Molecular analysis of the value of Horseshoe Crab eggs to migrating shorebirds
Detection of prey DNA from faecal samples is a non-invasive method being successfully applied to the dietary analysis of birds as well as other vertebrates and invertebrates. We have employed this technique to examine the significance of Horseshoe Crab eggs (Limulus polyphemus) for Dunlins (Calidris...
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Online Access: | https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/87707/ https://doi.org/10.3184/175815515X14455290976316 |
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ftunivcardiff:oai:https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk:87707 2023-05-15T15:48:16+02:00 Molecular analysis of the value of Horseshoe Crab eggs to migrating shorebirds Novcic, Ivana Mizrahi, David S. Veit, Richard R. Symondson, William Oliver Christian 2015-12-01 https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/87707/ https://doi.org/10.3184/175815515X14455290976316 unknown Novcic, Ivana, Mizrahi, David S., Veit, Richard R. and Symondson, William Oliver Christian https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/view/cardiffauthors/A074468N.html orcid:0000-0002-3343-4679 orcid:0000-0002-3343-4679 2015. Molecular analysis of the value of Horseshoe Crab eggs to migrating shorebirds. Avian Biology Research 8 (4) , pp. 210-220. 10.3184/175815515X14455290976316 https://doi.org/10.3184/175815515X14455290976316 doi:10.3184/175815515X14455290976316 Article PeerReviewed 2015 ftunivcardiff https://doi.org/10.3184/175815515X14455290976316 2022-11-03T23:38:08Z Detection of prey DNA from faecal samples is a non-invasive method being successfully applied to the dietary analysis of birds as well as other vertebrates and invertebrates. We have employed this technique to examine the significance of Horseshoe Crab eggs (Limulus polyphemus) for Dunlins (Calidris alpina), Semipalmated Sandpipers (Calidris pusilla), Least Sandpipers (Calidris minutilla) and Short-billed Dowitchers (Limnodromus griseus) during northbound migration at their major stopover area in Delaware Bay. This was accomplished through polymerase chain reaction amplification of Limulus DNA from faecal samples using new Horseshoe Crab-specific primers. We detected the consumption of crab eggs in all study species, although results suggest that eggs may be a less important food source for Least Sandpipers than for the other species. Consumption of eggs increases as the migration season progresses, implying a strong preference of birds for this resource at the end of May, when eggs are readily accessible. The results confirm the value of Horseshoe Crab eggs for migrating shorebirds in this crucial stopover area. The Limulus-specific primers we designed can be effectively used for detection of semidigested Limulus DNA from faecal samples and thus they can be employed in the dietary analysis of other predators that seasonally capitalise on Horseshoe Crabs or their eggs. Article in Journal/Newspaper Calidris alpina Cardiff University: ORCA (Online Research @ Cardiff) Avian Biology Research 8 4 210 220 |
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Open Polar |
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Cardiff University: ORCA (Online Research @ Cardiff) |
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ftunivcardiff |
language |
unknown |
description |
Detection of prey DNA from faecal samples is a non-invasive method being successfully applied to the dietary analysis of birds as well as other vertebrates and invertebrates. We have employed this technique to examine the significance of Horseshoe Crab eggs (Limulus polyphemus) for Dunlins (Calidris alpina), Semipalmated Sandpipers (Calidris pusilla), Least Sandpipers (Calidris minutilla) and Short-billed Dowitchers (Limnodromus griseus) during northbound migration at their major stopover area in Delaware Bay. This was accomplished through polymerase chain reaction amplification of Limulus DNA from faecal samples using new Horseshoe Crab-specific primers. We detected the consumption of crab eggs in all study species, although results suggest that eggs may be a less important food source for Least Sandpipers than for the other species. Consumption of eggs increases as the migration season progresses, implying a strong preference of birds for this resource at the end of May, when eggs are readily accessible. The results confirm the value of Horseshoe Crab eggs for migrating shorebirds in this crucial stopover area. The Limulus-specific primers we designed can be effectively used for detection of semidigested Limulus DNA from faecal samples and thus they can be employed in the dietary analysis of other predators that seasonally capitalise on Horseshoe Crabs or their eggs. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Novcic, Ivana Mizrahi, David S. Veit, Richard R. Symondson, William Oliver Christian |
spellingShingle |
Novcic, Ivana Mizrahi, David S. Veit, Richard R. Symondson, William Oliver Christian Molecular analysis of the value of Horseshoe Crab eggs to migrating shorebirds |
author_facet |
Novcic, Ivana Mizrahi, David S. Veit, Richard R. Symondson, William Oliver Christian |
author_sort |
Novcic, Ivana |
title |
Molecular analysis of the value of Horseshoe Crab eggs to migrating shorebirds |
title_short |
Molecular analysis of the value of Horseshoe Crab eggs to migrating shorebirds |
title_full |
Molecular analysis of the value of Horseshoe Crab eggs to migrating shorebirds |
title_fullStr |
Molecular analysis of the value of Horseshoe Crab eggs to migrating shorebirds |
title_full_unstemmed |
Molecular analysis of the value of Horseshoe Crab eggs to migrating shorebirds |
title_sort |
molecular analysis of the value of horseshoe crab eggs to migrating shorebirds |
publishDate |
2015 |
url |
https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/87707/ https://doi.org/10.3184/175815515X14455290976316 |
genre |
Calidris alpina |
genre_facet |
Calidris alpina |
op_relation |
Novcic, Ivana, Mizrahi, David S., Veit, Richard R. and Symondson, William Oliver Christian https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/view/cardiffauthors/A074468N.html orcid:0000-0002-3343-4679 orcid:0000-0002-3343-4679 2015. Molecular analysis of the value of Horseshoe Crab eggs to migrating shorebirds. Avian Biology Research 8 (4) , pp. 210-220. 10.3184/175815515X14455290976316 https://doi.org/10.3184/175815515X14455290976316 doi:10.3184/175815515X14455290976316 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.3184/175815515X14455290976316 |
container_title |
Avian Biology Research |
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8 |
container_issue |
4 |
container_start_page |
210 |
op_container_end_page |
220 |
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1766383267692412928 |