| Summary: | peer-reviewed This thesis describes two separate investigations: the first involves the use of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to separate two cryptic species of bats; the second used PCR combined with cloning and sequencing to compare the diets of two bat species living in the same attic. This is the first Irish study to use PCR to analyse the diets of bats and separate between two cryptic species of pipistrelle bats, Pipistrellus pipistrellus and P. pygmaeus. Bat droppings were collected from an attic roost site in Birr, County Offaly and had to be assigned to the correct pipistrelle species prior to dietary analyses. PCR was carried out using speciesspecific primers and PCR products were cloned and sequenced. Results from both gel electrophoresis of PCR products and DNA sequencing indicated the presence of P. pygmaeus only. Hence, the diets of Plecotus auritus and P. pygmaeus were then compared. Arthropod specific primers were used in PCR to amplify short fragments (157bp) of generic arthropod DNA . Successful PCR products were cloned and sequenced. Sequence results showed that the P. pygmaeus foraged on Diptera (59%), Lepidoptera (36%) and Plecoptera (5%). Plecotus auritus had a similar diet and foraged on Diptera (53%), Lepidoptera (34%) and Plecoptera (6%) but also consumed members from the order Coleoptera (6%), and Orthoptera (1%) which are non-flying orders and may be captured by gleaning. Here it is suggested that the overlap in dietary habits is due to the abundance of food resources in this area.
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