- search hit 1 of 1
Coexistence of morphologically similar bats (Vespertilionidae) on Madagascar
- Based on niche theory, closely related and morphologically similar species are not predicted to coexist due to overlap in resource and habitat use. Local assemblages of bats often contain cryptic taxa, which co-occur despite notable similarities in morphology and ecology. We measured in two different habitat types on Madagascar levels of stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes in hair (n = 103) and faeces (n = 57) of cryptic Vespertilionidae taxa to indirectly examine whether fine-grained trophic niche differentiation explains their coexistence. In the dry deciduous forest (Kirindy), six sympatric species ranged over 6.0% in delta N-15, i.e. two trophic levels, and 4.2% in delta C-13 with a community mean of 11.3% in delta N-15 and - 21.0% in delta C-13. In the mesic forest (Antsahabe), three sympatric species ranged over one trophic level (delta N-15: 2.4%, delta C-13: 1.0%) with a community mean of 8.0% delta N-15 and - 21.7% in delta C-13. Multivariate analyses and residual permutation of Euclidian distances in delta C-13- delta N-15Based on niche theory, closely related and morphologically similar species are not predicted to coexist due to overlap in resource and habitat use. Local assemblages of bats often contain cryptic taxa, which co-occur despite notable similarities in morphology and ecology. We measured in two different habitat types on Madagascar levels of stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes in hair (n = 103) and faeces (n = 57) of cryptic Vespertilionidae taxa to indirectly examine whether fine-grained trophic niche differentiation explains their coexistence. In the dry deciduous forest (Kirindy), six sympatric species ranged over 6.0% in delta N-15, i.e. two trophic levels, and 4.2% in delta C-13 with a community mean of 11.3% in delta N-15 and - 21.0% in delta C-13. In the mesic forest (Antsahabe), three sympatric species ranged over one trophic level (delta N-15: 2.4%, delta C-13: 1.0%) with a community mean of 8.0% delta N-15 and - 21.7% in delta C-13. Multivariate analyses and residual permutation of Euclidian distances in delta C-13- delta N-15 bi-plots revealed in both communities distinct stable isotope signatures and species separation for the hair samples among coexisting Vespertilionidae. Intraspecific variation in faecal and hair stable isotopes did not indicate that seasonal migration might relax competition and thereby facilitate the local co-occurrence of sympatric taxa.…
Author details: | Melanie DammhahnORCiDGND, Claude Fabienne Rakotondramanana, Steven M. Goodman |
---|---|
URN: | urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-414729 |
DOI: | https://doi.org/10.25932/publishup-41472 |
ISSN: | 1866-8372 |
Title of parent work (English): | Postprints der Universität Potsdam : Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe |
Subtitle (English): | stable isotopes reveal fine-grained niche differentiation among cryptic species |
Publication series (Volume number): | Zweitveröffentlichungen der Universität Potsdam : Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe (590) |
Publication type: | Postprint |
Language: | English |
Date of first publication: | 2019/02/12 |
Publication year: | 2015 |
Publishing institution: | Universität Potsdam |
Release date: | 2019/02/12 |
Tag: | community structure; congeneric species; ecological niches; migration; stable carbon; stable nitrogen Chiroptera; Neoromicia; Pipistrellus; Scotophilus |
Issue: | 590 |
Number of pages: | 12 |
Source: | Journal of Tropical Ecology 31 (2015), pp. 153–164 DOI 10.1017/S0266467414000741 |
Organizational units: | Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Fakultät |
DDC classification: | 5 Naturwissenschaften und Mathematik / 57 Biowissenschaften; Biologie / 570 Biowissenschaften; Biologie |
6 Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften / 63 Landwirtschaft / 630 Landwirtschaft und verwandte Bereiche | |
Publishing method: | Open Access |
Grantor: | Cambridge University Press (CUP) |
License (German): | Keine öffentliche Lizenz: Unter Urheberrechtsschutz |
External remark: | Bibliographieeintrag der Originalveröffentlichung/Quelle |