Thesis (BS Biology) -- University of the Philippines Mindanao, 2006

Variations in microsatellite loci among chropterans from five sites across Southern Mindanao were detected using Paur01, Paur05, and Paur06. 56 polymorphic bands were generated with sizes ranging 75 to 1653bp. Paur01 amplified 28 alleles with sizes ranging 75 to 1191bp. The maximum size was in Ptenochirus minor, Ptenochirus jagori and in Megaerops wetmorei while the smallest size was in Miniopterus australis, Miniopterus schreibersi, kerivoula whiteheadi, and kerivoula pellucida. Paur05 amplified 10 alleles with sizes reaching 169 to 737bp. The biggest bands were in K. whiteheadi and K. pellucida while the smallest hands were in Haplonycteris fischeri and Rousettus amplexicaudatus. Paur06 revealed 20 alleles with sizes between 142 to 1653bp. The biggest bands were found in Macroglossus minimus and R. amplexicaudatus while the smallest were found in M. australis, M. Schreibersi, Murina cyclotis, Eonycteris spelea, and Cynopterus brachyotis. Variations in alleles between P. minor and P. jagori were detected and can possibly be harassed for species discriminatiomn. Paur01 was also used to reveal microsatellite variations in P. jagori, P. minor and Harpyionycteris whiteheadi from different localities in Southern Mindanao. The samples tested exhibited allelic diversity. Alleles found from samples in mt. Mahuson were genetically continuous with samples from Mt. Sinaka and Mt. Hamiguitan and groupings can be formed basing on banding pattern similarities. This suggests Mt. Mahoson as a possible swarming site and must be protected. The primers revealed that the bat samples are not constricted when it comes to microsatellite alleles. Habitat protection is necessary to preserve its diversity. Further optimization of primers with poor amplifications is suggested to yield better data.