What can DNA in fish stomachs can tell us about the Southern Ocean?

• Main Authors: Clarke, LJ, Trebilco, R, Walters, A, Polanowski, AM, Deagle, BE
• Format: Conference Object
• Language: English
• Published: Australian Antarctic Division 2019
• Subjects: Biological Sciences; Genetics; Population; Ecological and Evolutionary Genetics; Southern Ocean; Kerguelen; Indian
• Online Access: http://heardisland.antarctica.gov.au/research/kerguelen-plateau-symposium/the-kerguelen-plateau-marine-ecosystems-and-fisheries; http://ecite.utas.edu.au/128579

Mesopelagic fish form an important link betweenzooplankton and higher trophic levels in Southern Oceanfood webs, however, their diets are poorly known. Mostof the dietary information available comes from morphologicalanalysis of stomach contents (Hopkins andTorres, 1989; e.g. Gaskett et al., 2001; Pusch et al.,2004; Shreeve et al., 2009) and to a lesser extent fattyacid and stable isotopes. DNA sequencing could substantiallyimprove our knowledge of mesopelagic fishdiets, but has not previously been applied. We usedhigh-throughput DNA sequencing (HTS) of the 18Sribosomal DNA and mitochondrial cytochrome oxidaseI (COI) to characterise stomach contents of fourmyctophid and one bathylagid species collected at thesouthern extension of the Kerguelen Plateau (southernKerguelen Axis), one of the most productive regions inthe Indian sector of the Southern Ocean.