Predation patterns on the tundra—genetic barcoding of scats from two sympatric fox species
In the Arctic tundra, climate-induced emergence of the red fox (Vulpes vulpes (Linnaeus, 1758)), a competitor to the Arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus (Linnaeus, 1758)), is predicted to influence predation patterns of both fox mesopredators. In this study, we (i) identified predator species from scats thro...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Canadian Science Publishing
2023-03-01
|
| Series: | Arctic Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://cdnsciencepub.com/doi/10.1139/as-2021-0051 |
| _version_ | 1797859242664787968 |
|---|---|
| author | Caitlin Wilkinson Jan Vigués Anders Angerbjörn Karin Norén |
| author_facet | Caitlin Wilkinson Jan Vigués Anders Angerbjörn Karin Norén |
| author_sort | Caitlin Wilkinson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In the Arctic tundra, climate-induced emergence of the red fox (Vulpes vulpes (Linnaeus, 1758)), a competitor to the Arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus (Linnaeus, 1758)), is predicted to influence predation patterns of both fox mesopredators. In this study, we (i) identified predator species from scats through an established barcoding approach and (ii) explored the use of a cheap, quick barcoding method of fox feces (n = 103). We investigated differences in diet between the red fox (predicted generalist predator) and Arctic fox (predicted specialist predator) over 2 years with varying prey abundance. We amplified short DNA fragments (<200 bp) from small rodents, birds and hares. For both predators, there was a high frequency of occurrence of rodents (38%–69%) identifying them as primary prey species and birds as secondary prey species (13%–31%). This demonstrates the strength of a straightforward DNA barcoding method for dietary analyses in sympatric fox predators, with species-level resolution of prey. Barcoding is a promising tool for future dietary studies; however, a few methodological improvements, along with extended sampling, are needed for a more complete assessment of fox predation patterns. Integrating high-resolution dietary analyses have great potential to enhance our understanding of predation patterns in Arctic tundra communities. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T21:26:20Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c9c3661c2ff545d2811a4faa5ba2eadd |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2368-7460 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T21:26:20Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | Canadian Science Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Arctic Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-c9c3661c2ff545d2811a4faa5ba2eadd2023-03-27T13:00:30ZengCanadian Science PublishingArctic Science2368-74602023-03-019122723510.1139/as-2021-0051Predation patterns on the tundra—genetic barcoding of scats from two sympatric fox speciesCaitlin Wilkinson0Jan Vigués1Anders Angerbjörn2Karin Norén3Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, 106 91, SwedenDepartment of Zoology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, 106 91, SwedenDepartment of Zoology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, 106 91, SwedenDepartment of Zoology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, 106 91, SwedenIn the Arctic tundra, climate-induced emergence of the red fox (Vulpes vulpes (Linnaeus, 1758)), a competitor to the Arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus (Linnaeus, 1758)), is predicted to influence predation patterns of both fox mesopredators. In this study, we (i) identified predator species from scats through an established barcoding approach and (ii) explored the use of a cheap, quick barcoding method of fox feces (n = 103). We investigated differences in diet between the red fox (predicted generalist predator) and Arctic fox (predicted specialist predator) over 2 years with varying prey abundance. We amplified short DNA fragments (<200 bp) from small rodents, birds and hares. For both predators, there was a high frequency of occurrence of rodents (38%–69%) identifying them as primary prey species and birds as secondary prey species (13%–31%). This demonstrates the strength of a straightforward DNA barcoding method for dietary analyses in sympatric fox predators, with species-level resolution of prey. Barcoding is a promising tool for future dietary studies; however, a few methodological improvements, along with extended sampling, are needed for a more complete assessment of fox predation patterns. Integrating high-resolution dietary analyses have great potential to enhance our understanding of predation patterns in Arctic tundra communities.https://cdnsciencepub.com/doi/10.1139/as-2021-0051fecal DNAspecialistgeneralistVulpes vulpesVulpes lagopusnon-invasive genetic sampling |
| spellingShingle | Caitlin Wilkinson Jan Vigués Anders Angerbjörn Karin Norén Predation patterns on the tundra—genetic barcoding of scats from two sympatric fox species Arctic Science fecal DNA specialist generalist Vulpes vulpes Vulpes lagopus non-invasive genetic sampling |
| title | Predation patterns on the tundra—genetic barcoding of scats from two sympatric fox species |
| title_full | Predation patterns on the tundra—genetic barcoding of scats from two sympatric fox species |
| title_fullStr | Predation patterns on the tundra—genetic barcoding of scats from two sympatric fox species |
| title_full_unstemmed | Predation patterns on the tundra—genetic barcoding of scats from two sympatric fox species |
| title_short | Predation patterns on the tundra—genetic barcoding of scats from two sympatric fox species |
| title_sort | predation patterns on the tundra genetic barcoding of scats from two sympatric fox species |
| topic | fecal DNA specialist generalist Vulpes vulpes Vulpes lagopus non-invasive genetic sampling |
| url | https://cdnsciencepub.com/doi/10.1139/as-2021-0051 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT caitlinwilkinson predationpatternsonthetundrageneticbarcodingofscatsfromtwosympatricfoxspecies AT janvigues predationpatternsonthetundrageneticbarcodingofscatsfromtwosympatricfoxspecies AT andersangerbjorn predationpatternsonthetundrageneticbarcodingofscatsfromtwosympatricfoxspecies AT karinnoren predationpatternsonthetundrageneticbarcodingofscatsfromtwosympatricfoxspecies |