Coexistence of morphologically similar bats (Vespertilionidae) on Madagascar: stable isotopes reveal fine-grained niche differentiation among cryptic species. (March 2015)
- Record Type:
- Journal Article
- Title:
- Coexistence of morphologically similar bats (Vespertilionidae) on Madagascar: stable isotopes reveal fine-grained niche differentiation among cryptic species. (March 2015)
- Main Title:
- Coexistence of morphologically similar bats (Vespertilionidae) on Madagascar: stable isotopes reveal fine-grained niche differentiation among cryptic species
- Authors:
- Dammhahn, Melanie
Rakotondramanana, Claude Fabienne
Goodman, Steven M. - Abstract:
- <abstract abstract-type="normal"> <title>Abstract:</title> <p>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 δ<sup>15</sup>N, i.e. two trophic levels, and 4.2‰ in δ<sup>13</sup>C with a community mean of 11.3‰ in δ<sup>15</sup>N and −21.0‰ in δ<sup>13</sup>C. In the mesic forest (Antsahabe), three sympatric species ranged over one trophic level (δ<sup>15</sup>N: 2.4‰, δ<sup>13</sup>C: 1.0‰) with a community mean of 8.0‰ δ<sup>15</sup>N and −21.7‰ in δ<sup>13</sup>C. Multivariate analyses and residual permutation of Euclidian distances in δ<sup>13</sup>C–δ<sup>15</sup>N 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<abstract abstract-type="normal"> <title>Abstract:</title> <p>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 δ<sup>15</sup>N, i.e. two trophic levels, and 4.2‰ in δ<sup>13</sup>C with a community mean of 11.3‰ in δ<sup>15</sup>N and −21.0‰ in δ<sup>13</sup>C. In the mesic forest (Antsahabe), three sympatric species ranged over one trophic level (δ<sup>15</sup>N: 2.4‰, δ<sup>13</sup>C: 1.0‰) with a community mean of 8.0‰ δ<sup>15</sup>N and −21.7‰ in δ<sup>13</sup>C. Multivariate analyses and residual permutation of Euclidian distances in δ<sup>13</sup>C–δ<sup>15</sup>N 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.</p> </abstract> … (more)
- Is Part Of:
- Journal of tropical ecology. Volume 31:Part 2(2015:Mar.)
- Journal:
- Journal of tropical ecology
- Issue:
- Volume 31:Part 2(2015:Mar.)
- Issue Display:
- Volume 31, Issue 2, Part 2 (2015)
- Year:
- 2015
- Volume:
- 31
- Issue:
- 2
- Part:
- 2
- Issue Sort Value:
- 2015-0031-0002-0002
- Page Start:
- 153
- Page End:
- 164
- Publication Date:
- 2015-03
- Subjects:
- Ecology -- Tropics -- Periodicals
577.0913 - Journal URLs:
- http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayJournal?jid=TRO ↗
- DOI:
- 10.1017/S0266467414000741 ↗
- Languages:
- English
- ISSNs:
- 0266-4674
- Deposit Type:
- Legaldeposit
- View Content:
- Available online (eLD content is only available in our Reading Rooms) ↗
- Physical Locations:
- British Library HMNTS - ELD Digital store
- Ingest File:
- 3139.xml