DNA metabarcoding analyses reveal fine-scale microbiome structures on Western Canadian bat wings

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Bat Ecology
• Wildlife Health

Background:

• Bat wing health is crucial for survival and reproduction, with the wing microbiome playing a key role.
• White-nose syndrome (WNS) poses a significant threat to bat populations, and the skin microbiome's role in susceptibility is under investigation.
• Limited knowledge exists regarding bat wing microbiomes in Western Canada, a region currently less affected by WNS.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the bacterial and fungal communities on the wings of three bat species in Lillooet, British Columbia.
• To understand the diversity and distribution of these microbial communities in a WNS-naïve region.
• To provide insights that may aid in developing management strategies against WNS.

Main Methods:

• DNA metabarcoding targeting the 16S rRNA gene for bacteria and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region for fungi.
• Sampling conducted on three bat species (big brown bat, Yuma myotis, little brown myotis) across four field sites.
• Analysis of amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) to identify bacterial and fungal taxa and assess community structure.

Main Results:

• A high diversity of bacteria and fungi were identified, with dominant bacterial phyla including Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Bacteroides, and Actinobacteria.
• Dominant fungal phyla were Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, and Motierellomycota.
• Principal coordinates analysis indicated that bat species and field sites influenced the diversity and distribution of microbial communities, with notable correlations among microbial taxa.

Conclusions:

• The study characterized the bat wing microbiome in a WNS-naïve area of Western Canada, revealing significant bacterial and fungal diversity.
• Fine-scale structuring of the microbiome was observed based on local sites and bat species.
• Findings contribute to understanding bat health and may inform strategies for managing WNS and its spread.