Evaluating the Efficiency of DNA Metabarcoding to Analyze the Diet of Hippocampus guttulatus (Teleostea: Syngnathidae)

Life

Cataldo Pierri¹  Tamara Lazic¹  Giuseppe Corriero¹  Francesco Nonnis Marzano²  Frine Cardone³  Michele Deflorio⁴  Michele Gristina⁵  Carmela Gissi⁶  Monica Santamaria⁶  Bruno Fosso⁶  Graziano Pesole⁶  Bachir Balech⁶  Marinella Marzano⁶ 

[1] Department of Biology, University of Bari, 70125 Bari, Italy;Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, 43121 Parma, Italy;Department of Integrated Marine Ecology, Zoological Station Anton Dohrn, 80127 Naples, Italy;Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, 70125 Bari, Italy;Institute of Anthropic Impacts and Sustainability in Marine Environment (IAS), National Council of Research (CNR), 90100 Palermo, Italy;Institute of Biomembrane, Bioenergetics and Molecular Biotechnology (IBIOM), National Council of Research (CNR), 70121 Bari, Italy;

关键词: seahorses;    Hippocampus guttulatus;    diet;    DNA metabarcoding;   

DOI  :  10.3390/life11100998

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Seahorses are considered a flagship species for conservation efforts and due to their conservation status, improving knowledge on their dietary composition while applying a non-invasive approach, could be useful. Using Hippocampus guttulatus as a case study, the present study represents pioneering research into investigating the diet of seahorses by NGS-based DNA metabarcoding of fecal samples. The study developed and tested the protocol for fecal DNA metabarcoding during the feeding trials where captive seahorses were fed on a diet of known composition; the process was subsequently applied on fecal samples collected from wild individuals. The analysis of samples collected during the feeding trials indicated the reliability of the applied molecular approach by allowing the characterization of the effectively ingested prey. In the field study, among detected prey species, results revealed that the majority of the seahorse samples contained taxa such as Amphipoda, Decapoda, Isopoda, and Calanoida, while less common prey taxa were Gastropoda and Polyplacophora. As only a small amount of starting fecal material is needed and the sampling procedure is neither invasive nor lethal. The present study indicates DNA metabarcoding as useful for investigating seahorse diet and could help define management and conservation actions.

【 授权许可】

Unknown