Multi-marker DNA metabarcoding reveals spatial and sexual variation in the diet of a scarce woodland bird.

Autor: Stenhouse EH; School of Biosciences Cardiff University Cardiff UK.; RSPB Centre for Conservation Science, The Lodge Sandy UK., Bellamy P; RSPB Centre for Conservation Science, The Lodge Sandy UK., Kirby W; RSPB Centre for Conservation Science, The Lodge Sandy UK., Vaughan IP; School of Biosciences Cardiff University Cardiff UK., Drake LE; School of Biosciences Cardiff University Cardiff UK., Marchbank A; School of Biosciences Cardiff University Cardiff UK., Workman T; School of Biosciences Cardiff University Cardiff UK., Symondson WOC; School of Biosciences Cardiff University Cardiff UK., Orozco-terWengel P; School of Biosciences Cardiff University Cardiff UK.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Ecology and evolution [Ecol Evol] 2023 May 17; Vol. 13 (5), pp. e10089. Date of Electronic Publication: 2023 May 17 (Print Publication: 2023).
DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10089
Abstrakt: Avian diet can be affected by site-specific variables, such as habitat, as well as intrinsic factors such as sex. This can lead to dietary niche separation, which reduces competition between individuals, as well as impacting how well avian species can adapt to environmental variation. Estimating dietary niche separation is challenging, due largely to difficulties in accurately identifying food taxa consumed. Consequently, there is limited knowledge of the diets of woodland bird species, many of which are undergoing serious population declines. Here, we show the effectiveness of multi-marker fecal metabarcoding to provide in-depth dietary analysis of a declining passerine in the UK, the Hawfinch ( Coccothraustes coccothraustes ). We collected fecal samples from ( n  = 262) UK Hawfinches prior to, and during, the breeding seasons in 2016-2019. We detected 49 and 90 plant and invertebrate taxa, respectively. We found Hawfinch diet varied spatially, as well as between sexes, indicating broad dietary plasticity and the ability of Hawfinches to utilize multiple resources within their foraging environments.
Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.
(© 2023 The Authors. Ecology and Evolution published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)
Databáze: MEDLINE
Externí odkaz: