DOI: 10.5061/dryad.6224p
title: Data from: Using terrestrial haematophagous leeches to enhance tropical biodiversity monitoring programmes in Bangladesh

description: 1. Measuring mammal biodiversity in tropical rainforests is challenging,
 and methods which reduce effort while maximizing success are crucial for
 long-term monitoring programmes. Commonly used methods to assess mammal
 biodiversity may require substantial sampling effort to be effective.
 Genetic methods are a new and important sampling tool on the horizon, but
 obtaining sufficient DNA samples can be a challenge. 2. We evaluated the
 efficacy of using parasitic leeches Haemadipsa spp., as compared to camera
 trapping, to sample biodiversity. We collected 200 leeches from four
 forest patches in northeast Bangladesh, and identified recent vertebrate
 hosts using Sanger sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene extracted from each
 individual leech’s blood meals. We then compared this data to species data
 from camera trapping conducted in the same forest patches. 3. Overall,
 41.9% of sequenced leeches contained amplifiable non-human mammal DNA.
 Four days of collecting leeches led to the identification of 12 species,
 compared to 26 species identified in 1334 camera trap nights. 4. Synthesis
 and applications. After assessing the cost, effort, and power of each
 technique, there are pros and cons to both camera trapping and leech blood
 meal analysis. Camera trapping and leech collection appear to be
 complementary approaches. When used together, they may provide a more
 complete monitoring tool for mammal biodiversity in tropical rainforests.
 Managers should consider adding leech collection to their biodiversity
 monitoring toolkit, as improved information will allow managers to create
 more effective conservation programmes. R scripts are available upon
 request.
description: Northeast Bangladesh
 Camera Trap Data May 2014-January 2015Results of a camera trap
 survey conducted between May 1, 2014 and January 29, 2015 using digital
 remote cameras (Bushnell Trophy Cam HD, Overland Park, KS, USA) in four
 forest patches in Northeast Bangladesh. The four forest patches are: Atora
 Hill Reserve Forest (AHRF, ~100km2), Patharia Hill Reserve Forest (PHRF,
 ~60km2), Rajkandi Reserve Forest (RRF, ~62km2), and Tarap Hill Reserve
 Forest (THRF, ~82km2). Information included in this file includes: Site
 and camera number, date, time, photo number, common name, scientific name,
 number of individuals in the photo, latitude, and longitude. NOTE: the
 date was not set properly on camera AHRF 02, and thus the dates for this
 camera are not accurate. R scripts are available upon
 request.NEBangladeshCameratrapdata_Final.xlsxBangladesh leech dataResults of a blastn search of sequences obtained from Sanger sequencing the blood meals of 191 leeches collected in Bangladesh in October, 2015. Site refers to the four forest patches where leeches were collected: Atora Hill Reserve Forest (AHRF), Patharia Hill Reserve Forest (PHRF), Rajkandi Reserve Forest (RRF), and Tarap Hill Reserve Forest (THRF). A 1% gap indicates that the best match was at least a 1% better percent identity than the next best option.Bangladesh_leech_data.xlsx