ABSTRACT Title of Dissertation: CONSEQUENCES OF SEXUAL SELECTION WITHIN AND BETWEEN SPECIES OF PHYLLOSTOMID BATS Danielle Margret Adams, Doctor of Philosophy, 2019 Dissertation directed by: Professor Gerald Wilkinson, Department of Biology To understand the myriad effects of sexual selection in the evolution and diversification of life, we must investigate variation within and among diverse animal taxa. Here, I study sexual selection in phyllostomid bats (Family Phyllostomidae), a diverse radiation comprised of 216 species that vary widely in their social behavior and roosting ecology, but whose mating behavior is largely unknown. First, I investigate whether socio-ecological traits predict variation in the intensity of sexual selection among phyllostomid species. In the absence of behavioral data, I use measures of sexual dimorphism as an indicator of precopulatory sexual selection and testes size as a proxy for postcopulatory competition. Taking a phylogenetic approach, I find that roosting aggregation size, but not roost structure permanence, explains family-wide variation in both pre- and postcopulatory sexual selection. Next, I examine the distribution of extra-group paternity in a single species, Phyllostomus hastatus, whose social mating system of female-defense polygyny has been well described. Through molecular parentage assignment of 241 offspring from three wild colonies in Trinidad, West Indies, I find that most harem-holding males are unable to monopolize mating in their social groups, resulting in paternity by extra-group males. Furthermore, variation in the rate of extra-group paternity is associated with harem male body condition as well as the composition of the female group. Finally, I investigate the variation in a male-specific chemical signal found in P. hastatus, which has been implicated in male-male competition and female choice of this species. Results show that in addition to individual variation, harem males have significantly different chemical profiles from males found roosting in all-male groups (bachelors). Through the examination of both family-wide and species-specific patterns, we can broaden our understanding of how sexual selection has contributed to the diversity within the Phyllostomidae. CONSEQUENCES OF SEXUAL SELECTION WITHIN AND BETWEEN SPECIES OF PHYLLOSTOMID BATS by Danielle Margret Adams Dissertation submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate School of the University of Maryland, College Park, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy 2019 Advisory Committee: Professor Gerald Wilkinson, Chair Professor Gerald Borgia Professor Karen Carleton Assistant Professor Heidi Fisher Associate Professor Jeffery Shultz, Dean's Representative © Copyright by Danielle Margret Adams 2019 Preface This dissertation includes previously published work. Chapter three, Male scent gland signals mating status in greater spear-nosed bats, Phyllostomus hastatus, was previously published as "Adams, D. M., Y. Li, and G. S. Wilkinson. 2018. Male Scent Gland Signals Mating Status in Greater Spear-Nosed Bats, Phyllostomus hastatus. Journal of Chemical Ecology, 44:975-986." DMA conceived the study, collected samples, conducted analyses, and drafted the manuscript. YL advised sample collection procedures and performed the gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. GSW contributed to the design, analysis and editing. Chapter one, Patterns of sexual dimorphism and mating systems in New World leaf-nosed bats (Phyllostomidae), is submitted for publication as part of a book, the current citation is as follows: Adams, D.M., Nicolay, C., and Wilkinson, G.S. (in press) Patterns of sexual dimorphism and mating systems. Phyllostomid Bats, A Unique Mammalian Radiation. (T.H. Fleming, L. Davalos, and M. Mello, eds.) Chicago University Press, Chicago. DMA contributed to idea development, data collection and analysis, and writing of the manuscript. GWS developed the initial idea, collected data, assisted with analyses, and edited the manuscript. CN contributed data and edited the manuscript. ii Dedication In loving memory of my grandmother, Hedwig Tucker, whose fruit bat story will always be one of my favorites. iii Acknowledgements It has been a long haul and I am very grateful for all the support I have received along the way. I would like to thank the members of the Wilkinson Lab, particularly the ringleader himself, Dr. Jerry Wilkinson, for his guidance and persistent optimism. Dr. Kim Paczolt has been a wonderful mentor and friend, who was always willing to help me troubleshoot problems. Dr. Ashely Nazario-Toole, Edward Hurme, and the other past and present members of the lab have also provided valuable advice and feedback over the years. Collection of the field data would not have been possible without the help of a few intrepid souls: Anika Ross, Sally Yannuzi, and Jenny Schefski, as well as former labmates Dr. Bea Mao, and Dr. Gerry Carter. Back in the lab, Julia Clark was a tremendous help with the genotyping of the Guanapo bats. I would like to thank my past and present committee members, Drs. Gerald Borgia, Karen Carleton, Robert Fleischer, Heidi Fisher, Cynthia Moss, and Jeffery Schultz, for their feedback and advice along the way. I would also like to thank Dr. Yue Li for facilitating my exploration of chemical signaling. I am fortunate to have been a part of the vibrant BEES student community, with a special thanks to Noor White, Grace Capshaw, and Daniel Escobar-Camacho for their camaraderie and comic relief. Finally, I am eternally grateful to my husband, Damien Tinney and my family, Henry, Ramona, and Adam Adams, who have provided unconditional love and support. iv This work was supported financially through grants provided by the American Society of Mammalogists, Society for the Study of Evolution, Animal Behavior Society, the Cosmos Club Foundation, and the Devra Kleiman Scholarship. v Table of Contents Preface ........................................................................................................................... ii Dedication .................................................................................................................... iii Acknowledgements ...................................................................................................... iv Table of Contents ......................................................................................................... vi List of Tables ............................................................................................................. viii List of Figures ............................................................................................................... x Introduction ................................................................................................................... 1 Chapter 1: Patterns of sexual dimorphism and mating systems in New World leaf- nosed bats (Phyllostomidae) ......................................................................................... 7 Abstract ..................................................................................................................... 7 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 8 Methods................................................................................................................... 12 Data Collection ................................................................................................... 12 Statistical analyses .............................................................................................. 16 Results ..................................................................................................................... 17 Patterns of dimorphism ....................................................................................... 17 Effect of roosting ecology on sexual dimorphism and testis size ....................... 19 Discussion ............................................................................................................... 20 Dimorphism as a signature of precopulatory selection ....................................... 20 Testes mass as a signature of postcopulatory selection ...................................... 25 Other consequences of sexual selection: signaling and mate choice .................. 29 Conclusion .............................................................................................................. 34 Acknowledgements ................................................................................................. 35 Tables ...................................................................................................................... 36 Figures..................................................................................................................... 38 Chapter 2: Male condition and group heterogeneity predict extra-group paternity in a Neotropical bat ............................................................................................................ 45 Abstract ................................................................................................................... 45 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 46 Methods................................................................................................................... 51 Study Population and Sample Collection ..........................................................