The application of DNA-based methods to the diet of Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) ...

• Main Author: Passmore, Abraham John
• Format: Thesis
• Language: unknown
• Published: University Of Tasmania 2023
• Subjects: Antarctic; Southern Ocean; Antarc*; Antarctic Krill; Euphausia superba
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.25959/23243495; https://figshare.utas.edu.au/articles/thesis/The_application_of_DNA-based_methods_to_the_diet_of_Antarctic_krill_Euphausia_superba_/23243495

Studying the diet of Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba Dana) is important for modelling the flow of energy and nutrients through the Southern Ocean food web. Previous studies have demonstrated that krill consume a diverse range of prey, but, have failed to detect or quantify the contribution of important prey groups. The aim of this thesis was to examine whether new DNA based methods can contribute to the analysis of krill diet. Initial work developed methods for preserving, extracting and analysing prey DNA derived from krill stomachs. These methods were shown to be capable of preserving large amounts of intact prey DNA and generating reproducible diet data. However, two problems with the method were identified. The first problem was the presence of a large amount of predator DNA in diet samples that competed with prey DNA during PCR amplification. Further work developed methods that removed predator DNA prior to PCR, or, blocked predator DNA amplification during PCR. These methods were successful when ...