Data from: Habitat use, but not gene flow, is influenced by human activities in two ecotypes of Egyptian fruit bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus)

Understanding the ecological, behavioral and evolutionary response of organisms to changing environments is of primary importance in a human-altered world. It is crucial to elucidate how human activities alter gene flow and what are the consequences for the genetic structure of a species. We studied two lineages of the Egyptian fruit bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus) throughout the contact zone between mesic and arid ecozones in the Middle East to evaluate the species' response to the growing proportion of human-altered habitats in the desert. We integrated population genetics, morphometrics and movement ecology to analyze population structure, morphological variation and habitat use from GPS- or radio-tagged individuals from both desert and Mediterranean areas. We classified the spatial distribution and environmental stratification by describing physical-geographical conditions and land cover. We analyzed this information to estimate patch occupancy and used an isolation by resistance approach to model gene flow patterns. Our results suggest that lineages from desert and Mediterranean habitats, despite their admixture, are isolated by environment and by adaptation supporting their classification as ecotypes. We found a positive effect of human-altered habitats on patch occupancy and habitat use of fruit bats by increasing the availability of roosting and foraging areas. While this commensalism promotes the distribution of fruit bats throughout the Middle East, gene flow between colonies has not been altered by human activities. This discrepancy between habitat use and gene flow patterns may, therefore, be explained by the breeding system of the species and modifications of natal dispersal patterns.

在人类活动干扰的当今世界，厘清生物对环境变化的生态、行为与演化响应是至关重要的研究主题；阐明人类活动如何改变基因流以及其对物种种群遗传结构的影响，同样具有关键意义。本研究以中东地区湿润-干旱生态交错带内的埃及果蝠（Egyptian fruit bat，*Rousettus aegyptiacus*）的两个支系为研究对象，旨在评估该物种对沙漠中人类改造生境占比持续升高的响应模式。研究整合了种群遗传学、形态测量学与运动生态学方法，对来自沙漠与地中海区域的、经GPS或无线电项圈标记的个体开展种群结构、形态变异与生境利用模式分析，通过描述自然地理条件与土地覆被类型对空间分布格局与环境分层特征进行分类，基于上述信息估算斑块占用情况，并采用抗性隔离（isolation by resistance）方法构建基因流模式模型。研究结果显示，尽管沙漠与地中海生境的果蝠支系存在基因渗入现象，但二者仍因环境与适应性分化形成遗传隔离，支持将其划分为生态型（ecotype）。研究发现，人类改造生境通过提升栖息与觅食场所的可获得性，对果蝠的斑块占用与生境利用产生了正向影响；尽管这种偏利共生（commensalism）关系促进了果蝠在中东地区的分布扩张，但人类活动并未改变不同蝠群间的基因流水平。因此，生境利用与基因流模式之间的这种不一致性，可通过该物种的繁殖系统与出生扩散模式的改变得到解释。