Wing morphology predicts individual niche specialization in Pteronotus mesoamericanus (Mammalia: Chiroptera)

PLoS One. 2020 May 11;15(5):e0232601. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0232601. eCollection 2020.

Abstract

Morphological variation between individuals can increase niche segregation and decrease intraspecific competition when heterogeneous individuals explore their environment in different ways. Among bat species, wing shape correlates with flight maneuverability and habitat use, with species that possess broader wings typically foraging in more cluttered habitats. However, few studies have investigated the role of morphological variation in bats for niche partitioning at the individual level. To determine the relationship between wing shape and diet, we studied a population of the insectivorous bat species Pteronotus mesoamericanus in the dry forest of Costa Rica. Individual diet was resolved using DNA metabarcoding, and bat wing shape was assessed using geometric morphometric analysis. Inter-individual variation in wing shape showed a significant relationship with both dietary dissimilarity based on Bray-Curtis estimates, and nestedness derived from an ecological network. Individual bats with broader and more rounded wings were found to feed on a greater diversity of arthropods (less nested) in comparison to individuals with triangular and pointed wings (more nested). We conclude that individual variation in bat wing morphology can impact foraging efficiency leading to the observed overall patterns of diet specialization and differentiation within the population.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Chiroptera / anatomy & histology*
  • Chiroptera / physiology
  • Costa Rica
  • Ecosystem
  • Female
  • Flight, Animal
  • Forests
  • Male
  • Predatory Behavior
  • Species Specificity
  • Wings, Animal / anatomy & histology*
  • Wings, Animal / physiology

Grants and funding

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior – CAPES (Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel) for the scholarship provided to Hernani Oliveira to conduct this research (BEX 8927/13-8) and Nícholas Camargo (PNPD 23106.023136/2016-81).