Lek-associated movement of a putative Ebolavirus reservoir, the Hammer-headed fruit bat (Hypsignathus monstrosus), in northern Republic of Congo

• DOI: 10.1101/694687
• Publication Date: 2019-07-08T16:35:14Z
• Authors: Sarah H. Olson; Gerard Bounga; Alain Ondzie; Trent Bushmaker; Stephanie N. Seifert; Eeva Kuisma; Dylan W. Taylor; Vincent J. Munster; Chris Walzer
• Keywords: 0301 basic medicine; Science; Mating behavior; bats; Pilot Projects; bat; Disease Outbreaks; Ebola virus; 03 medical and health sciences; Chiroptera; Species delimitation; Animals; Humans; Animalia; Chordata; Bat flight; Disease Reservoirs; 0303 health sciences; Q; R; Biodiversity; Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola; Ebolavirus; 3. Good health; Medical risk factors; Pilot studies; Congo; Mammalia; Fruit bats; Medicine; Animal behavior; Research Article

Abstract The biology and ecology of Africa’s largest fruit bat remains largely understudied enigmatic despite at least two highly unusual attributes. acoustic lek mating behavior the hammer-headed ( Hypsignathus monstrosus ) in Congo basin was first described 1970s. Then 2000s, molecular testing implicated this species other bats as potential reservoir hosts for Ebola virus it one only epidemiologically linked to 2008 Luebo, Democratic Republic Congo, outbreak. Here we share findings from pilot study movement using GPS tracking accelerometry units a small preceding radio-tracking trial an apparent lekking site. revealed adult males had high rates nightly visitation site compared females (only visit) that six day-roosted ∼100 m west Libonga, nearest village is ∼1.6 km southwest. Four months later, mid-April 2018, five individual bats, comprised four female, were tracked 306 days, collecting 67 1022 locations. As measured by mean distance proportion locations within 1 (percent visitation), much more closely associated with (mean 1.4 km; 51% than female 5.5 2.2% visitation). Despite sample size, our evidence supports original characterization lek, itself central male movement. Moreover, demonstrates technical feasibility executing future studies on will help fill problematic knowledge gaps about zoonotic spillover risks conservation needs across continent.