Data from: Island bat diets: does it matter more who you are or where you live?
Data files
Mar 28, 2014 version files 245.50 MB
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H_pygmaeus_BLAST.txt
125.86 MB
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Key To FIles Used For Analysis.xlsx
52.11 KB
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Morph and call data_Island Bat Diets 2013.xlsx
14.29 KB
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R_arcuatus_BLAST.txt
42.82 MB
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R_inops_BLAST.txt
27.75 MB
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R_virgo_BLAST.txt
21.11 MB
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README_for_H_pygmaeus_BLAST.rtf
1.63 KB
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README_for_Key To FIles Used For Analysis.rtf
1.63 KB
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README_for_Morph and call data_Island Bat Diets 2013.rtf
1.63 KB
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README_for_R_arcuatus_BLAST.rtf
1.63 KB
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README_for_R_inops_BLAST.rtf
1.63 KB
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README_for_R_virgo_BLAST.rtf
1.63 KB
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README_for_Unique Haplotypes with bat ID redued to those 157bp.rtf
1.63 KB
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README_for_Unique Haplotypes wtih bat ID.rtf
1.63 KB
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Unique Haplotypes with bat ID redued to those 157bp.fasta
3.72 MB
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Unique Haplotypes wtih bat ID.txt
24.16 MB
Abstract
Differences in body size, echolocation call frequency, and location may result in diet partitioning among bat species. Comparisons among island populations are one way to evaluate these competing hypotheses. We conducted a species-level diet analysis of three Rhinolophus and one Hipposideros species on the Philippine islands of Cebu, Bohol, and Siquijor. We identified 655 prey (MOTUs) in the guano from 77 individual bats. There was a high degree of overlap among species’ diets despite differences in body size and call frequency. For example, the diet of the 3 g-Hipposideros pygmaeus (mean CF = 102 kHz) exhibited a diet overlap higher than expected by chance with all three Rhinolophus species, even the 13 g-Rhinolophus inops (mean CF = 54 kHz). We observed more convergence in diet between Rhinolophus species and H. pygmaeus than between Rhinolophus species themselves, which may be explained by the broad diet of H. pygmaeus. There was less dietary overlap between Rhinolophus virgo from two islands than between R. virgo and congeners from Cebu. These data suggest that location causes convergence in diet, but specific species characteristics may drive niche specialization. The complex interplay between location and the perceptual ability of each species leads to a situation where simple explanations, for example, body size, do not translate into predictable prey partitioning. In particular, our observations raise interesting questions about the foraging strategy and adaptability of the tiny H. pygmaeus.