People - Undergraduates

Gerald Carter (Cornell 2005) is a Natural Resources major in the Presidential Research Scholars Program. Jerry is using molecular techniques to develop a non-invasive method of determining vampire bat hosts. He is extracting avian DNA from the feces of the bird-specializing white-winged vampire bats (Diaemus youngi). By providing molecular evidence of wild host preference, this investigation can answer many important questions about the feeding ecology of vampire bats.

Above: Jerry holding a fruit-eating bat caught during a trip in Trinidad

Left: There are three species of vampire bats, all of which are found only in Latin America. The hairy legged bat and white-winged vampire bat (left) are rare and specialize on bird blood.