DEMRHIN
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Population dynamics of the Lesser horseshoe bat in managed forest |
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Research
Context and Issues
As a result of human activities, forests and other woodlands have undergone radical changes in recent decades. Management methods must adapt to the rapid changes in the economic and environmental contexts. Current policies aim to maintain optimum conditions for these activities and also protect and support biodiversity. This is particularly true for forestry, an activity that is directly related to living beings and the complex interactions that support ecosystem productivity. To evaluate the effectiveness of these policies, biological indicators are needed to assess the ways management methods influence biodiversity.
The lesser horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus hipposideros), a species protected by the Habitat Directive, is found in or near woodlands and dense hedgerows where it forages. The decrease in population of this European bat species is best documented in northern France and Benelux, Germany. Its connection with woodlands already has been demonstrated by several telemetric studies and an improvement in colony dynamics (abundance and fecundity) when colonies are more enclosed by forest. Thus, this bat is a beneficial bioindicator for woodlands; however, its population dynamics are not completely understood and are difficult to observe.
Objectives
The objective of this project is to observe the population dynamics of the lesser horseshoe bat using an innovative and harmless method called non-invasive genetics. Data provided by this method will make it possible to link the demographic dynamics of the colonies to the quality of the forest environment.
This project is also the beginning of a European-wide collaboration between research units that focus on life-history traits across a range of species. The aim is to evaluate the dispersal ability of the lesser horseshoe bat in northern Europe, and to specifically compare the life history traits of populations that have lived near the limits of the distribution range for many generations (Picardie, France) with populations which are currently recolonizing the environment (Thuringia, Germany).
Methodology
Lesser horseshoe bat DNA is extracted from guano collected from 20 colonies in Picardie and is then genotyped with a multiplex of 9 microsatellites. Sampling was performed during summer, before and after parturition, for four years (2013-2016). These data allow us to follow individuals and analyse the data using capture-mark-recapture models.
Sampling was also conducted in summer 2015 in different regions along the distribution range limit to study the overall dynamics of the species in these regions using population genetic tools.
Expected Results
Data collected in Picardie will allow us to estimate survival, dispersal and fecundity of these populations, and to relate them to woodland quality and management practices (data provided by the National Office of Forests)
The larger-scale sampling will detect whether isolation occurs because of the distance between populations and will estimate the lesser horseshoe bat dispersal ability on a larger scale.
Comparing stable (Picardie) and recolonizing (Thuringia) metapopulations will allow us to test theoretical models that address changes in life history traits during range expansion.
Publications issued from the project
LEHNEN, L. JAN, P.-L. BESNARD, A.-L. FOURCY, D. KERTH, G. BIEDERMANN, M. NYSSEN, P. SCHORCHT, W. PETIT, E.J. PUECHMAILLE, S.J. (2021) .Genetic diversity in a long-lived mammal is explained by the past?s demographic shadow and current connectivity
JAN, P.-L. LEHNEN, L. BESNARD, A.-L. KERTH, G. SCHORCHT, W. PETIT, E.J. LE GOUAR, P. PUECHMAILLE, S.J. (2019) .Range expansion is associated with increased survival and fecundity in a long-lived bat species
ZARZOSO-LACOSTE, D. JAN, P.-L. LEHNEN, L. GIRARD, T. BESNARD, A.-L. PUECHMAILLE, S.J. PETIT, E.J. (2018) .Combining noninvasive genetics and a new mammalian sex-linked marker provides new tools to investigate population size, structure and individual behaviour: An application to bats
JAN, P.-L. FARCY, O. BOIREAU, J. LE TEXIER, E. BAUDOUIN, A. LE GOUAR, P. PUECHMAILLE, S.J. PETIT, E.J. (2017) .Which temporal resolution to consider when investigating the impact of climatic data on population dynamics? The case of the lesser horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus hipposideros)
People involved
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BESNARD Anne-Laure, Technician Phone : +33 2 23 48 54 43 Email : anne-laure.besnard(at)inrae.fr |
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FOURCY Damien, Scientist Phone : +33 2 23 48 70 09 Email : damien.fourcy@inrae.fr |
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JAN Pierre-Loup, Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolution Phone : +33 2 23 48 70 38 Email : pierre-loup.jan@inrae.fr |
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PETIT Eric, Scientist Phone : + 33 2 23 48 70 36 Email : eric.petit@inrae.fr |