Roosting Ecology and the Evolution of Pelage Markings in Bats

PLoS One

Sharlene E. Santana¹  Thomas P. Eiting²  Thomas O. Dial²  Michael E. Alfaro³ 

[1] Center for Society and Genetics, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States of America;Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States of America;Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts, United States of America

关键词: Bats;    Animal sociality;    Predation;    Mammals;    Phylogenetics;    Face;    Social communication;    Species diversity;   

DOI  :  10.1371/journal.pone.0025845

学科分类：医学（综合）

来源: Public Library of Science

【 摘 要 】

Multiple lineages of bats have evolved striking facial and body pelage makings, including spots, stripes and countershading. Although researchers have hypothesized that these markings mainly evolved for crypsis, this idea has never been tested in a quantitative and comparative context. We present the first comparative study integrating data on roosting ecology (roost type and colony size) and pelage coloration patterns across bats, and explore the hypothesis that the evolution of bat pelage markings is associated with roosting ecologies that benefit from crypsis. We find that lineages that roost in the vegetation have evolved pelage markings, especially stripes and neck collars, which may function in crypsis through disruptive coloration and a type of countershading that might be unique to bats. We also demonstrate that lineages that live in larger colonies and are larger in size tend not to have pelage markings, possibly because of reduced predation pressures due to the predator dilution effect and a lower number of potential predators. Although social functions for pelage color patterns are also possible, our work provides strong support for the idea that roosting ecology has driven the evolution of pelage markings in bats.

【 授权许可】

CC BY