TY - JOUR
T1 - Contrasting seasonal patterns in diet and dung-associated invertebrates of feral cattle and horses in a rewilding area
AU - Thomassen, Emil Ellegaard
AU - Sigsgaard, Eva Egelyng
AU - Jensen, Mads Reinholdt
AU - Olsen, Kent
AU - Hansen, Morten D. D.
AU - Svenning, J.-C.
AU - Thomsen, Philip Francis
PY - 2023/4
Y1 - 2023/4
N2 - Trophic rewilding is increasingly applied in restoration efforts, with the aim of reintroducing the ecological functions provided by large- bodied mammals and thereby promote self-regulating, biodiverse ecosystems. However, empirical evidence for the effects of megafauna introductions on the abundance and richness of other organisms such as plants and invertebrates, and the mechanisms involved still need strengthening. In this study, we use environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding of dung from co-existing feral cattle and horses to assess the seasonal variation in plant diet and dung-associated arthropods and nematodes. We found consistently high diet richness of horses, with low seasonal variability, while the generally lower dietary diversity of cattle increased substantially during summer. Intriguingly, season-specific diets differed, with a greater proportion of trees in the horses' diet during winter, where cattle relied more on shrubs. Graminoids were predominantly found in the diet of horses, but were generally underrepresented compared to previous studies, possibly due to the high prevalence of forbs in the study area. Dung-associated arthropod richness was higher for cattle, largely due to a high richness of flies during summer. Several species of dung-associated arthropods were found primarily in dung from one of the two herbivores, and our data confirmed known patterns of seasonal activity. Nematode richness was constantly higher for horses, and nematode communities were markedly different between the two species. Our results demonstrate complementary effects of cattle and horses through diet differences and dung-associated invertebrate communities, enhancing our understanding of large herbivore effects on vegetation and associated biodiversity. These results are directly applicable for decision-making in rewilding projects, suggesting biodiversity-benefits by inclusion of functionally different herbivores.
AB - Trophic rewilding is increasingly applied in restoration efforts, with the aim of reintroducing the ecological functions provided by large- bodied mammals and thereby promote self-regulating, biodiverse ecosystems. However, empirical evidence for the effects of megafauna introductions on the abundance and richness of other organisms such as plants and invertebrates, and the mechanisms involved still need strengthening. In this study, we use environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding of dung from co-existing feral cattle and horses to assess the seasonal variation in plant diet and dung-associated arthropods and nematodes. We found consistently high diet richness of horses, with low seasonal variability, while the generally lower dietary diversity of cattle increased substantially during summer. Intriguingly, season-specific diets differed, with a greater proportion of trees in the horses' diet during winter, where cattle relied more on shrubs. Graminoids were predominantly found in the diet of horses, but were generally underrepresented compared to previous studies, possibly due to the high prevalence of forbs in the study area. Dung-associated arthropod richness was higher for cattle, largely due to a high richness of flies during summer. Several species of dung-associated arthropods were found primarily in dung from one of the two herbivores, and our data confirmed known patterns of seasonal activity. Nematode richness was constantly higher for horses, and nematode communities were markedly different between the two species. Our results demonstrate complementary effects of cattle and horses through diet differences and dung-associated invertebrate communities, enhancing our understanding of large herbivore effects on vegetation and associated biodiversity. These results are directly applicable for decision-making in rewilding projects, suggesting biodiversity-benefits by inclusion of functionally different herbivores.
KW - arthropods
KW - Dung
KW - eDNA metabarcoding
KW - nematodes
KW - vegetation disturbance
KW - year-round grazing
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85147521925&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/mec.16847
DO - 10.1111/mec.16847
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 36744391
SN - 0962-1083
VL - 32
SP - 2071
EP - 2091
JO - Molecular Ecology
JF - Molecular Ecology
IS - 8
ER -