Large‐scale molecular barcoding of prey DNA reveals predictors of intrapopulation feeding diversity in a marine predator
Abstract Predator–prey interactions are critical in understanding how communities function. However, we need to describe intraspecific variation in diet to accurately depict those interactions. Harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) are an abundant marine predator that prey on species of conservation concern...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:2526e401cc244b738bdbc5833cd1cf37 2023-05-15T17:58:57+02:00 Large‐scale molecular barcoding of prey DNA reveals predictors of intrapopulation feeding diversity in a marine predator Madelyn R. Voelker Dietmar Schwarz Austen Thomas Benjamin W. Nelson Alejandro Acevedo‐Gutiérrez 2020-09-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.6638 https://doaj.org/article/2526e401cc244b738bdbc5833cd1cf37 EN eng Wiley https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.6638 https://doaj.org/toc/2045-7758 2045-7758 doi:10.1002/ece3.6638 https://doaj.org/article/2526e401cc244b738bdbc5833cd1cf37 Ecology and Evolution, Vol 10, Iss 18, Pp 9867-9885 (2020) intrapopulation feeding diversity pinniped predator–prey interactions proportional similarity index Ecology QH540-549.5 article 2020 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.6638 2022-12-31T05:24:24Z Abstract Predator–prey interactions are critical in understanding how communities function. However, we need to describe intraspecific variation in diet to accurately depict those interactions. Harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) are an abundant marine predator that prey on species of conservation concern. We estimated intrapopulation feeding diversity (variation in feeding habits between individuals of the same species) of harbor seals in the Salish Sea. Estimates of feeding diversity were examined relative to sex, month, and location using a novel approach that combined molecular techniques, repeated cross‐sectional sampling of scat, and a specialization metric (within‐individual consistency in diet measured by the Proportional Similarity Index (PSi)). Based on 1,083 scat samples collected from five haul‐out sites during four nonsequential years, we quantified diet using metabarcoding techniques and determined the sex of the scat depositor using a molecular assay. Results suggest that intrapopulation feeding diversity was present. Specialization was high over short periods (24–48 hr, PSi = 0.392, 95% CI = 0.013, R = 100,000) and variable in time and space. Females showed more specialization than males, particularly during summer and fall. Additionally, demersal and benthic prey species were correlated with more specialized diets. The latter finding suggests that this type of prey likely requires specific foraging strategies and that there are trade‐offs between pelagic and benthic foraging styles for harbor seals. This differential feeding on prey species, as well as between sexes of harbor seals, indicates that predator–prey interactions in harbor seals are complex and that each sex may have a different impact on species of conservation concern. As such, describing intrapopulation feeding diversity may unravel hitherto unknown complex predator–prey interactions in the community. Article in Journal/Newspaper Phoca vitulina Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Psi ENVELOPE(-63.000,-63.000,-64.300,-64.300) Ecology and Evolution 10 18 9867 9885 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
intrapopulation feeding diversity pinniped predator–prey interactions proportional similarity index Ecology QH540-549.5 |
spellingShingle |
intrapopulation feeding diversity pinniped predator–prey interactions proportional similarity index Ecology QH540-549.5 Madelyn R. Voelker Dietmar Schwarz Austen Thomas Benjamin W. Nelson Alejandro Acevedo‐Gutiérrez Large‐scale molecular barcoding of prey DNA reveals predictors of intrapopulation feeding diversity in a marine predator |
topic_facet |
intrapopulation feeding diversity pinniped predator–prey interactions proportional similarity index Ecology QH540-549.5 |
description |
Abstract Predator–prey interactions are critical in understanding how communities function. However, we need to describe intraspecific variation in diet to accurately depict those interactions. Harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) are an abundant marine predator that prey on species of conservation concern. We estimated intrapopulation feeding diversity (variation in feeding habits between individuals of the same species) of harbor seals in the Salish Sea. Estimates of feeding diversity were examined relative to sex, month, and location using a novel approach that combined molecular techniques, repeated cross‐sectional sampling of scat, and a specialization metric (within‐individual consistency in diet measured by the Proportional Similarity Index (PSi)). Based on 1,083 scat samples collected from five haul‐out sites during four nonsequential years, we quantified diet using metabarcoding techniques and determined the sex of the scat depositor using a molecular assay. Results suggest that intrapopulation feeding diversity was present. Specialization was high over short periods (24–48 hr, PSi = 0.392, 95% CI = 0.013, R = 100,000) and variable in time and space. Females showed more specialization than males, particularly during summer and fall. Additionally, demersal and benthic prey species were correlated with more specialized diets. The latter finding suggests that this type of prey likely requires specific foraging strategies and that there are trade‐offs between pelagic and benthic foraging styles for harbor seals. This differential feeding on prey species, as well as between sexes of harbor seals, indicates that predator–prey interactions in harbor seals are complex and that each sex may have a different impact on species of conservation concern. As such, describing intrapopulation feeding diversity may unravel hitherto unknown complex predator–prey interactions in the community. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Madelyn R. Voelker Dietmar Schwarz Austen Thomas Benjamin W. Nelson Alejandro Acevedo‐Gutiérrez |
author_facet |
Madelyn R. Voelker Dietmar Schwarz Austen Thomas Benjamin W. Nelson Alejandro Acevedo‐Gutiérrez |
author_sort |
Madelyn R. Voelker |
title |
Large‐scale molecular barcoding of prey DNA reveals predictors of intrapopulation feeding diversity in a marine predator |
title_short |
Large‐scale molecular barcoding of prey DNA reveals predictors of intrapopulation feeding diversity in a marine predator |
title_full |
Large‐scale molecular barcoding of prey DNA reveals predictors of intrapopulation feeding diversity in a marine predator |
title_fullStr |
Large‐scale molecular barcoding of prey DNA reveals predictors of intrapopulation feeding diversity in a marine predator |
title_full_unstemmed |
Large‐scale molecular barcoding of prey DNA reveals predictors of intrapopulation feeding diversity in a marine predator |
title_sort |
large‐scale molecular barcoding of prey dna reveals predictors of intrapopulation feeding diversity in a marine predator |
publisher |
Wiley |
publishDate |
2020 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.6638 https://doaj.org/article/2526e401cc244b738bdbc5833cd1cf37 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-63.000,-63.000,-64.300,-64.300) |
geographic |
Psi |
geographic_facet |
Psi |
genre |
Phoca vitulina |
genre_facet |
Phoca vitulina |
op_source |
Ecology and Evolution, Vol 10, Iss 18, Pp 9867-9885 (2020) |
op_relation |
https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.6638 https://doaj.org/toc/2045-7758 2045-7758 doi:10.1002/ece3.6638 https://doaj.org/article/2526e401cc244b738bdbc5833cd1cf37 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.6638 |
container_title |
Ecology and Evolution |
container_volume |
10 |
container_issue |
18 |
container_start_page |
9867 |
op_container_end_page |
9885 |
_version_ |
1766167687501709312 |