Bird and bat droppings reveal 87 rice pest species in West Africa
DNA analysis of 502 animals in Guinea-Bissau uncovered 2,276 feeding interactions between predators and prey.
Researchers have identified 87 rice pest species within the diets of birds and bats in northern Guinea-Bissau, according to a report by the Times of India. The study, published in Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, analysed droppings from 502 animals caught in rice fields between 2021 and 2022.
The DNA analysis revealed 2,276 feeding interactions involving 34 predator species, consisting of 18 bats and 16 birds, and 1,347 types of prey. While both groups consumed a comparable amount of pest species when adjusted for sample size, the researchers noted they primarily targeted different types of prey.
Among the birds, 13 species, or 81 per cent, ate rice pests, with an average of 5.9 pest species each. The village weaver recorded the highest number of pest types at 16. All sampled bat species consumed rice pests, averaging 6.2 species each, with the yellow bat recording 24 pest types.
The study found that diets shifted with the seasons, with 61 pest species recorded in the dry season compared to 48 in the rainy season. Only 14 per cent of the pest species were found in both seasons.
The researchers noted that bats fed on a wider variety of prey than birds, averaging 94.94 types compared to 35.38 for birds. However, the study also highlighted that West African insects are not fully represented in DNA databases, suggesting the actual number of pests consumed may be higher.