Factors affecting the distribution and roost-site selection of bats on the island of Newfoundland

vi, 59 leaves : ill., maps ; 29 cm.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 39-51)Ecological studies at the periphery of a species' distribution provide an opportunity to explore the limits of population viability under unique conditions. Research regarding specific factors that limit temperate bat distribution is lacking; therefore, the goal of this project was to characterize these factors for resident bats on the island of Newfoundland (NL) by species and sex (four bat groups in total). The first objective was to document the occurrence of little brown (Myotis lucifugus) and northern long-eared (M. septentrionalis) bats throughout NL, and relate their occurrence to stand and landscape factors. All bat groups were patchily distributed. Myotis septentrionalis were present in areas further east and north than previously documented but were not ubiquitous. Factors influencing distributional limits were unique for each bat group, and included number of buildings and forest area in a landscape (for M. septentrionalis females and males, respectively); and number of snags and average tree diameter in a stand (for M. lucifugus females and males, respectively). The second objective was to compare female roost-site selection on NL to that of central areas in their North American distribution. Smaller and shorter softwood trees were common on NL, and frequently used as roosts. The final objective was to characterize roost-site selection of female M. septentrionalis at different reproductive stages (lactation and non-lactation). Sites used during the lactation period were within cavities of large diameter trees that maintained warm, stable microclimates

Data from: Profiling the immunome of little brown myotis provides a yardstick for measuring the genetic response to white-nose syndrome

White-nose syndrome (WNS) has devastated populations of hibernating bats in eastern North America, leading to emergency conservation listings for several species including the previously ubiquitous little brown myotis (Myotis lucifugus). However, some bat populations near the epicenter of the white-nose syndrome panzootic appear to be stabilizing after initial precipitous declines, which could reflect a selective immunogenetic sweep. To investigate the hypothesis that WNS exerts significant selection on the immunome of affected bat populations, we developed a novel, high-throughput sequence capture assay targeting 138 adaptive, intrinsic, and innate immunity genes of putative adaptive significance, as well as their respective regulatory regions (~370-kbp of genomic sequence/individual). We used the assay to explore baseline immunogenetic variation in M. lucifugus and to investigate whether particular immune genes/variants are associated with WNS susceptibility. We also used our assay to detect 1,038 putatively neutral single-nucleotide polymorphisms and characterize contemporary population structure, providing context for the identification of local immunogenetic adaptation. Sequence capture provided a cost-effective, ‘all-in-one’ assay to test for neutral genetic and immunogenetic structure and revealed fine-scale, baseline immunogenetic differentiation between sampling sites < 600 kilometers apart. We identified functional immunogenetic variants in M. lucifugus associated with WNS susceptibility. This study lays the foundations for future investigations of range-wide immunogenetic adaptation to white-nose syndrome in M. lucifugus, and provides a blueprint for studies of evolutionary rescue in other host-pathogen systems

Profiling the immunome of little brown myotis provides a yardstick for measuring the genetic response to white-nose syndrome

We present a theoretical investigation of a novel type of distributed-feedback high-power diode laser with a "curved-groove" diffraction grating (c-DFB), which is predicted to give enhanced spectral and spatial output characteristics. Analyzed spectral properties of the proposed device are found to be identical to the conventional DFB laser of the same length and coupling. It has been also shown that the lateral optical modes of the proposed c-DFB laser are the cylindrical symmetry, which implies that the power generated by such a device can be brought to a common focus.</p

92 Myotis lucifugus SNPs

33,610 GATK hard-filtered SNPs from 92 Canadian Myotis lucifugus. Filters to create final list included: max-missing=5%; minor allele frequency>2%

Prelude to a panzootic: Gene flow and immunogenetic variation in northern little brown myotis vulnerable to bat white-nose syndrome

The fungus that causes bat white-nose syndrome (WNS) recently leaped from eastern North America to the Pacific Coast. The pathogen’s spread is associated with the genetic population structure of a host (Myotis lucifugus). To understand the fine-scale neutral and immunogenetic variation among northern populations of M. lucifugus, we sampled 1142 individuals across the species’ northern range. We used genotypes at 11 microsatellite loci to reveal the genetic structure of, and directional gene flow among, populations to predict the likely future spread of the pathogen in the northwest and to estimate effective population size (Ne). We also pyrosequenced the DRB1-like exon 2 of the class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) in 160 individuals to explore immunogenetic selection by WNS. We identified three major neutral genetic clusters: Eastern, Montane Cordillera (and adjacent sampling areas), and Haida Gwaii, with admixture at intermediate areas and significant substructure west of the prairies. Estimates of Ne were unexpectedly low (289–16 000). Haida Gwaii may provide temporary refuge from WNS, but the western mountain ranges are not barriers to its dispersal in M. lucifugus and are unlikely to slow its spread. Our major histocompatibility complex (MHC) data suggest potential selection by WNS on the MHC, but gene duplication limited the immunogenetic analyses

Data from: Prelude to a panzootic: gene flow and immunogenetic variation in northern little brown myotis vulnerable to bat white-nose syndrome

The fungus that causes bat white-nose syndrome (WNS) recently leaped from eastern North America to the Pacific Coast. The pathogen’s spread is associated with the genetic population structure of a host (Myotis lucifugus). To understand the fine-scale neutral and immunogenetic variation among northern populations of M. lucifugus, we sampled 1142 individuals across the species’ northern range. We used genotypes at 11 microsatellite loci to reveal the genetic structure of, and directional gene flow among, populations to predict the likely future spread of the pathogen in the northwest and to estimate effective population size (Ne). We also pyrosequenced the DRB1-like exon 2 of the class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) in 160 individuals to explore immunogenetic selection by WNS. We identified three major neutral genetic clusters: Eastern, Montane Cordillera (and adjacent sampling areas), and Haida Gwaii, with admixture at intermediate areas and significant substructure west of the prairies. Estimates of Ne were unexpectedly low (289–16 000). Haida Gwaii may provide temporary refuge from WNS, but the western mountain ranges are not barriers to its dispersal in M. lucifugus and are unlikely to slow its spread. Our major histocompatibility complex (MHC) data suggest potential selection by WNS on the MHC, but gene duplication limited the immunogenetic analyses

Microsatellite genotypes for 11 loci (Myotis lucifugus)

Microsatellite genotypes for 11 loci (Myotis lucifugus