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DNA analyses of fecal pellets

Posted by Lutz on 28 Apr 2007 at 01:08 GMT

This is a very inspiring paper. However, I have the impression that DNA analyses of fecal pellets should have provided a much more direct evidence of migratory birds in the diet of these bats. Has such an analysis been attempted?

RE: DNA analyses of fecal pellets

anapopa replied to Lutz on 16 Jun 2007 at 19:27 GMT

Hi Lutz, thanks for your comment. DNA analysis of faeces, which have not been conducted yet, could indeed provide very valuable information, but I think they would not have settled down the debate whether bats eat only feathers or really prey on birds (as small amounts of DNA can also be obtained from feathers). Relative importance of birds to the diet accross different seasons would also be difficult to obtain from DNA analysis. We plan to do DNA analysis, but to get a different type of information, i.e. to identify the bird species that bats are preying on.