TY - JOUR

T1 - An invertebrate stomach's view on vertebrate ecology

T2 - certain invertebrates could be used as "vertebrate samplers'' and deliver DNA-based information on many aspects of vertebrate ecology

AU - Calvignac-Spencer, Sébastien

AU - Leendertz, Fabian H.

AU - Gilbert, Tom

AU - Schubert, Grit

PY - 2013/11/1

Y1 - 2013/11/1

N2 - Recent studies suggest that vertebrate genetic material ingested by invertebrates (iDNA) can be used to investigate vertebrate ecology. Given the ubiquity of invertebrates that feed on vertebrates across the globe, iDNA might qualify as a very powerful tool for 21st century population and conservation biologists. Here, we identify some invertebrate characteristics that will likely influence iDNA retrieval and elaborate on the potential uses of invertebrate-derived information. We hypothesize that beyond inventorying local faunal diversity, iDNA should allow for more profound insights into wildlife population density, size, mortality, and infectious agents. Based on the similarities of iDNA with other low-quality sources of DNA, a general technical framework for iDNA analyses is proposed. As it is likely that no such thing as a single ideal iDNA sampler exists, forthcoming research efforts should aim at cataloguing invertebrate properties relevant to iDNA retrieval so as to guide future usage of the invertebrate tool box.

AB - Recent studies suggest that vertebrate genetic material ingested by invertebrates (iDNA) can be used to investigate vertebrate ecology. Given the ubiquity of invertebrates that feed on vertebrates across the globe, iDNA might qualify as a very powerful tool for 21st century population and conservation biologists. Here, we identify some invertebrate characteristics that will likely influence iDNA retrieval and elaborate on the potential uses of invertebrate-derived information. We hypothesize that beyond inventorying local faunal diversity, iDNA should allow for more profound insights into wildlife population density, size, mortality, and infectious agents. Based on the similarities of iDNA with other low-quality sources of DNA, a general technical framework for iDNA analyses is proposed. As it is likely that no such thing as a single ideal iDNA sampler exists, forthcoming research efforts should aim at cataloguing invertebrate properties relevant to iDNA retrieval so as to guide future usage of the invertebrate tool box.

KW - biodiversity

KW - coprophagia

KW - hematophagia

KW - host preference

KW - iDNA

KW - saprophagia

KW - vertebrate ecology

U2 - 10.1002/bies.201300060

DO - 10.1002/bies.201300060

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 23913504

VL - 35

SP - 1004

EP - 1013

JO - BioEssays

JF - BioEssays

SN - 0265-9247

IS - 11

ER -