Ori Zadik

In my master's thesis, I examine the connection between movement patterns and the variety and composition of the gut microbiome in the Egyptian fruit bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus). This research aims to investigate whether movement patterns can explain patterns within the gut microbiome or vice versa. By utilizing the ATLAS wildlife tracking system, I aim to explore how variation in behavior, diet, and gut microbiome is linked with movements in free-ranging fruit bats. My hypothesis suggests that different consistent behavioral patterns will correlate with other diets and a certain composition and diversity of the gut microbiome. To test this hypothesis, I captured free-ranging bats, sampled their gut microbiome, and tagged them with ATLAS tags to track their movement. The movement data will be analyzed to identify behavioral patterns and infer diet habits. I will then compare these measurements to the gut microbiota composition to examine the hypothesized (and other possible) links. This research will contribute to our understanding of the complex interplay between behavior, diet, and gut microbiome in a natural, wild habitat setting, providing insights into the ecology of this species.