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Contributions to the taxonomy, biogeography, ecology and pathogens of parasites (Diptera, Acari) of Old World bats
Ševčík, Martin ; Benda, Petr (advisor) ; Stanko, Michal (referee) ; Bartonička, Tomáš (referee)
The dissertation thesis presents contributions solving several faunistic, biogeographical, taxonomic, and phylogenetic problems of selected groups of bat parasites together with surveys of potential pathogens in some representatives of these parasitic groups linked to the bats of the Old World. In the first part of the thesis, the taxonomy of prostigmata mites - chiggers (Trombiculidae) - coming from Eurasia and Africa is elaborated. Results of a detailed morphological and morphometric study are the descriptions of five new taxa belonging to four genera: Chiroptella, Grandjeana, Rudnicula, and Trombicula. At the same time, the results revise the differentiation within the group Trombicula sensu stricto, summarize the findings of species of individual genera and correct the inclusions of the originally described species within individual genera, with the final output of creating identification keys to the genera. The first sketch of the results of the study of the relations between chiggers and bats is included in this section, representing the description of the specific links among individual segments of both groups. In addition, there are studies presenting new findings and morphometric examinations of velvet mite nymphs collected from bats in Indonesia, as well as morphometric data and...
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Phylogeographic and systematic studies of selected bat taxa of the western part of the Old World
Uvizl, Marek ; Benda, Petr (advisor) ; Bryja, Josef (referee) ; Csorba, Gabor (referee)
Bats attract attention due their extraordinary adaptations including their ability to actively fly and echolocate, and extended lifespan, phenotypic diversity, etc. The phylogeny was analysed using cutting-edge molecular methods. However, the molecular revision of several species and species groups is still pending, especially those with wide distribution ranges or cryptic species complexes, even in the western part of the Old World. This specification encompasses Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia, and Africa and it represents the traditional research area for Central European (Czech and Czechoslovak) bat researchers. In my PhD thesis, I aimed to revise the phylogenetic and phylogeographic relationships of six less studied species and/or species groups of bats, using a combination of molecular and morphological phylogenetic approaches. The sequences of both mitochondrial and nuclear genetic markers were generated from over 10 species. These sequences were used to construct phylogenetic trees, haplotype networks, and estimate the time of divergence of studied species. The main results of my PhD thesis were: (1) filling gaps in the knowledge of the distribution ranges of species from the M. nattereri species complex (Vespertilionidae) by including and identifying samples from the Middle East; (2)...
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Changes in distributional range and ecology of bats realated to climate change
Pavlíková, Barbara ; Lučan, Radek (advisor) ; Bartonička, Tomáš (referee)
In the last few decades bats are affected by climate change. Changes in average temperatures affect their morphology, phenology, diversity and distribution. Changes in biotopes caused by anthropogenic influences are responsible for the loss of shelters and connectivity of habitats. Empirical data show us that the range expansion of many bat species are gradually shifting to higher latitudes or altitudes. Mathematical models predict that the bat diversity and richness around the world will decline. Some species will shift their ranges and some will shrink their range or even become extinct. Key words: chiroptera, bats, range shift, bioindicators, climate change
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Swarming and hibernation of bats in scree fields and talus slopes
Legát, Jakub ; Lučan, Radek (advisor) ; Andreas, Michal (referee)
This literature review attempts to summarize the knowledge on swarming of temperate bats. It focuses on the characteristics of the term swarming and the history of research on this behaviour in the Czech republic and worldwide. It describes in some detail the species that participate in this behaviour, defines the period when bat swarming take place and discusses the factors that influence this behaviour. The second part of the paper summarizes information on swarming and hibernation of bats in scree fields and talus slopes. However, there is very little information to date on whether and in what quantities bats use this habitat during swarming and hibernation period. This thesis discusses existing surveys on this issue and is designed as a theoretical overview for the field research that author intends to undertake during his master's degree.
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Feeding ecology of bats in the eastern Mediterranean
Žďárská, Lenka ; Andreas, Michal (advisor) ; Gajdošík, Martin (referee)
This work gives an overview of the composition of the diet of bats in the eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East, discusses the structure of bat communities in different bioregions of the area in terms of hunting strategies and resource partitioning and last but not least, how echolocation and morphological characteristics of bats affect the composition of the diet. Although some samples were relatively small therefore it is necessary to look soberly at their informative value, and thus their importance is undeniable. The study in some cases provides completely the first information regarding the composition of diet in several species. Asellia arabica mainly catches Coleoptera (Scarabaeidae), Triaenops persicus hunts Lepidoptera, but Heteroptera, Coleoptera (Scarabaeidae) and Orthoptera too, while Triaenops parvus is a specialist in hunting Lepidoptera. Rhinopoma muscatellum hunts mainly Formicoidea, followed by Coleoptera (Melolonthinae) and Heteroptera, Rhinopoma hadramauticum hunts Formicoidea. Lepidoptera of different size, Heteroptera and Coleoptera are the prey of Chaerephon nigeriae. Pipistrellus hanaki has a wide niche breadth as other species of the genus Pipistrellus. In this study Brachycera, Auchenorrhyncha and Coleoptera primarily occurred in its diet. Not yet described species of...
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Effect of urban gradient on composition of bat communities in Central European landscapes.
Kočí, Jakub ; Lučan, Radek (advisor) ; Andreas, Michal (referee)
Bats (Chiroptera) are usually considered as a group greatly endangered by destructing their habitats through the human activity. However, a significant part of bat species at the central Europe use human buildings as shelters, moreover the natural shelters are marginal or unknown in several species. Considering the linkage of the great part of our bat species to the fragmented area and in connection with a long term human influence on the central european landscape we ask whether at least part of our species see human activity through providing proper shelters as positive. Based on the analysis of landscape structure and ruggedness effect on density, diversity and population structure of bat assamblages acquired by standardized mist net captures located in lowlands (elevations below 500 m) of Czech Republic (204 localities, 3585 bats, 22 bat species), we found that even though most of reactions were species specific and few species seemed to be positively associated with urban environments, most of the bat species rely on the broad-leaved forest cover and other natural habitats such as water bodies. The most significant factor influencing sexual segregation for bats was ruggedness of surrounding landscape. Keywords: Bats, Chiroptera, fragmentation, Europe, temperate zone
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Molecular genetic study of the emballonurid bats (Emballonuridae) of the Middle East and adjacent regions
Uvizl, Marek ; Benda, Petr (advisor) ; Vallo, Peter (referee)
The Middle East is occupied by three species of family Emballonuridae which are morfologically divided into several subspecies. Those could be defined only poorly and intraspecific diversity of these species is resolved unsatisfactorily. This is the reason why the molecular genetic analysis, which can revise the diversity on the new unused level, were used in this thesis. Based on data from sequencing of both mitochondrial and nuclear markers the phylogenetic analysis was performed. That analysis adds new information about interspecific and intraspecific relationships among populations of this family in this area. Bats (Chiroptera) of the family Emballonuridae are characterised by tail perforating the uropatagial membrane on its dorsal side in the half of its lenght and by reduction of the phalangi which makes long and narrow wing. The family is widespread circumtropically and is divided into two subfamilies. The subfamily Emballonurinae could be sometimes diveded into two tribes, new-world Diclidurini and old-world Emballonurini. The representatives of the subfamily Taphozoinae occur only in the Old World. Middle East is occupied by three species of this family. Coleura afra inhabits only southern Arabic peninsula and the populations from this area are ranked in subspecies C. a. gallarum....
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Geographic variability in the size of maternity colonies of cave bats
Oppelová, Tereza ; Lučan, Radek (advisor) ; Andreas, Michal (referee)
Main goal of this thesis was to compare geographical variability of sizes of colonies in the relationship with the type of roost of 6 models of originally cave bats species: Greater mouse-eared bat (Myotis myotis), Geoffroy's bat (Myotis emarginatus), Common bent-wing bat (Miniopterus schreibersii), Greater horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum), Lesser horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus hipposideros) a Mediterranean horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus euryale). The selected data set was also analyzed the possible influence of the composition of land cover in roosts around the variability of the size of the colonies. Based on compilation of literature and active communication with regional bat-monitoring coordinators, entries about size of colonies from 2 603 locations in 24 countries of Europe were collected. 1 952 entries were from roosts in buildings and 651 from caves. Based on statistical analysis, conclusive influence of type of roost on size of colonies by M. schreibersii, M. myotis a R. hipposideros was discovered. While in M. schreibersii and M. myotis are human colonies in smaller buildings, in R. hipposideros by contrast, they are larger. Simultaneously, north-west gradient in geographical distribution of maternal bat- colonies in dependence on type of roost (caves vs. buildings): in southern areas...
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Effect of habitat fragmentation on bat ecology
Kočí, Jakub ; Lučan, Radek (advisor) ; Hořák, David (referee)
Habitat fragmentation poses one of main threats to biodiversity. Bats (Chiroptera) serve as an important group of bioindicators. Habitat disturbance can induce different answers among them, especially in a tropical forest where bats provide important ecosystem functions such as seed dispersal and plant pollination. Difference between their reactions can be seen between different biomes: Negative influence to the species richness can be expected in a tropical forest with high degree of endemism whereas in temperate zone with long-term human influence to the landscape composition bats might have partially adapted to patchiness of the landscape and fragmentation could have locally positive effect. This thesis aims to summarize current knowledge of how fragmentation influences bat ecology with special aim for the difference between various biomes. Key words: Bats, Chiroptera, fragmentation, neotropics, paleotropics, Europe, temperate zone
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