Faculty of Natural Sciences

TY - JOUR

T1 - Environmental DNA metabarcoding of cow dung reveals taxonomic and functional diversity of invertebrate assemblages

AU - Sigsgaard, Eva Egelyng

AU - Olsen, Kent

AU - Hansen, Morten D.D.

AU - Hansen, Oskar Liset Pryds

AU - Høye, Toke Thomas

AU - Svenning, Jens Christian

AU - Thomsen, Philip Francis

N1 - © 2020 The Authors. Molecular Ecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

PY - 2021/7

Y1 - 2021/7

N2 - Insects and other terrestrial invertebrates are declining in species richness and abundance. This includes the invertebrates associated with herbivore dung, which have been negatively affected by grazing abandonment and the progressive loss of large herbivores since the Late Pleistocene. Importantly, traditional monitoring of these invertebrates is time-consuming and requires considerable taxonomic expertise, which is becoming increasingly scarce. In this study, we investigated the potential of environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding of cow dung samples for biomonitoring of dung-associated invertebrates. From eight cowpats we recovered eDNA from 12 orders, 29 families, and at least 54 species of invertebrates (mostly insects), representing several functional groups. Furthermore, species compositions differed between the three sampled habitats of dry grassland, meadow, and forest. These differences were in accordance with the species’ ecology; for instance, several species known to be associated with humid conditions or lower temperatures were found only in the forest habitat. We discuss potential caveats of the method, as well as directions for future study and perspectives for implementation in research and monitoring.

AB - Insects and other terrestrial invertebrates are declining in species richness and abundance. This includes the invertebrates associated with herbivore dung, which have been negatively affected by grazing abandonment and the progressive loss of large herbivores since the Late Pleistocene. Importantly, traditional monitoring of these invertebrates is time-consuming and requires considerable taxonomic expertise, which is becoming increasingly scarce. In this study, we investigated the potential of environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding of cow dung samples for biomonitoring of dung-associated invertebrates. From eight cowpats we recovered eDNA from 12 orders, 29 families, and at least 54 species of invertebrates (mostly insects), representing several functional groups. Furthermore, species compositions differed between the three sampled habitats of dry grassland, meadow, and forest. These differences were in accordance with the species’ ecology; for instance, several species known to be associated with humid conditions or lower temperatures were found only in the forest habitat. We discuss potential caveats of the method, as well as directions for future study and perspectives for implementation in research and monitoring.

KW - conservation biology

KW - environmental DNA

KW - insects

KW - invertebrates

KW - BIODIVERSITY

KW - BEETLES

KW - COMMUNITIES

KW - DECLINE

KW - ARTHROPODS

KW - RECORDS

KW - FORESTS

KW - CONSERVATION

KW - GRASSLANDS

KW - DIET ANALYSIS

KW - Environmental DNA

KW - Environmental Monitoring

KW - Forests

KW - Invertebrates/genetics

KW - Biodiversity

KW - DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic

KW - Animals

KW - Cattle

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85106782442&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1111/mec.15734

DO - 10.1111/mec.15734

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 33205529

AN - SCOPUS:85106782442

VL - 30

SP - 3374

EP - 3389

JO - Molecular Ecology

JF - Molecular Ecology

SN - 0962-1083

IS - 13

ER -