Genetic diversity and population structure of leaf-nosed bat Hipposideros speoris (Chiroptera: Hipposideridae) in Indian subcontinent

Genetic variation and population structure of the leaf-nosed bat Hipposideros speoris were estimated using 16S rRNA sequence and microsatellite analysis. Twenty seven distinct mitochondrial haplotypes were identified from 186 individuals, sampled from eleven populations. FST test revealed significant variations between populations in the overall pairwise estimation (FST = 0.710; p < 0.001). In addition, haplotype network and analysis of molecular variation analysis (AMOVA) consistently suggest the prevalence of genetic structure in the sampled populations. However, the mtDNA data was not significantly different in few closely located urban populations, but significant difference has been observed with the use of microsatellite data. The Bayesian clustering analysis identified eight clusters among the populations; the clustering pattern also corresponded to the haplotype networks. Overall, the present study suggests a "macrogeographic genetic isolation-by-distance" and possibility of gene flow among closely located populations

Distress call-induced gene expression in the brain of the Indian short-nosed fruit bat, Cynopterus sphinx

Individuals in distress emit audible vocalizations to either warn or inform conspecifics. The Indian short-nosed fruit bat, Cynopterus sphinx, emits distress calls soon after becoming entangled in mist nets, which appear to attract conspecifics. Phase I of these distress calls is longer and louder, and includes a secondary peak, compared to phase II. Activity-dependent expression of egr-1 was examined in free-ranging C. sphinx following the emissions and responses to a distress call. We found that the level of expression of egr-1 was higher in bats that emitted a distress call, in adults that responded, and in pups than in silent bats. Up-regulated cDNA was amplified to identify the target gene (TOE1) of the protein Egr-1. The observed expression pattern Toe1 was similar to that of egr-1. These findings suggest that the neuronal activity related to recognition of a distress call and an auditory feedback mechanism induces the expression of Egr-1. Co-expression of egr-1 with Toe1 may play a role in initial triggering of the genetic mechanism that could be involved in the consolidation or stabilization of distress call memories

Per3 length polymorphism in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

BACKGROUND: A number of observations support the involvement of circadian clock genes in the regulation of metabolic processes. One of these circadian genes, Per3, exhibits a variable number tandem repeat length polymorphism, consisting of two alleles, namely four and five repeat alleles, in its exon 18. The objective of this study was to examine the existence of Per3 variants in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) as compared to a non T2DM control group. METHODS: Intravenous blood samples were collected to obtain white blood cells from 302 T2DM patients and 330 non-diabetic, age- and sex-matched, individuals. Per3 genotyping was performed on DNA by polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Frequency of five repeat allele was higher, and that of four repeat allele lower, in T2DM patients as compared to non-diabetic controls (χ2=6.977, p=0.0082) CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate an association of Per3 five repeat allele with T2DM occurrence and suggest that individuals with five repeat allele may be at a greater risk for T2DM as compared to those carrying the four repeat allele.Fil: Karthikeyan, Ramanujam. Madurai Kamaraj University. School of Biological Sciences. Department of Animal Behaviour and Physiology; IndiaFil: Marimuthu, Ganapathy. Madurai Kamaraj University. School of Biological Sciences. Department of Animal Behaviour and Physiology; IndiaFil: Sooriyakumar, Murugesan. Madurai Medical College. Department of Medicine; IndiaFil: BaHammam, Ahmed S.. King Saud University. College of Medicine; Arabia SauditaFil: Spence, David Warren.Fil: Pandi Perumal, Seithikurippu R.. Somnogen Canada; CanadáFil: Brown, Gregory M.. University of Toronto; CanadáFil: Cardinali, Daniel Pedro. Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina "Santa María de los Buenos Aires". Facultad de Ciencias Médicas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

In situ feeding tactics of short-nosed fruit bat (Cynopterus sphinx) on mango fruits: evidence of extractive foraging in a flying mammal

We report a sequence of behaviors exhibited by the short-nosed fruit bat Cynopterus sphinx while feeding on fruits of Mangifera indica. They peel off the outer skin to form a feeding area of about 3-6 cm diameter. Such food preparatory behaviors were more pronounced on larger mangoes. Bats competed among themselves to feed on the mangoes that had such feeding areas exposed. Individuals that spent a considerable amount of time on food preparatory behaviors actively secured the fruits. Altogether, these behaviors indicate that Cynopterus bats might have learnt, over evolutionary time, and developed behaviors that facilitate efficient processing and feeding of fruits such as mangoes. It appears that actions exhibited by C. sphinx in peeling off the outer skin of mangoes exemplify "extractive foraging", a behavior that is prominently known in large-brained mammals. Thus, our findings will have implications on the distribution and evolution of extractive foraging and "technical intelligence" among mammalian lineages

Maternal feeding of offspring with vertebrate prey in captive Indian false vampire bat, Megaderma lyra

We studied relationships between mother and weaned young of captive Indian false vampire bats, Megaderma lyra. Four out of eight young (Group 1) at 60-63 days of age began to capture freshly killed frogs we pulled with a long thread on the sandy floor of flight room. However, the mothers continued to suckle until their young became 84.7 ±3.97 ( X- ± SE) days of age. When the remaining four young (Group 2) were 59.5 ± 1.85 days of age their mothers stopped suckling. Nevertheless, these mothers transferred either entire or partly consumed frogs (bodies with no heads, half bodies, paired hind limbs, and single hind limbs) to their young solicitors. Such food transfers occurred based on the body lengths of frogs. Mothers transferred small frogs entirely, but as the body length of frogs increased, mothers transferred smaller body parts to their young. Audible vocalizations of mothers and young were associated with food transfers. When these young bats became 74.0 ± 2.63 days of age, their mothers stopped food transfers. It appears that lactating females of M. lyra provision offspring by supplementing milk with solid food, similar to what has been observed in other megadermatid bats

Development of prey capture in the Indian false vampire bat Megaderma lyra

We studied development of prey capture, under captive conditions, on five newly weaned Indian false vampire bats Megaderma lyra. We tested the hypothesis that the young bats are able to improve the ability of hunting by trial and error. An additional hypothesis was that their rate of prey consumption and method of handling prey improve with age. We separated the juveniles from their mothers and observed them individually at different ages. At 58 d of age, M. lyra roosted 2 m above floor level, flew down only towards moving frogs, landed >1 m away from them and returned to roosts without showing attempt to capture. At day 60, bats roosted at 50-cm heights, landed approx. 1 m away from frogs and moved towards them. Although bats intercepted frogs, their attempts to capture were still unsuccessful. At day 62, bats landed <1 m from frogs, made similar attempts and most of them were successful. Bats carried frogs, roosted at heights of 100 cm and started consuming. Numbers of jumps made by frogs and attempts made by bats during successful captures decreased with increase in age of bats. Furthermore, the distance between landing sites of bats and places where frogs stayed during landings decreased with advancement of age. Until 75 d of age, M. lyra devoured frogs with legs-first on significantly more occasions. After 75 d, most of the consumptions started with heads of frogs, similar to adults. Duration of feeding on single frogs was significantly longer compared with that of mothers until young were 75-d old. The study revealed that juveniles were inefficient on localization, rate of consumption, and handling prey at earlier ages (e.g. 60 d). They became efficient on these behavioural components at later age, i.e. after 75 d. Thus, the results were in accordance with both the hypotheses. Bats did not respond to stationary frogs

Muntingia calabura - an attractive food plant of Cynopterus sphinx -deserves planting to lessen orchard damage

Of the 14 species of pteropodid bats that are found in India, Cynopterus sphinx receives most of the blame for causing damage to commercial fruit crops. We observed the number of visits made by C. sphinx to four species of commercial fruits in orchards (Mangifera indica, Achras sapota, Psidium guajava and Vitis vinifera), and four species of wild/non-commercial fruits (Muntingia calabura, Ficus bengalensis, F. religiosa and Bassia latifolia) in suburban areas. The total number of bat visits to M. calabura was significantly greater than to all other fruit species. The range of percentages of total nightly bat visits was from as low as 5% (V. vinifera) to 47% (F. religiosa), in comparison to the total nightly visits made to M. calabura. In addition, the number of mist-netted individuals of C. sphinx per hour near M. calabura was also significantly higher than near other fruit species. We suggest that if M. calabura is grown in and around orchards, damage caused by C. sphinx to commercial fruit crops may be decreased and therefore would serve as a non-destructive method for managing removal of commercial fruits by bats

Spatial organization of roosting in the insectivorous tropical bat Hipposideros speoris

The roost organization of the insectivorous bat Hipposideros speoris was studied both in the field and in conditions of captivity. All the individuals roost singly and maintain a marked fidelity to their roost sites for long periods. The males use their urine as an olfactory cue in relocating their respective roost sites but the females appear to relocate their roost sites relatively by recognizing the position of neighbouring conspecifics. In captivity all the individuals prefer to roost in darker regions of the cage, which resulted in the formation of a hierarchical order of roosting. Experiments with captive bats revealed a greater ability to reorientate towards their roosting sites in males than in females. The individuals rigidly guard their roosting sites by displaying agonistic behaviour toward intruders. Such a site-specific pattern of roosting seems to serve the function of accommodating many individuals within a small space available in an organised manner

Cunnilingus Apparently Increases Duration of Copulation in the Indian Flying Fox, <i>Pteropus giganteus</i>

<div><p>We observed a total of 57 incidences of copulation in a colony of the Indian flying fox, <i>Pteropus giganteus</i>, over 13 months under natural conditions. The colony consisted of about 420 individuals, roosting in a <i>Ficus religiosa</i> tree. Copulations occurred between 07.00 h and 09.30 h from July to January, with more occurring in October and November. Initially males groomed their penis before approaching a nearby female. Females typically moved away and males followed. When the female stopped moving, the male started licking her vagina (cunnilingus). Typically each bout of cunnilingus lasted for about 50 s. In 57 out of 69 observations, the male mounted the female and copulated. The duration of copulation varied from 10 to 20 sec. After completion of copulation, the male continued cunnilingus for 94 to 188 sec. The duration of pre-copulatory cunnilingus and copulation was positively correlated whereas, the duration of pre- and post-copulatory cunnilingus was negatively correlated. Apart from humans, oral sex as foreplay prior to copulation is uncommon in mammals. Another pteropodid bat, <i>Cynopterus sphinx</i> exhibits fellatio with females licking the penis of males during copulation. It appears that bats, especially pteropodids perform oral sex, either cunnilingus or fellatio, possibly for achieving longer copulation.</p></div

Nectar feeding behavior in the short-nosed fruit bat Cynopterus sphinx (Pteropodidae)

Nectar feeding behavior of the short-nosed bat, Cynopterus sphinx, was observed under natural conditions in South India. Nectar production of 'steady-state' flowers of Musa' paradisiaca and 'big-bang' flowers of Bassia latifolia was quantified. Cynopterus sphinx typically foraged alone on flowers of M.'paradisiaca and as groups on B. latifolia, largely in response to the availability of these floral resources. Peak visits on flowers of M.'paradisiaca by C. sphinx occurred at 2000 h and on B. latifolia at 2100 h. Peak visits coincided with the maximum nectar production and sugar concentration of these floral resources. In addition to feeding on nectar early in the evening, C. sphinx acquired additional energy by feeding on carbohydrate-rich fruit. In return for these food resources, C. sphinx provides important pollination and seed-dispersal services to the plants that they visit nightly, and thus can profoundly influence the co-evolution of plants and bats