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Genetic evidence for sex-biased dispersal and cryptic diversity in the greater horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus ferrumequinum

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Abstract

Dispersal plays an important role in the ecological and evolutionary processes of natural populations. Mating behavior (or mating system) is a critical factor shaping dispersal patterns and extents in social mammals, sometimes driving the evolution of sex-biased dispersal. Using molecular markers with contrasting modes of inheritance (mitochondrial DNA and nuclear microsatellites), we determined the population genetic structure and evolutionary history of the great horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus ferrumequinum inhabiting eleven national parks of South Korea, being known as a biodiversity hotspot. Despite apparent matrilineal structure observed over space, there was weak nuclear geographic structure, suggesting female philopatry with male-biased dispersal. The analyses indicated the signal of nonrandom mating (i.e. inbreeding), which is at least partly due to female’s sedentary lifestyle. The large-scale phylogenetic analysis revealed unexpected deep divergence among three distinct clades (Southwest China, East China, and Northeast Asia including South Korea), suggesting these may possibly represent cryptic species complex in R. ferrumequinum. Our findings of sex differences in dispersal in R. ferrumequinum inform conservation managements to enhance the population connectivity among the national parks through promoting female dispersal. Our study also highlights cryptic species diversity in a temperate bat that should have a priority for conservation.

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Data availability

The mtDNA CR sequences obtained for this study have been deposited in GenBank under the Accession Number MT374769. The partial dataset (distribution of mtDNA haplotypes among sampling localities) from this study is also included in Online Resource (Table A1).

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by a grant from the Korea National Park Research Institute (Project Number: NPRI 2018-39), Korea National Park Service in South Korea. We thank members of the Korea National Park Research Institute for helping to collect samples in the field. We also thank members of the Molecular Ecology and Evolution Laboratory for helpful comments on the manuscript.

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Author notes

  1. Ji Eun Jang and Seo Yeon Byeon have contributed equally.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Molecular Ecology and Evolution Laboratory, Department of Biological Science, Sangji University, Wonju, 26339, Korea

    Ji Eun Jang, Seo Yeon Byeon & Hyuk Je Lee

  2. National Park Research Institute, Korea National Park Service, Wonju, 26441, Korea

    Hye Ri Kim, Ji Young Kim & Hyeon Ho Myeong

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  1. Ji Eun Jang
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Contributions

HRK, HHM and HJL conceived and designed the study; JEJ, SYB, JYK and HJL performed the experiments and analyzed the data; HRK and JYK supported the field expedition for bat sampling; JEJ, SYB and HJL drafted the manuscript, and all authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Hyuk Je Lee.

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All authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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No permits were required for the collection of bat samples since this species is not listed as endangered in Korea.

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Communicated by Karen E. Hodges.

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Jang, J.E., Byeon, S.Y., Kim, H.R. et al. Genetic evidence for sex-biased dispersal and cryptic diversity in the greater horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus ferrumequinum. Biodivers Conserv 30, 847–864 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-021-02120-y

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