DNA metabarcoding reveals that African leopard diet varies between habitats
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DNA metabarcoding reveals that African leopard diet varies between habitats. / Havmøller, Rasmus Worsøe; Jacobsen, Nis Sand; Havmøller, Linnea Worsøe; Rovero, Francesco; Scharff, Nikolaj; Bohmann, Kristine.
In: African Journal of Ecology, Vol. 59, No. 1, 2021, p. 37-50.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › peer-review
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T1 - DNA metabarcoding reveals that African leopard diet varies between habitats
AU - Havmøller, Rasmus Worsøe
AU - Jacobsen, Nis Sand
AU - Havmøller, Linnea Worsøe
AU - Rovero, Francesco
AU - Scharff, Nikolaj
AU - Bohmann, Kristine
PY - 2021
Y1 - 2021
N2 - Understanding carnivores' diet is key to understanding their adaptability in a rapidly changing world. However, studying diet of large carnivores is difficult due to their elusive nature. In this study, we performed DNA metabarcoding analyses of 82 putative leopard scats collected from two distinct, but connected, habitat types (rainforest and grassland) in the Udzungwa Mountains, Tanzania. Two mitochondrial markers were used to identify predator and prey. Metabarcoding confirmed that 60 of the collected scats (73%) originated from leopards, and nineteen mammalian prey DNA sequences were identified to species. Using prey size correction factors for leopards, and covariates on habitat type and prey ecology, we investigated whether differences in leopard dietary composition were detectable between habitats. We found that leopards in grassland consumed a larger mean prey size compared with leopards in rainforest. Small prey (70% of the biomass consumed by leopards in rainforest, while large prey (>= 80 kg) were only eaten in grassland. Arboreal species constituted 50% of the biomass consumed by rainforest leopards. Our results highlight the importance of arboreal species in their diet. From a management perspective, we suggest continued protection of all prey species in the protected areas to prevent human-wildlife conflicts.
AB - Understanding carnivores' diet is key to understanding their adaptability in a rapidly changing world. However, studying diet of large carnivores is difficult due to their elusive nature. In this study, we performed DNA metabarcoding analyses of 82 putative leopard scats collected from two distinct, but connected, habitat types (rainforest and grassland) in the Udzungwa Mountains, Tanzania. Two mitochondrial markers were used to identify predator and prey. Metabarcoding confirmed that 60 of the collected scats (73%) originated from leopards, and nineteen mammalian prey DNA sequences were identified to species. Using prey size correction factors for leopards, and covariates on habitat type and prey ecology, we investigated whether differences in leopard dietary composition were detectable between habitats. We found that leopards in grassland consumed a larger mean prey size compared with leopards in rainforest. Small prey (70% of the biomass consumed by leopards in rainforest, while large prey (>= 80 kg) were only eaten in grassland. Arboreal species constituted 50% of the biomass consumed by rainforest leopards. Our results highlight the importance of arboreal species in their diet. From a management perspective, we suggest continued protection of all prey species in the protected areas to prevent human-wildlife conflicts.
KW - Eastern Arc Mountains
KW - large carnivore
KW - scat analyses
KW - Tanzania
KW - Udzungwa
KW - SARISKA TIGER RESERVE
KW - UDZUNGWA MOUNTAINS
KW - PANTHERA-PARDUS
KW - PREY SELECTION
KW - FOOD-HABITS
KW - NATIONAL-PARK
KW - FOREST
KW - BIODIVERSITY
KW - PREDATION
KW - ABUNDANCE
U2 - 10.1111/aje.12817
DO - 10.1111/aje.12817
M3 - Journal article
VL - 59
SP - 37
EP - 50
JO - African Journal of Ecology
JF - African Journal of Ecology
SN - 0141-6707
IS - 1
ER -
ID: 251634363