DNA metabarcoding data from faecal samples of the lesser (Myotis blythii) and the greater (Myotis myotis) mouse-eared bats from Bulgaria

A comprehensive understanding of trophic interactions in terrestrial
ecosystems is crucial for ecological research and conservation. Recent
advances in non-invasive methods, such as DNA metabarcoding, have enabled
researchers to collect vast amounts of data on wild animal diets. However,
sharing this data and metadata effectively and transparently presents new
challenges. To address this, a new type of scholarly journal publication
has emerged that aims to describe datasets rather than report research
investigations. In this paper, we present a dataset of consumed prey
species and parasites based on the metabarcoding of 113 faecal samples
from the greater and lesser mouse-eared bats (Myotis myotis and Myotis
blythii), along with a detailed description of the data sampling,
laboratory analysis, and bioinformatics pipeline. Our dataset comprises
1018 unique Barcode Index Numbers (BINs) from 12 Classes and 43 Orders. In
addition, we provide interactive Krona charts to visually summarize the
taxonomic relationships and relative read abundance of the consumed prey
species and parasites. This data can be used for meta-analysis, exploring
new predator-prey and host-parasite interactions, studying inter and
intraspecific ecological interactions, and informing protected area
management, among other applications. By sharing this dataset, we hope to
encourage other researchers to use it to answer additional ecological
questions and advance our understanding of trophic interactions in
terrestrial ecosystems.