DNA metabarcoding diet analysis for species with parapatric vs sympatric distribution: a case study on subterranean rodents.

ABSTRACT: Closely related sympatric species commonly develop different ecological strategies to avoid competition. Ctenomys minutus and C. flamarioni are subterranean rodents parapatrically distributed in the southern Brazilian coastal plain, showing a narrow sympatric zone. To gain understanding on food preferences and possible competition for food resources, we evaluated their diet composition performing DNA metabarcoding analyzes of 67 C. minutus and 100 C. flamarioni scat samples, collected along the species geographical ranges. Thirteen plant families, mainly represented by Poaceae, Araliaceae, Asteraceae and Fabaceae, were identified in the diet of C. minutus. For C. flamarioni, 10 families were recovered, with a predominance of Poaceae, Araliaceae and Asteraceae. A significant correlation bet

SUBMITTER: Lopes CM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4815513 | biostudies-literature | 2015 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature