Island Life and Interspecific Dynamics Influence Body Size, Distribution and Ecological Niche of Long-Eared Bats

Aims: Island ecosystems represent a paramount opportunity to investigate interspecific interactions and ecological niche dynamics under constrained conditions. This study investigates how insularity and species coexistence influence the spatial distribution, ecological niche differentiation, and morphological adaptations of long-eared bats (Plecotus spp.) in a central area of the Mediterranean. Location: Italy. Taxon: Plecotus auritus, Plecotus austriacus and Plecotus sardus. Methods: We used an integrated approach combining species distribution models, ecological niche analyses, and morphometric comparisons to investigate P. auritus and P. austriacus across the Italian Peninsula and the endemic P. sardus restricted to Sardinia island. Results: A significant niche differentiation among the three species in Sardinia occurred, with P. auritus mostly occurring at high elevations and P. austriacus and P. sardus exhibiting spatial overlap. Insular populations exhibited reduced niche widths. Comparison between insular and mainland populations revealed significant size differences, with insular bats showing large body sizes, particularly P. sardus, which is the largest among the three species. Conclusions: Conservation efforts should prioritise habitat protection and management strategies that account for the unique ecological dynamics of island bat populations. This study highlights the complexity of interspecific interactions and morphological adaptations in insular environments and provides insights into the ecological and evolutionary processes shaping bat communities on Mediterranean islands. Time Period: Current.