Data from: Metabarcoding reveals the dietary patterns of bats within a unique European habitat, the pasture‐dominated landscapes of Ireland

Considered keystone predators, insectivorous bats play essential roles in
maintaining the functioning of ecosystems. Investigating how bat
species' diets vary across landscapes is crucial for understanding
bat ecology and their role in ecosystem health. Here, we characterised the
predator–prey interactions of two common bat species with different
foraging strategies, the Brown long-eared bat (Plecotus auritus) and
Soprano pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pygmaeus), across the unique
pastureland-dominated landscape of Ireland. Over 3 years (2021–2023),
faecal samples (n = 4627 in total) were collected annually at three time
points (gestation, lactation, post-lactation) from 12 maternity roosts and
analysed using metabarcoding and next-generation sequencing. Both bat
species showed broad diet diversity, with 392 and 350 arthropod species
identified for the Brown long-eared bat and Soprano pipistrelle,
respectively, primarily Lepidoptera and Diptera. The Brown long-eared bat
exhibited a generalist diet, demonstrating dietary flexibility.
Lepidoptera interactions were more frequent overall (62%) compared to
Diptera (31%), but interactions with Diptera species increased markedly at
one specific roost, suggesting that this species can opportunistically
feed on available prey species. In contrast, the Soprano pipistrelle
exhibited a more specialised diet, with 83% consisting of Diptera species.
Both spatial and temporal factors significantly influenced dietary
richness and composition in both species. Surrounding land cover, in
particular, played an important role in shaping diet composition. Our
findings suggest that the Brown long-eared bat exhibits a broad foraging
strategy, acting as a generalist with a preference for Lepidoptera, while
the Soprano pipistrelle shows a consistent reliance on Diptera. Our study
provides new insights into bat diet variation in pastureland landscapes,
contributing to the understanding of their ecological role.