Multiple refugia, post-glacial dispersal and strong isolation by distance around the Mediterranean Sea: genetic structure of the long-fingered bat (Myotis capaccinii)
Abstract
The genetic structure and recent evolutionary history of the long-fingered bat, MyotiscapacciniiBonaparte, 1837, have not previously been investigated across the entire species' range. We combined a maternally inherited mitochondrial marker (cytochrome b) with biparentally inherited nuclear microsatellites from up to 235 individuals from 21 sites, across nine countries. Mitochondrial DNA revealed three major clades: Clade B (Asia Minor) and two sister clades, C1 (Western Europe, likely of Italian/Iberian refugial origin) and C2 (Eastern Europe, likely of Balkan refugial origin). These lineages may reflect major isolation events during quaternary glaciation cycles. Postglacial recolonisation occurred via east–west expansions from these refugia, producing contact zones in the Balkans (B–C2) and possibly Italy (C1–C2). Nuclear markers revealed a highly structured population with strong isolation by distance, shaped both by historical recolonisation routes and by contemporary barriers such as seas (isolating island populations, e.g. Mallorca) and habitat discontinuities (e.g. the Po Basin). However, the mitochondrial structure is not reflected in the nuclear genome. Genetic data support M. capaccinii as a monotypic species, with no evidence for previously described subspecies based on morphological characters or fur colour. Conservation implications are substantial: populations, especially in Western Europe, are declining under habitat degradation and disturbance. The strong population structure and restricted contemporary gene flow highlight the species' vulnerability, underscoring the need to preserve every colony.
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BibTeX
@article{viglino2026multiple,
title = {{Multiple refugia, post-glacial dispersal and strong isolation by distance around the Mediterranean Sea: genetic structure of the long-fingered bat (Myotis capaccinii)}},
author = {Andrea Viglino and Romolo Caniglia and Marco Galaverni and Elizabeth M Hemond and Serena E Dool and Pavel Hulva and Danilo Russo and Aritz Ruiz-Gonzalez and Elena Papadatou and Carlos Ibáñez and David Garcia and Emmanuel Cosson and Manuel Ruedi and Mauro Mucedda and Adriano Martinoli and Raşit Bilgin and Javier Juste and Sebastien J Puechmaille},
journal = {Acta Chiropterologica},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3161/15081109acc2026.28.2.018},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05775385v1},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Multiple refugia, post-glacial dispersal and strong isolation by distance around the Mediterranean Sea: genetic structure of the long-fingered bat (Myotis capaccinii)
AU - Andrea Viglino
AU - Romolo Caniglia
AU - Marco Galaverni
AU - Elizabeth M Hemond
AU - Serena E Dool
AU - Pavel Hulva
AU - Danilo Russo
AU - Aritz Ruiz-Gonzalez
AU - Elena Papadatou
AU - Carlos Ibáñez
AU - David Garcia
AU - Emmanuel Cosson
AU - Manuel Ruedi
AU - Mauro Mucedda
AU - Adriano Martinoli
AU - Raşit Bilgin
AU - Javier Juste
AU - Sebastien J Puechmaille
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/02
JO - Acta Chiropterologica
DO - 10.3161/15081109acc2026.28.2.018
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05775385v1
AB - The genetic structure and recent evolutionary history of the long-fingered bat, MyotiscapacciniiBonaparte, 1837, have not previously been investigated across the entire species' range. We combined a maternally inherited mitochondrial marker (cytochrome b) with biparentally inherited nuclear microsatellites from up to 235 individuals from 21 sites, across nine countries. Mitochondrial DNA revealed three major clades: Clade B (Asia Minor) and two sister clades, C1 (Western Europe, likely of Italian/Iberian refugial origin) and C2 (Eastern Europe, likely of Balkan refugial origin). These lineages may reflect major isolation events during quaternary glaciation cycles. Postglacial recolonisation occurred via east–west expansions from these refugia, producing contact zones in the Balkans (B–C2) and possibly Italy (C1–C2). Nuclear markers revealed a highly structured population with strong isolation by distance, shaped both by historical recolonisation routes and by contemporary barriers such as seas (isolating island populations, e.g. Mallorca) and habitat discontinuities (e.g. the Po Basin). However, the mitochondrial structure is not reflected in the nuclear genome. Genetic data support M. capaccinii as a monotypic species, with no evidence for previously described subspecies based on morphological characters or fur colour. Conservation implications are substantial: populations, especially in Western Europe, are declining under habitat degradation and disturbance. The strong population structure and restricted contemporary gene flow highlight the species' vulnerability, underscoring the need to preserve every colony.
SN - 1508-1109
ER -