Jessica D Rey
University of the Philippines Diliman, Philippines
Title: Assessment of seed dispersal through metagenomic analysis of the DNA-barcoded fruit-bat species diet in the tropical lowland forest of Palanan, Isabela
Biography
Biography: Jessica D Rey
Abstract
Bats are important parts of the ecosystem. Some serve as predators of insects, while others serve as seed dispersers. In this study,
we explore chiropteran diversity and the role of bats in seed dispersal. The dispersal of seeds is oftentimes crucial for survival
as it allows the seed to escape from conspecific competition near the mother tree. Fruit bat diversity plays a major role in seed
dispersal since different species have distinct diets. Molecular approach to the diet analysis of bats is expected to contribute to the
limited number of known food sources of bats in the tropical forest. The main objectives of this study are to determine fruit bat
diversity through DNA barcoding and to identify which plant species depend on bats for seed dispersal through diet analysis using
the NGS platform. In the Palanan Forest Dynamics Plot, Isabela, Philippines, a total of 32 individuals from eight species of fruit
bats were barcoded. Assessment of variation in bat-dispersed plant species was done across seasons and years in the forest between
February 2016 and March 2018. Out of the eight species captured, only in three species (Ptenochirus jagori, Cynopterus brachyotis and
Desmalopex leucopterus) were there enough seeds for DNA extraction. DNA from the pooled samples was extracted and the trnHpsbA
intergenic spacer region was amplified with 300 bp long primers with attached adapter sequence. The NGS-generated sequences
were cross-referenced to the available database of trnH-psbA sequences of the trees in the plot. Using BLASTn, three tree genera
were identified to be the most observed sequences. The tree species were also confirmed by voucher samples in the UP IB Herbarium
collection. With this knowledge on the species with which bats consume as food, the next step will be to confirm whether the seeds
still germinate after passing through the guts.