Next generation sequencing of fecal DNA reveals the dietary diversity of the widespread insectivorous predator Daubenton's Bat (Myotis daubentonii) in Southwestern Finland.

ABSTRACT: Understanding predator-prey dynamics is a fundamental task in the evaluation of the adaptive capacities of species. However, direct observations or morphological identification of fecal remains do not offer an effective way to study the dietary ecology of elusive species, such as nocturnal insectivorous bats. However, recent advances in molecular techniques have opened a new method for identifying prey species from fecal samples. In this study, we amplified species-specific mitochondrial COI fragments from fecal DNA extractions from 34 individual Daubenton's bats (Myotis daubentonii) collected between 2008 and 2010 from southwestern Finland. Altogether, 128 different species of prey were identified based on a comprehensive local DNA reference library. In our study area, Daubenton's bats fe

SUBMITTER: Vesterinen EJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3842304 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature