Ecology and physiological adaptation strategy of migratory (Vespertilio murinus, Pipistrellus nathusii) and resident (Myotis dasycneme) bat species (Mammalia Chiroptera) in the fauna of the Urals (Russia)

• Published in: Nature Conservation Research: Заповедная наука Vol. 10; no. 2
• Main Authors: Kovalchuk, Liudmila A., Mishchenko, Vladimir A., Chernaya, Liudmila V., Mikshevich, Nikolay V.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Russian
• Published: 2025
• ISSN: 2500-008X
• DOI: 10.24189/ncr.2025.013

Under modern conditions of global extreme climate change and spatiotemporal redistribution of natural resources, migratory bat species are vulnerable and represent an important object for conservation. In planning conservation activities, the International Union for Conservation of Nature has shown that up to 80% of bats require research to preserve their species diversity and the sustainability of populations. The migration of bats is an energy-consuming process under conditions of long seasonal flights. The objects of the study were samples of underyearlings (subadultus) from populations of bats living in the Ilmen State Nature Reserve (Russia). The study was aimed to assess the pool of free amino acids in the blood plasma of migratory and resident bat species, namely Vespertilio murinus, Pipistrellus nathusii, and Myotis dasycneme (Mammalia Chiroptera). An increased pool of free amino acids was shown in the blood plasma of the migratory Pipistrellus nathusii (1614.7–3781.7 µmol/L) and Vespertilio murinus (1206.8–1834.3 µmol/L), in comparison with underyearlings (subadultus) of the resident species Myotis dasycneme (790.4–1079.0 µmol/L), providing substrate support for activated metabolic processes during the formation of energy and plastic systems during periods of long autumn migrations. The percentage of metabolic groups of free amino acids in the blood plasma of the migratory species Vespertilio murinus, Pipistrellus nathusii, and the resident species Myotis dasycneme (glycogenic, essential, non-essential, sulfur-containing, aromatic and with a branched carbon chain) shows the presence of species specificity (p < 0.05). The absence of statistically significant differences (p > 0.05) between Vespertilio murinus and Pipistrellus nathusii in the percentage of branched carbon chain amino acids and aromatic amino acids indicates the unity of specific pathways metabolism in migratory bats. The blood plasma of migratory bat species has a high concentration of the essential amino acid arginine, which is involved in the formation of muscle fibers and in increasing the rate of healing of wounds, bone and tendon injuries, which undoubtedly helps prepare animals for long flights to wintering areas. Using the method of multivariate analysis of principal components, the specificity of free amino acids in blood plasma, modifying the main metabolic flows in the body of migratory and resident species of bats, was visualised, which confirmed the results of analysis of variance (p < 0.05). A clear spatial separation in the first principal component of the migratory Pipistrellus nathusii, Vespertilio murinus, and resident Myotis dasycneme species was revealed. Research of the physiological mechanisms of maintaining an adaptive migration strategy and population resistance of bat species to biotic and abiotic environmental factors is relevant for solving problems of biodiversity conservation and rational use of animal resources. The results of the research can be recommended in a long-term monitoring system when developing environmental protection measures and assessing the sustainability of natural populations of chiropteran fauna of the Urals.