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Proportion of prey consumed can be determined from faecal DNA using real-time PCR
Citation
Bowles, E and Schulte, PM and Tollit, DJ and Deagle, BE and Trites, AW, Proportion of prey consumed can be determined from faecal DNA using real-time PCR, Molecular Ecology Resources, 11, (3) pp. 530-540. ISSN 1755-098X (2011) [Refereed Article]
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The definitive published version is available online at: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/
Official URL: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/
DOI: doi:10.1111/j.1755-0998.2010.02974.x
Abstract
Reconstructing the diets of pinnipeds by visually identifying prey remains recovered in faecal samples is challenging
because of differences in digestion and passage rates of hard parts. Analysing the soft-matrix of faecal material using
DNA-based techniques is an alternative means to identify prey species consumed, but published techniques are largely
nonquantitative, which limits their usefulness for some applications. We further developed and validated a real-time PCR
technique using species-specific mitochondrial DNA primers to quantify the proportion of prey in the diets of Steller sea
lions (Eumetopias jubatus), a pinniped species thought to be facing significant diet related challenges in the North Pacific.
We first demonstrated that the proportions of prey tissue DNA in mixtures of DNA isolated from four prey species could
be estimated within a margin of
��12% of the percent in the mix. These prey species included herring Clupea palasii, eula-
chon Thaleichthyes pacificus, squid Loligo opalescens and rosethorn rockfish Sebastes helvomaculatus. We then applied
real-time PCR to DNA extracted from faecal samples obtained from Steller sea lions in captivity that were fed 11 different
combinations of herring, eulachon, squid and Pacific ocean perch rockfish (Sebastes alutus), ranging from 7% to 75%
contributions per meal (by wet weight). The difference between the average percentage estimated by real-time PCR and
the percentage of prey consumed was generally < 12% for all diets fed. Our findings indicate that real-time PCR of fae-
cal DNA can detect the approximate relative quantity of prey consumed for complex diets and prey species, including
cephalopods and fish.
Item Details
| Item Type: | Refereed Article |
|---|---|
| Research Division: | Biological Sciences |
| Research Group: | Biochemistry and Cell Biology |
| Research Field: | Structural Biology (incl. Macromolecular Modelling) |
| Objective Division: | Environment |
| Objective Group: | Ecosystem Assessment and Management |
| Objective Field: | Ecosystem Assessment and Management of Marine Environments |
| UTAS Author: | Deagle, BE (Dr Bruce Deagle) |
| ID Code: | 69896 |
| Year Published: | 2011 |
| Web of Science® Times Cited: | 47 |
| Deposited By: | Zoology |
| Deposited On: | 2011-05-24 |
| Last Modified: | 2017-11-01 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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