Data from: Investigating cat predation as the cause of bat wing tears using forensic DNA analysis
Cat predation upon bat species has been reported to have significant effects on bat populations in both rural and urban areas. The majority of research in this area has focussed on observational data from bat rehabilitators documenting injuries, and cat owners, when domestic cats present prey. Howev...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Dataset |
| Language: | unknown |
| Published: |
2021
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://zenodo.org/record/5064013 https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.zcrjdfn88 |
| Summary: | Cat predation upon bat species has been reported to have significant effects on bat populations in both rural and urban areas. The majority of research in this area has focussed on observational data from bat rehabilitators documenting injuries, and cat owners, when domestic cats present prey. However, this has the potential to underestimate the number of bats killed or injured by cats. Here, we use forensic DNA analysis techniques to analyse swabs taken from injured bats in the United Kingdom, mainly including Pipistrellus pipistrellus (40 out of 72 specimens). Using quantitative PCR, cat DNA was found in two-thirds of samples submitted by bat rehabilitators. Of these samples, short tandem repeat analysis produced partial DNA profiles for approximately one-third of samples, which could be used to link predation events to individual cats. The use of genetic analysis can complement observational data, and potentially provide additional information to give a more accurate estimation of cat predation. Funding provided by: Saudi Arabia Cultural Bureau in LondonCrossref Funder Registry ID: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100012363Award Number: PhD Studentship Bat wing swabs samples were subject to DNA extraction, followed by either qPCR or PCR and capillary electrophoresis for cat specific DNA markers. |
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