Global warming leads to larger bats with a faster life history pace in the long-lived Bechstein's bat (Myotis bechsteinii).

ABSTRACT: Whether species can cope with environmental change depends considerably on their life history. Bats have long lifespans and low reproductive rates which make them vulnerable to environmental changes. Global warming causes Bechstein's bats (Myotis bechsteinii) to produce larger females that face a higher mortality risk. Here, we test whether these larger females are able to offset their elevated mortality risk by adopting a faster life history. We analysed an individual-based 25-year dataset from 331 RFID-tagged wild bats and combine genetic pedigrees with data on survival, reproduction and body size. We find that size-dependent fecundity and age at first reproduction drive the observed increase in mortality. Because larger females have an earlier onset of reproduction and shorter generatio

SUBMITTER: Mundinger C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9271042 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature