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Quantitative DNA metabarcoding: improved estimates of species proportional biomass using correction factors derived from control material
Citation
Thomas, AC and Deagle, BE and Eveson, JP and Harsch, CH and Trites, AW, Quantitative DNA metabarcoding: improved estimates of species proportional biomass using correction factors derived from control material, Molecular Ecology Resources, 16, (3) pp. 714-726. ISSN 1755-098X (2016) [Refereed Article]
Copyright Statement
© 2015 John Wiley & Sons
DOI: doi:10.1111/1755-0998.12490
Abstract
DNA metabarcoding is a powerful new tool allowing characterization of species assemblages using high-throughput amplicon sequencing. The utility of DNA metabarcoding for quantifying relative species abundances is currently limited by both biological and technical biases which influence sequence read counts. We tested the idea of sequencing 50/50 mixtures of target species and a control species in order to generate relative correction factors (RCFs) that account for multiple sources of bias and are applicable to field studies. RCFs will be most effective if they are not affected by input mass ratio or co-occurring species. In a model experiment involving three target fish species and a fixed control, we found RCFs did vary with input ratio but in a consistent fashion, and that 50/50 RCFs applied to DNA sequence counts from various mixtures of the target species still greatly improved relative abundance estimates (e.g. average per species error of 19 ± 8% for uncorrected vs. 3 ± 1% for corrected estimates). To demonstrate the use of correction factors in a field setting, we calculated 50/50 RCFs for 18 harbour seal (Phoca vitulina) prey species (RCFs ranging from 0.68 to 3.68). Applying these corrections to field-collected seal scats affected species percentages from individual samples (Δ 6.7 ± 6.6%) more than population-level species estimates (Δ 1.7 ± 1.2%). Our results indicate that the 50/50 RCF approach is an effective tool for evaluating and correcting biases in DNA metabarcoding studies. The decision to apply correction factors will be influenced by the feasibility of creating tissue mixtures for the target species, and the level of accuracy needed to meet research objectives.
Item Details
Item Type: | Refereed Article |
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Keywords: | diet analysis, DNA barcoding, environmental DNA, predator-prey interactions |
Research Division: | Biological Sciences |
Research Group: | Genetics |
Research Field: | Genetics not elsewhere classified |
Objective Division: | Environmental Management |
Objective Group: | Coastal and estuarine systems and management |
Objective Field: | Assessment and management of coastal and estuarine ecosystems |
UTAS Author: | Deagle, BE (Dr Bruce Deagle) |
ID Code: | 118434 |
Year Published: | 2016 |
Web of Science® Times Cited: | 133 |
Deposited By: | CRC-Antarctic Climate & Ecosystems |
Deposited On: | 2017-07-12 |
Last Modified: | 2022-08-20 |
Downloads: | 0 |
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