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Habitat selection of three cryptic Plecotus bat species in the European Alps reveals contrasting implications for conservation

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Abstract

Assessing the ecological requirements of species coexisting within a community is an essential requisite for developing sound conservation action. A particularly interesting question is what mechanisms govern the stable coexistence of cryptic species within a community, i.e. species that are almost impossible to distinguish. Resource partitioning theory predicts that cryptic species, like other sympatric taxa, will occupy distinct ecological niches. This prediction is widely inferred from eco-morphological studies. A new cryptic long-eared bat species, Plecotus macrobullaris, has been recently discovered in the complex of two other species present in the European Alps, with even evidence for a few mixed colonies. This discovery poses challenges to bat ecologists concerned with planning conservation measures beyond roost protection. We therefore tested whether foraging habitat segregation occurred among the three cryptic Plecotus bat species in Switzerland by radiotracking 24 breeding female bats (8 of each species). We compared habitat features at locations visited by a bat versus random locations within individual home ranges, applying mixed effects logistic regression. Distinct, species-specific habitat preferences were revealed. P. auritus foraged mostly within traditional orchards in roost vicinity, with a marked preference for habitat heterogeneity. P. austriacus foraged up to 4.7 km from the roost, selecting mostly fruit tree plantations, hedges and tree lines. P. macrobullaris preferred patchy deciduous and mixed forests with high vertical heterogeneity in a grassland dominated-matrix. These species-specific habitat preferences should inform future conservation programmes. They highlight the possible need of distinct conservation measures for species that look very much alike.

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Acknowledgments

We wish to thank Andres Beck, Annie Ehrenbold, Kathi Märki, Therese Hotz, and Irene Weinberger for field assistance. We are also grateful to Fitsum Abadi, Michael Schaub and Patrick Patthey for their help with data analysis, Silvia Dingwall for English revision, and the respective cantonal authorities for permitting access to the roosts and the captures of individuals.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Conservation Biology, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, 3012, Bern, Switzerland

    Sohrab Ashrafi, Marianne Rutishauser, Raphaël Arlettaz & Fabio Bontadina

  2. Department of Environmental Science, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, PO Box 4111, Karaj, Iran

    Sohrab Ashrafi

  3. Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, Biodiversity and Conservation Biology, 8903, Birmensdorf, Switzerland

    Klaus Ecker, Martin K. Obrist & Fabio Bontadina

  4. SWILD—Urban Ecology & Wildlife Research, Wuhrstrasse 12, 8003, Zurich, Switzerland

    Fabio Bontadina

Authors
  1. Sohrab Ashrafi
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  2. Marianne Rutishauser
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  4. Martin K. Obrist
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  5. Raphaël Arlettaz
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Correspondence to Sohrab Ashrafi or Fabio Bontadina.

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Ashrafi, S., Rutishauser, M., Ecker, K. et al. Habitat selection of three cryptic Plecotus bat species in the European Alps reveals contrasting implications for conservation. Biodivers Conserv 22, 2751–2766 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-013-0551-z

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