Genetic diversity within and among populations of the fulvous fruit bat Rousettus leschenaulti using RAPD analysis

The genetic diversity of 14 Rousettus leschenaulti populations was examined using the random amplified polymorphic DNA marker technique. Samples were collected from various districts of southern Tamil Nadu, India. A total of 266 bands were identified in the bat genome using a polymerase chain reaction, of which 189 were found to be polymorphic. The range between 0.05 and 0.70 in the dendrogram represented the relative genetic similarities between the populations. According to principal coordinate analysis, the first two components were accountable for 50.3% of the overall variation. The species exhibited a significant level of genetic variability across populations. This might continue as a result of population gene flow, which primarily results through extra-colony copulations without permanent dispersal from the parent colony. Also, greater vagility is an adaptation associated with cave roosting in this species. Our preliminary results indicate that all 14 populations should be considered to maintain genetic diversity. The development of effective management measures for their conservation depends on knowledge of genetic variation within and between populations