Genetic Analysis of the Southern Yellow Bat (Dasypterus ega)
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For this research project I examined the genetic variation of the Southern yellow bat, Dasypterus ega. No previous genetic work has been done on this species of conservation concern even though genetic diversity is an important aspect of species conservation. I used a microsatellite analysis to examine the level of genetic variation of D. ega in southern Texas. I analyzed 75 bats from 15 counties using six loci that were used in a close relative, the Eastern red bat (Lasiurus borealis). There were 3-18 alleles at each locus and the level of heterozygosity was low (0.385). This value was lower than endangered species Corynorhinus townsendii ingens and much lower than that reported for a common, widespread species of bat, L. borealis. This indicates that D. ega, recognized as a “threatened” species in Texas, might have experienced a loss of genetic diversity due to being a leading-edge population, genetic drift, or a genetic bottleneck.