Using DNA metabarcoding to detect burrowing seabirds in a remote landscape

Abstract Species inventories and biodiversity assessments are critical to conservation. Yet cryptic species or recolonizing species can be challenging to detect. DNA metabarcoding provides an alternative tool to identify species that can be difficult to observe during field surveys. We test the effi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Conservation Science and Practice
Main Authors: Julie C. McInnes, Jeremy P. Bird, Bruce E. Deagle, Andrea M. Polanowski, Justine D. Shaw
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2021
Subjects:
ecosystem recovery
eDNA
eradication
faces
noninvasive
Pelecanoides
Ecology
QH540-549.5
General. Including nature conservation
geographical distribution
QH1-199.5
Antarctic
Antarc*
Macquarie Island
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.439
https://doaj.org/article/1c27fd0f26a049b6aaab2c7d1e3053f3
Description
Summary:Abstract Species inventories and biodiversity assessments are critical to conservation. Yet cryptic species or recolonizing species can be challenging to detect. DNA metabarcoding provides an alternative tool to identify species that can be difficult to observe during field surveys. We test the efficacy of DNA analysis to identify burrowing petrel species in a rapidly changing landscape, on a remote sub‐Antarctic island following pest eradication. Discarded feathers and scats provided high quality DNA for species identification, assisting in detection of new species arrivals and new breeding sites across Macquarie Island. We highlight how DNA metabarcoding informs species inventories and is a valuable tool to complement seabird field surveys.

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