Land cover change is a threat to wildlife globally. It may also impact the gut microbiome harbored by wildlife, with implications for their health, conservation, and One Health more broadly. Bats are a diverse group of mammals that can be found in a range of habitats, with differing degrees of anthropogenic disturbance. Here, we analyzed the V3–V4 region of 16S rRNA from fecal samples from 109 individual little free-tail bats (Mops pumilus) in northeastern Eswatini. We aimed to describe the species composition, richness, and community structure of the gut microbiome and identify and potentially pathogenic bacteria that M. pumilus might harbor. We then measured the effects of host characteristics, land cover composition and configuration on the species richness, phylogenetic diversity, prevalence of potentially pathogenic genera, and community composition of the gut microbiome. We found high levels of individual variability and no significant differences in species richness, phylogenetic diversity, or community composition based on sex, age, or reproductive condition. We detected five potentially pathogenic bacterial genera, four at high prevalence: Mycoplasma (88 %), Rickettsia (36 %), Salmonella (34 %), Bartonella (23 %), and Campylobacter (4 %). The co-occurrence of two to five of these genera within an individual was common. Using a subsample of 83 individuals captured at 17 distinct roosts, we found a small influence of fine-scale land cover on the community composition but none on the richness or phylogenetic diversity of the gut microbiome. We did not find associations between land cover composition, configuration, or host characteristics with the prevalence of potentially pathogenic genera. Our results demonstrate the complex influences on bat gut microbiome, while the high prevalence of potential pathogens shows the importance of continued research and surveillance.
Vegetative growth is a two-phase process involving slow cell division followed by potentially rapid cell expansion. In seasonal climates, trees adjust these developmental sequences to exploit favourable growth periods optimally. However, elucidating the precise mechanistic links between environmental drivers and developmental processes in trees remains challenging. Detailed analyses of apical bud organogenesis, and phenology, are used to study the coexistence of the evergreen Quercus ilex L. subsp. ballota (Desf.) Samp. and the deciduous Q. faginea Lam. at a Mediterranean site where both co-occur. Phenological and organogenetic patterns proved similarly highly synchronised in both species, but bud burst was later in Q. ilex than in Q. faginea. Nevertheless, in both species, organogenesis commenced in early spring (bud swelling or bud burst) and had finished by mid-September, with bud development completed by November. Winter buds contained fully preformed embryonic shoots with well-developed male inflorescences and initiated female inflorescence meristems. The results suggest that organogenesis and shoot extension may compete for resources during summer, potentially explaining the alternating pattern of years of vigorous primary growth observed in Q. ilex but not in Q. faginea. Moreover, the unexpectedly early initiation of female inflorescence meristems in both species – relative to key phases of bud and fruit development – suggests that the advanced stages of fruit development described in mast years may overlap with the initiation of inflorescence meristems and the formation of new buds. This could explain the occurrence of smaller buds and reduced flowering in the year following mast events – a pattern not observed in years of normal fruiting.
Island ecosystems often harbour unique and vulnerable species, yet many remain poorly documented. In the Azores archipelago, two extant bat species are known to occur: the endemic Nyctalus azoreum and the Macaronesian endemic Pipistrellus maderensis. On Flores Island, part of the remote western group, only unidentified pipistrelle bats had previously been recorded. Here, we combined acoustic monitoring and genetic analysis to assess the occurrence, identity, and ecological patterns of bats on Flores. A pipistrelle specimen was genetically analysed, confirming its identity as P. maderensis and providing the first publicly available genetic reference for the Azores. Acoustic surveys at ten sites detected both species. Pipistrellus maderensis occurred across the island and accounted for 99.6 % of recorded bat passes. Nyctalus azoreum was confirmed for the first time on the island but showed very low activity and was detected only at a few sites in the central and southern parts of Flores. Activity patterns were consistent with nocturnal foraging, with no diurnal activity recorded during the study period. The detection of N. azoreum at previously sampled sites suggests that earlier non-detections may reflect low detectability rather than true absence. These findings improve knowledge of bat distribution in the Azores and highlight the importance of continued monitoring and conservation of small island bat populations.
Understanding reproductive phenology in tropical rainforests is important for predicting forest dynamics, ecosystem processes, and forest vulnerability. Long-term plant phenology datasets from tropical rainforests are relatively rare, particularly in Oceania. Here, canopy observations collected by a single observer using a forest gondola system generated a 15-year weekly flowering and fruiting dataset of 132 species in the Wet Tropics of Queensland, Australia. Using this dataset, we investigated seasonal and long-term reproductive phenology at the community and species level. At the community level, flowering was strongly seasonal and concentrated in the wet season, while fruiting showed weaker seasonality and was generally concentrated in the dry season. The timing of peak flowering and fruiting activity differed between abiotic and biotic groups. Over the 15-year study period, some species advanced or delayed flowering and fruiting. Flowering timing was largely stable across both biotically and abiotically dispersed species, with most species showing no significant change. Changes in fruiting timing were more common among biotically dispersed species, including both advances and delays, whereas most abiotically dispersed species showed no significant change. Annual cycles were most common in flowering, whereas supra-annual cycles were predominant in fruiting. At the species level, reproductive activity occurred throughout the year but varied markedly in timing, with many species displaying supra-annual flowering and fruiting. Supra-annual flowering was more likely in biotically dispersed species, while supra-annual fruiting was more likely in species with larger seeds. Finally, we present the first comprehensive phenological calendar for 81 tree species in the Wet Tropics rainforests of Queensland. These findings provide a foundation for future ecological research and restoration practice in the region.
Frugivorous bats of the genus Vampyrodes (Phyllostomidae) play a vital ecological role through seed dispersal and habitat maintenance in Neotropical forests. However, they are increasingly threatened by habitat loss and climate change. This study examined the current and potential future distributions of V. major and V. caraccioli to assess their ecological requirements and evaluate conservation challenges. We compiled occurrence records from literature and databases, selecting relevant climatic variables to develop environmental niche models using the Maxent algorithm. Model performance was optimized by comparing multiple parameter combinations and validated through established statistical criteria. V. major shows relatively stable climatic suitability areas under both low-emission (SSP1-2.6) and high-emission (SSP5-8.5) scenarios, suggesting broader climatic niche breadth. By contrast, V. caraccioli faces substantial losses of climatically suitable areas – up to 50 % in the most extreme emission scenario – especially in the Amazon basin. The projected reduction of climatic suitability within protected areas further highlights the vulnerability of V. caraccioli, raising concerns about their long-term viability and the potential disruptions to seed dispersal networks. Conversely, while V. major retains climatically suitable areas in protected zones, ongoing deforestation and fragmentation remain significant threats. These findings underscore the importance of formulating differentiated conservation strategies for each species. Specifically, bolstering corridor networks, preserving intact forest patches, and developing climate change mitigation policies are critical to safeguarding these bats' ecological functions. By providing a clearer understanding of present and future distributional patterns, this study aims to guide more effective, science-based management of Vampyrodes species across their geographic range.
