MORPHOLOGICAL DIFFERENCES AMONG WESTERN LONG-EARED MYOTIS (MYOTIS EVOTIS) POPULATIONS IN DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENTS

摘要: We compared the external morphology of western long-eared myotis (Myotis evotis) living in mountain (cool, wet) and prairie (warm, dry) environments southern Alberta to test whether flight permits genetic exchange between populations thereby limiting divergence morphological traits. measured size body (forearm length mass), ears, wings for males females. Ears were significantly larger bats mountains, suggesting that there is limited gene flow despite their geographic proximity, adaptation differences aridity or foraging habitat. However, was similar environments, either M. evotis possesses an ecologically flexible type extremity are result environmentally induced phenotypic plasticity. Within females than all morphometrics. degree dimorphism populations, indicating not different thermoregulatory needs these populations.