Novel real-time PCR species identification assays for British and Irish bats and their application to a non-invasive survey of bat roosts in Ireland

摘要: Abstract Detection and monitoring of extant bat populations are crucial for conservation success. Non-invasive genetic analysis droppings collected at roosts could be very useful in this respect as a rapid, cost‐efficient tool. We developed species‐specific real-time PCR assays 18 British Irish species to enable non‐invasive, large‐scale distribution monitoring, which were then applied field survey Ireland. One hundred sixty-four DNA samples from 95 roosts, 73% identified species, the resident 89% roosts. However, identification success varied between roost types, ranging 22% underground sites 92% boxes. This panel tests will especially cases where contain multiple number bats present is small, or otherwise difficult directly observe. The methodology surveillance proposed development sites, post mitigation measures, surveys, box schemes evaluation agri-environmental schemes.