Subtle population structuring found within northern long-eared bats (Myotis septentrionalis) inhabiting mainland Atlantic Canada

Abstract

Delineating the connections between seasonal sites is required to effectively manage migratory species. One method to characterize the connectivity among populations is to assess the genetic similarity between individuals sampled from various seasonal sites. Combining maternally and biparentally inherited markers can further identify how movement behaviour may differ between sexes. For this study mitochondrial and microsatellite markers were used to assess genetic connectivity between seasonal sites used by the northern long-eared bats. Subtle population structuring found across mainland Atlantic Canada was not linked to sample site locations or spatial distance, suggesting that historical or behavioural processes may be driving population structuring. Analysis conducted on seasonal sites separately, determined that movement behaviour differs between male and female bats. Females are philopatric towards summering sites while male dispersal maintains connectivity between and within seasonal sites.