生物多样性 ›› 2023, Vol. 31 ›› Issue (6): 22586.  DOI: 10.17520/biods.2022586

• 研究报告: 动物多样性 • 上一篇    下一篇

基于DNA宏条形码技术的大兴安岭北部欧亚水獭冬季食性分析

湛振杰1, 张超2, 陈敏豪1, 王嘉栋1, 富爱华1, 范雨薇1, 栾晓峰1,*()   

  1. 1.北京林业大学生态与自然保护学院, 北京 100083
    2.国家林业和草原局国家公园(自然保护地)发展中心, 北京 100714
  • 收稿日期:2022-10-18 接受日期:2023-02-05 出版日期:2023-06-20 发布日期:2023-04-18
  • 通讯作者: * E-mail: luanxiaofeng@bjfu.edu.cn
  • 基金资助:
    东北地区水獭分布时空动态变化及其保护规划

DNA metabarcoding-based winter diet analysis of Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) in the northern Greater Khingan Mountains

Zhenjie Zhan1, Chao Zhang2, Minhao Chen1, Jiadong Wang1, Aihua Fu1, Yuwei Fan1, Xiaofeng Luan1,*()   

  1. 1. School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083
    2. National Park (Protected Area) Development Center, National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Beijing 100714
  • Received:2022-10-18 Accepted:2023-02-05 Online:2023-06-20 Published:2023-04-18
  • Contact: * E-mail: luanxiaofeng@bjfu.edu.cn

摘要:

欧亚水獭(Lutra lutra)是淡水生态系统重要的指示种和旗舰种, 然而在人为干扰和环境变化的背景下, 中国欧亚水獭种群数量大幅下降, 部分地区已局部灭绝。目前欧亚水獭主要分布于我国东北地区和西南地区, 其中大兴安岭是维持东北地区水獭种群稳定的关键区域。了解欧亚水獭的食性组成有利于理解其种间关系与生态系统功能, 对评估其生存状况、开展保护工作具有重要意义。本研究在大兴安岭北部共采集疑似欧亚水獭粪便样品50份, 使用DNA条形码技术对样品进行物种来源鉴定, 结果显示其中35份为欧亚水獭粪便。利用DNA宏条形码技术分析粪便中的物种组成, 共得到15种鱼类、2种蛙类、5种昆虫共计22种不同的物种类别。所有脊椎动物食物类别中, 杂色杜父鱼(Cottus poecilopus)的相对出现频率和相对序列丰度均最高, 分别为19.35%和27.32%, 其次为黑龙江林蛙(Rana amurensis), 分别为15.48%和21.73%; 科水平上, 杜父鱼科的相对出现频率和相对序列丰度均显著高于其他鱼类, 分别为32.26%和45.72%。结果表明, 大兴安岭北部欧亚水獭冬季主要捕食鱼类, 其次为蛙类, 其中鱼类主要以杜父鱼科为主; 此外还在少量水獭粪便中发现有蜻蜓目、襀翅目、毛翅目等水生昆虫, 可能来自水獭猎物。本研究结果可为了解水獭种群生存状况、制定相关政策、开展保护工作提供重要参考依据。

关键词: 欧亚水獭, 食性, DNA宏条形码, 非损伤性采样, 大兴安岭

Abstract

Aims: The Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) is a key indicator and flagship species of freshwater ecosystems. Unfortunately, human disturbance and environmental changes have caused a severe decrease in Eurasian otter populations in China, even resulting in extinction in some areas. At present, the species is predominantly found in northeast and southwest China, with the northern part of the Greater Khingan Mountains being one of the most important habitats for Eurasian otter populations in the northeast. Studying the diet composition of Eurasian otter is a valuable tactic in understanding its interspecific relationship and the functioning of its ecosystem, which is essential when assessing their survival status and carrying out conservation efforts. The purpose of this study is to obtain the diet of Eurasian otter in the north of Greater Khingan Mountains using DNA metabarcoding technology.

Methods: In this study, 50 suspected Eurasian otter fecal samples were collected from the northern Greater Khingan Mountains. Based on DNA meta barcoding technology, 35 samples were confirmed to be Eurasian otter fecal samples. Then, using DNA metabarcoding technology, species in the identified feces were analyzed to gain insight into the diet composition of the otters.

Results: In this study, 22 species were identified as Eurasian otter fecal samples, including 15 fishes, 2 frogs, and 5 insect species. Cottus poecilopus had the highest relative frequency of occurrence (19.35%) and relative read abundance (27.32%) among all the vertebrate foods, followed by Rana amurensis (15.48% and 21.73%, respectively). At the family level, Cottidae had a significantly higher relative frequency of occurrence (32.26%) and relative read abundance (45.72%) than other fishes.

Conclusion: The results of this study reveal that fish, primarily from the family Cottidae, are the main prey of Eurasian otters in the northern part of the Greater Khingan Mountains in winter, followed by frogs. In addition, some aquatic insects such as Odonata, Trichoptera and Plecoptera are found in a small amount of otter feces, which might come from otter prey. This research provides valuable insight into the survival status of otter populations, and can be used to inform the development of relevant policies and conservation efforts.

Key words: Lutra lutra, diet analysis, DNA metabarcoding, non-invasive sampling, the Greater Khingan Mountains