Using DNA metabarcoding to investigate diet and niche partitioning in the native European otter (Lutra lutra) and invasive American mink (Neovison vison)
In the UK, the native European otter (Lutra lutra) and invasive American mink (Neovison vison) have experienced concurrent declines and expansions. Currently, the otter is recovering from persecution and waterway pollution, whereas the mink is in decline due to population control and probable inters...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Pensoft Publishers
2020-11-01
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| Series: | Metabarcoding and Metagenomics |
| Online Access: | https://mbmg.pensoft.net/article/56087/download/pdf/ |
| _version_ | 1818349597145169920 |
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| author | Lynsey R. Harper Hayley V. Watson Robert Donnelly Richard Hampshire Carl D. Sayer Thomas Breithaupt Bernd Hänfling |
| author_facet | Lynsey R. Harper Hayley V. Watson Robert Donnelly Richard Hampshire Carl D. Sayer Thomas Breithaupt Bernd Hänfling |
| author_sort | Lynsey R. Harper |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In the UK, the native European otter (Lutra lutra) and invasive American mink (Neovison vison) have experienced concurrent declines and expansions. Currently, the otter is recovering from persecution and waterway pollution, whereas the mink is in decline due to population control and probable interspecific interaction with the otter. We explored the potential of DNA metabarcoding for investigating diet and niche partitioning between these mustelids. Otter spraints (n = 171) and mink scats (n = 19) collected from three sites (Malham Tarn, River Hull and River Glaven) in northern and eastern England were screened for vertebrates using high-throughput sequencing. Otter diet mainly comprised aquatic fishes (81.0%) and amphibians (12.7%), whereas mink diet predominantly consisted of terrestrial birds (55.9%) and mammals (39.6%). The mink used a lower proportion (20%) of available prey (n = 40 taxa) than the otter and low niche overlap (0.267) was observed between these mustelids. Prey taxon richness of mink scats was lower than otter spraints and beta diversity of prey communities was driven by taxon turnover (i.e. the otter and mink consumed different prey taxa). Considering otter diet only, prey taxon richness was higher in spraints from the River Hull catchment and beta diversity of prey communities was driven by taxon turnover (i.e. the otter consumed different prey taxa at each site). Studies using morphological faecal analysis may misidentify the predator as well as prey items. Faecal DNA metabarcoding can resolve these issues and provide more accurate and detailed dietary information. When scaled up across multiple habitat types, DNA metabarcoding should greatly improve future understanding of resource use and niche overlap between the otter and mink. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T18:08:29Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4589ecb30490459e8639df73f41bfad3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2534-9708 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T18:08:29Z |
| publishDate | 2020-11-01 |
| publisher | Pensoft Publishers |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Metabarcoding and Metagenomics |
| spelling | doaj.art-4589ecb30490459e8639df73f41bfad32022-12-21T23:36:01ZengPensoft PublishersMetabarcoding and Metagenomics2534-97082020-11-01411313310.3897/mbmg.4.5608756087Using DNA metabarcoding to investigate diet and niche partitioning in the native European otter (Lutra lutra) and invasive American mink (Neovison vison)Lynsey R. Harper0Hayley V. Watson1Robert Donnelly2Richard Hampshire3Carl D. Sayer4Thomas Breithaupt5Bernd Hänfling6University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignUniversity of HullUniversity of HullYorkshire WaterUniversity College LondonUniversity of HullUniversity of HullIn the UK, the native European otter (Lutra lutra) and invasive American mink (Neovison vison) have experienced concurrent declines and expansions. Currently, the otter is recovering from persecution and waterway pollution, whereas the mink is in decline due to population control and probable interspecific interaction with the otter. We explored the potential of DNA metabarcoding for investigating diet and niche partitioning between these mustelids. Otter spraints (n = 171) and mink scats (n = 19) collected from three sites (Malham Tarn, River Hull and River Glaven) in northern and eastern England were screened for vertebrates using high-throughput sequencing. Otter diet mainly comprised aquatic fishes (81.0%) and amphibians (12.7%), whereas mink diet predominantly consisted of terrestrial birds (55.9%) and mammals (39.6%). The mink used a lower proportion (20%) of available prey (n = 40 taxa) than the otter and low niche overlap (0.267) was observed between these mustelids. Prey taxon richness of mink scats was lower than otter spraints and beta diversity of prey communities was driven by taxon turnover (i.e. the otter and mink consumed different prey taxa). Considering otter diet only, prey taxon richness was higher in spraints from the River Hull catchment and beta diversity of prey communities was driven by taxon turnover (i.e. the otter consumed different prey taxa at each site). Studies using morphological faecal analysis may misidentify the predator as well as prey items. Faecal DNA metabarcoding can resolve these issues and provide more accurate and detailed dietary information. When scaled up across multiple habitat types, DNA metabarcoding should greatly improve future understanding of resource use and niche overlap between the otter and mink.https://mbmg.pensoft.net/article/56087/download/pdf/ |
| spellingShingle | Lynsey R. Harper Hayley V. Watson Robert Donnelly Richard Hampshire Carl D. Sayer Thomas Breithaupt Bernd Hänfling Using DNA metabarcoding to investigate diet and niche partitioning in the native European otter (Lutra lutra) and invasive American mink (Neovison vison) Metabarcoding and Metagenomics |
| title | Using DNA metabarcoding to investigate diet and niche partitioning in the native European otter (Lutra lutra) and invasive American mink (Neovison vison) |
| title_full | Using DNA metabarcoding to investigate diet and niche partitioning in the native European otter (Lutra lutra) and invasive American mink (Neovison vison) |
| title_fullStr | Using DNA metabarcoding to investigate diet and niche partitioning in the native European otter (Lutra lutra) and invasive American mink (Neovison vison) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Using DNA metabarcoding to investigate diet and niche partitioning in the native European otter (Lutra lutra) and invasive American mink (Neovison vison) |
| title_short | Using DNA metabarcoding to investigate diet and niche partitioning in the native European otter (Lutra lutra) and invasive American mink (Neovison vison) |
| title_sort | using dna metabarcoding to investigate diet and niche partitioning in the native european otter lutra lutra and invasive american mink neovison vison |
| url | https://mbmg.pensoft.net/article/56087/download/pdf/ |
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