Partitioning of diet between species and life history stages of sympatric and cryptic snappers (Lutjanidae) based on DNA metabarcoding

M. Takahashi; J.D. DiBattista; S. Jarman; S.J. Newman; C.B. Wakefield; E.S. Harvey; M. Bunce

doi:10.1038/s41598-020-60779-9

Back

Partitioning of diet between species and life history stages of sympatric and cryptic snappers (Lutjanidae) based on DNA metabarcoding

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Partitioning of diet between species and life history stages of sympatric and cryptic snappers (Lutjanidae) based on DNA metabarcoding

M. Takahashi, J.D. DiBattista, S. Jarman, S.J. Newman, C.B. Wakefield, E.S. Harvey and M. Bunce

Scientific Reports, Vol.10(1), Art. 4319

2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-60779-9

Files and links (2)

pdf

metabarcoding.pdfDownload View

Published (Version of Record) Open Access

url

Link to Published Version *Subscription may be requiredView

Abstract

Lutjanus erythropterus and L. malabaricus are sympatric, sister taxa that are important to fisheries throughout the Indo-Pacific. Their juveniles are morphologically indistinguishable (i.e. cryptic). A DNA metabarcoding dietary study was undertaken to assess the diet composition and partitioning between the juvenile and adult life history stages of these two lutjanids. Major prey taxa were comprised of teleosts and crustaceans for all groups except adult L. erythropterus, which instead consumed soft bodied invertebrates (e.g. tunicates, comb jellies and medusae) as well as teleosts, with crustaceans being notably absent. Diet composition was significantly different among life history stages and species, which may be associated with niche habitat partitioning or differences in mouth morphology within adult life stages. This study provides the first evidence of diet partitioning between cryptic juveniles of overlapping lutjanid species, thus providing new insights into the ecological interactions, habitat associations, and the specialised adaptations required for the coexistence of closely related species. This study has improved our understanding of the differential contributions of the juvenile and adult diets of these sympatric species within food webs. The diet partitioning reported in this study was only revealed by the taxonomic resolution provided by the DNA metabarcoding approach and highlights the potential utility of this method to refine the dietary components of reef fishes more generally.

Details

Title: Partitioning of diet between species and life history stages of sympatric and cryptic snappers (Lutjanidae) based on DNA metabarcoding
Authors/Creators: M. Takahashi (Author/Creator) - Curtin University
J.D. DiBattista (Author/Creator) - Australian Museum
S. Jarman (Author/Creator) - The University of Western Australia
S.J. Newman (Author/Creator) - Government of Western Australia
C.B. Wakefield (Author/Creator) - Government of Western Australia
E.S. Harvey (Author/Creator) - Curtin University
M. Bunce (Author/Creator) - Curtin University
Publication Details: Scientific Reports, Vol.10(1), Art. 4319
Publisher: Springer Nature
Identifiers: 991005542162507891
Copyright: © 2020 Springer Nature Limited
Murdoch Affiliation: Murdoch University
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

Source: InCites

Metrics

48 File views/ downloads

56 Record Views

33 Times Cited - Web of Science

See more details

InCites Highlights

These are selected metrics from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool, related to this output

Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Citation topics: 3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology; 3.64 Phylogenetics & Genomics; 3.64.2564 Environmental DNA
Web Of Science research areas: Ecology
ESI research areas: Plant & Animal Science