Data from: Metabarcoding reveals the dietary patterns of bats within a unique European habitat, the pasture‐dominated landscapes of Ireland
Data files
Dec 02, 2025 version files 48.60 GB
-
Metadata.csv
162.11 KB
-
ngs_filter_files.zip
58.70 KB
-
Nova_Sequencing_raw_data.zip
48.60 GB
-
README.md
3.91 KB
-
Supporting_Information_Bioinformatic_Script.bash
7.49 KB
-
Supporting_Information_Data_Set_S1.xlsx
40.42 KB
-
Supporting_Information_Data_Set_S2.xlsx
67.54 KB
Abstract
Considered keystone predators, insectivorous bats play essential roles in maintaining the functioning of ecosystems. Investigating how bat species' diets vary across landscapes is crucial for understanding bat ecology and their role in ecosystem health. Here, we characterised the predator–prey interactions of two common bat species with different foraging strategies, the Brown long-eared bat (Plecotus auritus) and Soprano pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pygmaeus), across the unique pastureland-dominated landscape of Ireland. Over 3 years (2021–2023), faecal samples (n = 4627 in total) were collected annually at three time points (gestation, lactation, post-lactation) from 12 maternity roosts and analysed using metabarcoding and next-generation sequencing. Both bat species showed broad diet diversity, with 392 and 350 arthropod species identified for the Brown long-eared bat and Soprano pipistrelle, respectively, primarily Lepidoptera and Diptera. The Brown long-eared bat exhibited a generalist diet, demonstrating dietary flexibility. Lepidoptera interactions were more frequent overall (62%) compared to Diptera (31%), but interactions with Diptera species increased markedly at one specific roost, suggesting that this species can opportunistically feed on available prey species. In contrast, the Soprano pipistrelle exhibited a more specialised diet, with 83% consisting of Diptera species. Both spatial and temporal factors significantly influenced dietary richness and composition in both species. Surrounding land cover, in particular, played an important role in shaping diet composition. Our findings suggest that the Brown long-eared bat exhibits a broad foraging strategy, acting as a generalist with a preference for Lepidoptera, while the Soprano pipistrelle shows a consistent reliance on Diptera. Our study provides new insights into bat diet variation in pastureland landscapes, contributing to the understanding of their ecological role.
Dataset DOI: 10.5061/dryad.qbzkh18vt
Description of the data and file structure
Files to replicate our analysis from NovaSeq sequencing data are provided. Multiple files in this repository require a Linux environment for execution. The dataset includes raw NovaSeq sequencing data, scripts, and supporting files required for bioinformatic processing and analysis. Additionally, land cover data from areas surrounding bat roosts are included.
Files and variables
File: Nova_Sequencing_raw_data.zip
Description: This folder contains the raw NovaSeq sequencing data obtained from NovaSeq sequencing. Raw sequences data are organised by sequencing library, with 74 in total.
File: Metadata.csv
Description: Metadata file summarises information for each sequenced bat faecal sample.
Variables
- SampleID: Unique identifier for each faecal sample
- bat_host: Bat species identified via metabarcoding data
- date: Date of collection
- roost: Location of the roost (town/village scale).
- event: Reproductive period during sampling (gestation, lactation, or post-lactation.
- julian: Julian day of sample collection.
- month: Month of collection.
- year: Year of collection
File: ngs_filter_files.zip
Description: This folder contains the necessary ngs filter text files to run the bioinformatic script. Each file corresponds to a sequencing library and is named accordingly.
Variables
- #exp: Library name
- sample: Faecal sample ID, includes controls: "BR" = Extraction Blanck replicate, "PCR1" / "PRC2" = PCR positive controls, "PCR_" = PCR negative control.
- tags: 8-bp forward and reverse tag sequences used per sample.
- forward_primer: Sequence of the forward primer.
- reverse_primer: Sequence of the reverse primer.
File: Supporting_Information_Data_Set_S1.xlsx
Description: Contains habitat composition data (% land cover) within the foraging area of each bat maternity roost, based on the National Land Cover Map of Ireland.
Variables – Sheet 1 (Land Cover Level 1):
- Roost information: Roost name, town, county, bat species using the roost, and total foraging area (m²).
- Habitat data: Land cover class name level, Class area = Surface in m2, Percentage: Proportion of the total surrounding area.
Variables – Sheet 2 (Land Cover Level 2):
Same structure as Sheet 1, but with finer-resolution land cover classes (Level 2).
File: Supporting_Information_Data_Set_S2.xlsx
Description: List of Species identified from bat faecal samples, with associated taxonomic and ecological information.
Variables - Sheet 1 (Total assigned species)
- Taxonomy: Superkingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species.
- Type: Classification of species (host, prey, external parasite, other).
- Irish record: Indicates whether the species is officially recorded in Ireland (“yes” or “no”).
Variables - Sheet 2 (Non Irish species)
- Taxonomy: Superkingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species.
- Type: Classification of species (host, prey, external parasite, other).
- Geographic location records: Indicates where the species is recorded in the Global Biodiversity Information database (GBIF, 2024), whether in Ireland, UK, Europe, and Outside Europe. FALSE = not recorded; TRUE = recorded.
File: Supporting_Information.pdf
Description: Supplementary Figures and Tables from Hurpy et al. (in review).
Code/software
Supporting_Information_Bioinformatic_Script.bash
This file provides the script used to identify species from raw NovaSeq sequences.
Package needed
- fastqc/0.11.9
- python/3.7.4
- obitools/1.2.13
- vsearch
- BLAST v2.12.0
- R/4.0.3
- sumaclust/1.0.36