The predator problem and PCR primers in molecular dietary analysis: Swamped or silenced; depth or breadth?. (10th September 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cuff, Jordan P.; Kitson, James J. N.; Hemprich‐Bennett, David; Tercel, Maximillian P. T. G.; Browett, Samuel S.; Evans, Darren M.
• Is Part Of: Molecular ecology resources. Volume 23:Number 1(2023)
• Page Start: 41
• Page End: 51
• Publication Date: 2022-09-10
• Subjects: amplification -- DNA metabarcoding -- food webs -- molecular analysis -- trophic interactions; Molecular ecology -- Periodicals; 572.8
• DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.13705
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1755-098X

Abstract

Abstract: Dietary metabarcoding has vastly improved our ability to analyse the diets of animals, but it is hampered by a plethora of technical limitations including potentially reduced data output due to the disproportionate amplification of the DNA of the focal predator, here termed "the predator problem". We review the various methods commonly used to overcome this problem, from deeper sequencing to exclusion of predator DNA during PCR, and how they may interfere with increasingly common multipredator‐taxon studies. We suggest that multiprimer approaches with an emphasis on achieving both depth and breadth of prey detections may overcome the issue to some extent, although multitaxon studies require further consideration, as highlighted by an empirical example. We also review several alternative methods for reducing the prevalence of predator DNA that are conceptually promising but require additional empirical examination. The predator problem is a key constraint on molecular dietary analyses but, through this synthesis, we hope to guide researchers in overcoming this in an effective and pragmatic way.