Botvinkin A.D., Mekhanikova I.V., Adelshin R.V., Peretolchina T.E., Romanova E.V. 2025. Bats prey on amphipods of Lake Baikal morphological and genetic evidence // Russian J. Theriol. Vol.24. No.2. P.81–91 [in English].
Aleksandr D. Botvinkin [botvinkin_ismu@mail.ru], Irkutsk State Medical University, 1, Krasnogo vosstania Str., Irkutsk 664003, Russia; Irina V. Mekhanikova [irinam@lin.irk.ru], Tatiana E. Peretolchina [tatiana.peretolchina@gmail.com], Elena V. Romanova [elena_romanova@lin.irk.ru], Limnological Institute Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Science, 3, Ulanbatorskaya Str., Irkutsk, Russia; Renat V. Adelshin [adelshin@gmail.com], Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute, 78, Trilissera Str., Irkutsk 664047, Russia; Irkutsk State University, 1, Karla Marksa Str., Irkutsk 664003, Russia.
doi: 10.15298/rusjtheriol.24.2.01
ABSTRACT. Study aims to assess the prevalence of endemic amphipods (Crustacea, Gammaroidea, Amphipoda) in the diet of insectivorous bats (Chiroptera) feeding over the surface of the unique freshwater Lake Baikal. In 2020–2023, 41 samples of bat faeces (mainly Myotis petax) were collected at 14 sampling sites in the water area, on the shore and islands of Lake Baikal. The body fragments of amphipods in faecal samples were identified using a light microscope. DNA was extracted from collected faecal samples and screened for presence of pelagic amphipod species Macrohectopus branickii. A fragment of the COI mitochondrial gene was amplified in three rounds of nested PCR. All newly sequenced fragments demonstrated 92–100% identity to sequences of the same species deposited in GenBank. DNA of Ma. branickii was detected in five of 41 samples (12.2%). Microscopic analysis revealed body fragments of Ma. branickii and of three benthic amphipod species (Micruropus wohlii wohlii, Mi. wohlii platycercus, and Gmelinoides fasciatus) as well as unidentified amphipod fragments in six of 18 samples (33.3%) Amphipod remains were detected in small amounts in many examined samples, but insect remains visually predominated at microscopy. Thus, the use of molecular and morphological approaches facilitated identification of remains of four amphipod species in samples from seven of 14 sampling sites. Direct evidence was received for new trophic interactions in Lake Baikal ecosystem: bat My. petax feeds on several species of endemic amphipods catching them during periodic nocturnal ascents to the water surface.
KEY WORDS: bats, Myotis petax, amphipods, feeding, trophic interactions, Lake Baikal.