Fine-scale maternal structure and high nuclear connectivity in the French populations of the Geoffroy’s Bat ( Myotis emarginatus )
Abstract
The Geoffroy’s bat ( Myotis emarginatus ) is a sedentary species increasingly threatened by habitat alteration. Here, we assessed genetic diversity and population structure in 760 individuals from 18 French maternity colonies using 34 microsatellite markers and mitochondrial D-loop sequences. Mitochondrial data revealed subtle regional structure, consistent with female philopatry, and a broader phylogeographic split between Western Europe and the Greater Middle East, reflecting historical isolation. In contrast, microsatellites showed high nuclear diversity and minimal population structure across France, with weak isolation by distance and kin clustering, indicating extensive male-mediated gene flow. Moreover, demographic inference suggested population stability, consistent with both marker types. This nuclear homogeneity and demographic stability are strikingly similar to the patterns observed in Rhinolophus ferrumequinum populations sampled at the same colonies, suggesting that reproductive aggregation can maintain connectivity even in sedentary species. Overall, M. emarginatus functions as a largely connected population at the national scale, although localized maternal lineages suggest the presence of functional phylopatric units around key maternity sites that warrant protection. Future genome-wide studies could refine conservation strategies by integrating fine-scale female philopatry with male-mediated connectivity.
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BibTeX
@misc{blineau2026finescale,
title = {{Fine-scale maternal structure and high nuclear connectivity in the French populations of the Geoffroy’s Bat ( Myotis emarginatus )}},
author = {S Blineau and O Tournayre and P Chevret and Stéphanie Jacquet and R Leblois and L Belateche and J Duhayer and M Leuchtmann and A Pirog and C Régis and C Kaerle and Dominique Pontier},
howpublished = {HAL},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.64898/2026.10.05.756748},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05843690v1},
note = {CC BY-NC 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - Fine-scale maternal structure and high nuclear connectivity in the French populations of the Geoffroy’s Bat ( Myotis emarginatus )
AU - S Blineau
AU - O Tournayre
AU - P Chevret
AU - Stéphanie Jacquet
AU - R Leblois
AU - L Belateche
AU - J Duhayer
AU - M Leuchtmann
AU - A Pirog
AU - C Régis
AU - C Kaerle
AU - Dominique Pontier
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/05
PB - HAL
DO - 10.64898/2026.10.05.756748
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05843690v1
AB - The Geoffroy’s bat ( Myotis emarginatus ) is a sedentary species increasingly threatened by habitat alteration. Here, we assessed genetic diversity and population structure in 760 individuals from 18 French maternity colonies using 34 microsatellite markers and mitochondrial D-loop sequences. Mitochondrial data revealed subtle regional structure, consistent with female philopatry, and a broader phylogeographic split between Western Europe and the Greater Middle East, reflecting historical isolation. In contrast, microsatellites showed high nuclear diversity and minimal population structure across France, with weak isolation by distance and kin clustering, indicating extensive male-mediated gene flow. Moreover, demographic inference suggested population stability, consistent with both marker types. This nuclear homogeneity and demographic stability are strikingly similar to the patterns observed in Rhinolophus ferrumequinum populations sampled at the same colonies, suggesting that reproductive aggregation can maintain connectivity even in sedentary species. Overall, M. emarginatus functions as a largely connected population at the national scale, although localized maternal lineages suggest the presence of functional phylopatric units around key maternity sites that warrant protection. Future genome-wide studies could refine conservation strategies by integrating fine-scale female philopatry with male-mediated connectivity.
ER -