{
  "abstract": "Spotted bats (Euderma maculatum) are cryptic (nocturnal, volant, and roost solitarily) and thus their biology remains largely undescribed. Only 35 specimens were known to science before the mid-1960s. Hence, they are ideal candidates for genetic studies to uncover population genetic diversity and structure, and thereby inform conservation. We analyzed nuclear microsatellite loci (N = 17) and mitochondrial control region sequences from 121 individuals spanning ancient (up to 2,100 years BP), historical (1904–1991), and contemporary (1994–2025) timeframes across the species’ range in western North America, from Canada to Mexico. Ancient specimens shared haplotypes with modern individuals from the same locality, suggesting long-term population continuity. Microsatellite data revealed isolation-by-distance and a weak genetic cline from the genetically diverse U.S. Southwest core population into the less diverse northern range, consistent with male-biased dispersal and post-Pleistocene range expansion. Mitochondrial data showed stronger regional structure, with distinct haplogroups in the north, central, and southern populations. At a rare cave aggregation, analyses of fine‑scale relatedness identified father–son pairs and a male‑biased sex ratio, suggesting swarming behavior. Our integrative approach across temporal scales highlights the conservation importance of preserving genetically diverse core populations, vulnerable leading-edge populations, and isolated relict lineages.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "School of Forestry, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, United States of America",
    "Pathogen and Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, United States of America",
    "Center for Conservation Genomics, Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America",
    "Wildlife Conservation Society Canada, Kaslo, British Columbia, Canada"
  ],
  "article_type": "Research Article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 8,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Faith M. Walker"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Daniel E. Sanchez"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Michael G. Campana"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Robert C. Fleischer"
    },
    {
      "name": "Jeffrey T. Foster"
    },
    {
      "name": "Colin J. Sobek"
    },
    {
      "name": "Cori L. Lausen"
    },
    {
      "name": "Carol L. Chambers"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/ar3np1mx8gt84.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1371/journal.pone.0358330",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "ar3np1mx8gt84",
  "issns": [
    "1932-6203"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0358330",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "journal",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "1311|Genetic diversity and population structure"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Biogeography/Phylogeography"
    ],
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      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Conservation biology/Conservation genetics"
    ],
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      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Ecology/Ecological metrics/Species diversity"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Evolutionary biology/Population genetics"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Evolutionary biology/Population genetics/Phylogeography"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Genetics/Conservation genetics"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Genetics/Heredity/Genetic mapping/Haplotypes"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Genetics/Population genetics"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Genetics/Population genetics/Phylogeography"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Organisms/Eukaryota/Animals/Vertebrates/Amniotes/Mammals/Bats"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Paleontology/Paleogenetics"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Population biology/Population genetics"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Population biology/Population genetics/Phylogeography"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Zoology/Animals/Vertebrates/Amniotes/Mammals/Bats"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Earth sciences/Geography/Biogeography/Phylogeography"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Earth sciences/Paleontology/Paleogenetics"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Ecology and environmental sciences/Biogeography/Phylogeography"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Ecology and environmental sciences/Conservation science/Conservation biology/Conservation genetics"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Ecology and environmental sciences/Ecology/Ecological metrics/Species diversity"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/People and places/Geographical locations/North America/Mexico"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7220851369",
  "pdf_url": "https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0358330&type=printable",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-07",
  "publisher": "Public Library of Science",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/ar3np1mx8gt84.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:30Z",
      "native_id": "10.1371/journal.pone.0358330",
      "source": "plos",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0358330"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "plos:conservation biology",
      "subfield": "ecology"
    },
    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "plos:evolutionary biology",
      "subfield": "evolutionary-biology"
    },
    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "plos:genetics",
      "subfield": "genetics-genomics"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Conservation genetics of the spotted bat: Insights from ancient, historical, and modern samples",
  "title_text": "Conservation genetics of the spotted bat: Insights from ancient, historical, and modern samples",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:17:30Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/ar3np1mx8gt84",
  "venue": "PLOS One",
  "versions": []
}