Regional Comparison of Snow Leopard (Panthera uncia) Diet using DNA Metabarcoding

Application of next-generation sequencing (NGS) to DNA metabarcoding can greatly increase the understanding of predator–prey dynamics and the conflict between wildlife and humans, but remains underutilized for carnivores such as the threatened snow leopard ( Panthera uncia ). To date, this technique...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biodiversity and conservation 2021-03, Vol.30 (3), p.797-817
Main Authors: Hacker, Charlotte E., Jevit, Matthew, Hussain, Shafqat, Muhammad, Ghulam, Munkhtsog, Bariushaa, Munkhtsog, Bayaraa, Zhang, Yuguang, Li, Diqiang, Liu, Yanlin, Farrington, John D., Balbakova, Farida, Alamanov, Azat, Kurmanaliev, Omurbek, Buyanaa, Chimeddorj, Bayandonoi, Gantulga, Ochirjav, Munkhtogtokh, Liang, Xuchang, Bian, Xiaoxing, Weckworth, Byron, Jackson, Rodney, Janecka, Jan E.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Analysis
Biodiversity
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Bos grunniens
Bos taurus
Capra aegagrus hircus
Capra falconeri
Capra sibirica
Caprinae
Carnivores
Carnivorous animals
Climate Change/Climate Change Impacts
Conservation Biology/Ecology
Cytochrome
Cytochrome oxidase
Cytochrome-c oxidase
Cytochromes
Deoxyribonucleic acid
Diet
DNA
DNA sequencing
Ecology
Ecosystems
Equus caballus
Geospatial data
Hybrids
Identification
Life Sciences
Livestock
Mammals
Mitochondria
Next-generation sequencing
Original Paper
Ovis aries
Panthera uncia
Predator-prey interactions
Predators
Prey
Pseudois nayaur
RNA
rRNA 12S
Sheep
Threatened species
Wildlife
Wildlife management
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Summary:Application of next-generation sequencing (NGS) to DNA metabarcoding can greatly increase the understanding of predator–prey dynamics and the conflict between wildlife and humans, but remains underutilized for carnivores such as the threatened snow leopard ( Panthera uncia ). To date, this technique was hindered by the difficulty in discerning closely related caprines ( Caprinae ). We identified a segment of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (MT-CO1) to differentiate these prey, and used this marker in tandem with a portion of mitochondrial 12S rRNA (MT-RNR1) to determine dietary items in 165 genetically confirmed snow leopard scats from four range countries. Identified prey species consisted of ten medium to large mammals, three small mammals, and two birds. The dominant prey consumed varied by country, with markhor ( Capra falconeri ) most prevalent in Pakistan, Siberian ibex ( C. sibirica ) in Mongolia and Kyrgyzstan, and blue sheep ( Pseudois nayaur ) in China. Livestock comprised 31% of diet occurrences from Pakistan and 15% from Mongolia. Domestic livestock included goat ( C. aegagrus hircus ), sheep ( Ovis aries ), bovids ( Bos taurus, B. grunniens, and potentially hybrids), and horse ( Equus caballus ). Protection and management of regionally specific wild prey is crucial for sustaining snow leopard populations, although overall dietary breadth suggests that snow leopards may exploit other species if necessary, including livestock. Additional sampling efforts across seasons, years, regions, and areas with varying degrees of livestock depredation are needed. MT-CO1 in conjunction with MT-RNR1 can be applied to other carnivore diet studies, making it an important tool for conservation and research, particularly in ecosystems with pastoral communities.
ISSN:0960-3115
1572-9710
DOI:10.1007/s10531-021-02118-6