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Latitudinal gradient and species traits determine bat distributions across Europe
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  • Katarina Meramo,
  • Miika Kotila,
  • Simon Gaultier,
  • Piia Lundberg,
  • Miina Suutari,
  • Otso Ovaskainen,
  • Thomas Lilley
Katarina Meramo
University of Helsinki

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Miika Kotila
University of Turku
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Simon Gaultier
University of Turku
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Piia Lundberg
University of Helsinki
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Miina Suutari
Finnish Museum of Natural History
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Otso Ovaskainen
University of Jyväskylä
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Thomas Lilley
Finnish Museum of Natural History
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Abstract

Climatic and anthropogenic impacts have determined the extinction of species in the past and are also the main factors shaping their present distribution ranges. Geographic range size – a biogeographic variable commonly used to assess population abundance, survival, and conservation status – varies with latitude. According to Rapoport’s rule, range size typically increases with latitude in mammals. Bats differ from other groups of mammals with regards to numerous morphological, physiological, and behavioral adaptations of sensory and motor systems. Nevertheless, bats are a suitable group for evaluating the rule because they show a strong latitudinal gradient in species richness. Our aim was to investigate the distribution patterns of European bat fauna based on two biogeographic variables 1) geographical range size and 2) average latitude of their distribution range, and investigate whether species traits characteristic to bats, mobility and hibernation, are associated with variation in range size and latitudinal distribution. We collected geographical data and species trait data on 44 European bat species from the literature. We discovered that range size and average latitude of distribution range follows Rapoport’s rule to a high degree in bats. Additionally, traits related to hibernation and movement behavior, more specifically hibernation breadth (indicating how widely a species utilizes different types of hibernacula) and mobility (based on seasonal movements), are associated with large distribution ranges and could affect northerly ranges in European bats. Range size does not only assist in directing conservation of threatened species, but it also provides insights into fundamental processes such as dispersal and adaptation. Our results emphasize that knowledge on the relationship between traits and species distribution is important for understanding current distribution patterns and could work as background information for predictive models on the effect of future landscape changes.
04 Sep 2023Submitted to Ecography
05 Sep 2023Submission Checks Completed
05 Sep 2023Assigned to Editor
05 Sep 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
07 Sep 2023Reviewer(s) Assigned