares the histologic characteristics of the urinary system of two hematophagous bat species. A total of 5 bats from each species were captured in the municipalities of Progreso de Obregón, Hidalgo (D. rotundus), and Huayacocotla, Veracruz (D. ecaudata). Organs belonging to the urinary system were extracted: kidneys, ureters, urinary bladder, and urethra;samples were fixed using 10% formalin and processed by the paraffin embedding technique, obtaining sections of 5 µm thickness, which in turn were stained using hematoxylin-eosin (H-E) and Gomori trichrome (GT) stains. From the obtained histologic preparations, a descriptive and comparative analysis of the structural organography of the urinary system of both species was made, and no noteworthy histological differences between samples were noted. The present research is intended to provide a framework for future studies of these species’ currently understudied microscopic anatomy.
