Network analysis using DNA metabarcoding data discloses important roles and links in the seabird community of the Eastern Tropical Atlantic

ABSTRACT: Predator-prey interactions are considered one of the most important interactions between species, providing information on the role of each species in the community and on the overall stability of food webs. DNA metabarcoding has the potential to provide highly informative data that can enhance substantially such trophic analyses, by providing more robust levels of information compared to earlier methods. Here we show, using the Cabo Verde seabird community, that trophic network analysis based on DNA metabarcoding of faecal samples can increase considerably our understanding of the trophic interactions in whole communities. Results revealed that these seabird species prey mostly on fish, with most seabirds relying heavily on very few prey species, which are also targeted by fisheries. This

ORGANISM(S): Hydrobates jabejabe (Cape Verde storm-petrel) Puffinus lherminieri boydi (Boyd’s shearwater) Phaethon aethereus (Red-billed tropicbird) Sula leucogaster (Brown booby) Calonectris edwardsii (Cape Verde shearwater) Bulweria bulwerii (Bulwer’s petrel)

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PROVIDER: S-BSST1004 | biostudies-other |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other