Miss Ashleigh Stanners1, Dr Kerry Borkin2, Dr Ang McGaughran1
1Te Aka Mātuatua School of Science, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand, 2Department of Conservation, Taupō Office, Taupō, New Zealand
Biography:
Ashleigh Stanners is a Master of Science (Research) student at the University of Waikato, specializing in Molecular and Cellular Biology. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Genetics with a minor in Zoology from the University of Otago. Her master's research employs DNA metabarcoding of fecal samples from New Zealand long-tailed bats (Chalinolobus tuberculatus) in Kinleith Forest, Waikato, to elucidate their dietary composition.
Abstract:
The New Zealand long-tailed bat (pekapeka; Chalinolobus tuberculatus) is an endangered and highly mobile species that is currently in decline across Aotearoa, New Zealand. Though their diet remains largely unknown, these bats are hypothesised to consume invertebrates (including both pests and beneficial species) within the plantation forests in which they reside. However, the specific composition of their diet has not been comprehensively studied, leaving significant gaps in our understanding of their ecological role and the potential impacts of forest management practices on their feeding habits.
We addressed these gaps by analysing faecal samples of pekapeka in Kinleith Plantation Forest (Waikato, New Zealand), using DNA metabarcoding (mitochondrial DNA COI region). As well as establishing whether long-tailed baits eat forestry invertebrate pests, we specifically compared changes in diet composition between males and females; lactating and non-lactating females; and pre- and post-harvest conditions.
Our research offers critical insights into the dietary composition and ecological interactions of New Zealand's long-tailed bats. By identifying key habitats to protect, enhancing understanding of invertebrate diversity in plantation forests, and providing guidance to the forestry industry, it also supports the conservation of this treasured endangered species. In this talk, we will discuss our methodology, key findings, and the ecological implications of our results, highlighting the role of these bats in their ecosystem.