An integrative approach to detect subtle trophic niche differentiation in the sympatric trawling bat species Myotis dasycneme and Myotis daubentonii

Bats are well known for species richness and ecological diversity thus they provide a good opportunity to study relationships and interaction between species. To assess interactions we consider distinct traits which are likely to be triggered by niche shape and evolutionary processes. We present data on the trophic niche differentiation between two sympatric European trawling bat species, Myotis dasycneme and M. daubentonii, incorporating a wide spectrum of methodological approaches. We measure morphological traits involved in foraging and prey handling performance including bite force, weight lifting capacity and wing morphology. We then measure resulting prey consumption using both morphological and molecular diet analysis. These species closely resemble each other in morphological traits however, subtle but significant differences were apparent in bite force and lift capacity which are related to differences in basic body and head size. Both morphological and molecular diet analyses ...