title: DNA metabarcoding diet analysis for species with parapatric vs sympatric distribution: a case study on subterranean rodents.
abstract: Closely related sympatric species commonly develop different ecological strategies to avoid competition. Ctenomys minutus and C. flamarioni are subterranean rodents parapatrically distributed in the southern Brazilian coastal plain, showing a narrow sympatric zone. To gain understanding on food preferences and possible competition for food resources, we evaluated their diet composition performing DNA metabarcoding analyzes of 67 C. minutus and 100 C. flamarioni scat samples, collected along the species geographical ranges. Thirteen plant families, mainly represented by Poaceae, Araliaceae, Asteraceae and Fabaceae, were identified in the diet of C. minutus. For C. flamarioni, 10 families were recovered, with a predominance of Poaceae, Araliaceae and Asteraceae. A significant correlation between diet composition and geographical distance was detected in C. minutus, whereas the diet of C. flamarioni was quite homogeneous throughout its geographical distribution. No significant differences were observed between males and females of each species. However, differences in diet composition between species were evident according to multivariate analysis. Our results suggest some level of diet partitioning between C. flamarioni and C. minutus in the sympatric region. While the first species is more specialized on few plant items, the second showed a more varied and heterogeneous diet pattern among individuals. These differences might have been developed to avoid competition in the region of co-occurrence. Resource availability in the environment also seems to influence food choices. Our data indicate that C. minutus and C. flamarioni are generalist species, but that some preference for Poaceae, Asteraceae and Araliaceae families can be suggested for both rodents.
authors: Laboratoire d'Ecologie Alpine, CNRS-UMR 5553, Université Joseph Fourier, Grenoble, France.
authors: C M
authors: CM
authors: Lopes
authors: Laboratoire d'Ecologie Alpine, CNRS-UMR 5553, Université Joseph Fourier, Grenoble, France.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: De Barba
authors: Laboratoire d'Ecologie Alpine, CNRS-UMR 5553, Université Joseph Fourier, Grenoble, France.
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Boyer
authors: Laboratoire d'Ecologie Alpine, CNRS-UMR 5553, Université Joseph Fourier, Grenoble, France.
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Mercier
authors: Departamento de Botânica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
authors: P J S
authors: PJ
authors: da Silva Filho
authors: Laboratório de Citogenética e Evolução, Departamento de Genética, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
authors: L M
authors: LM
authors: Heidtmann
authors: Laboratório de Citogenética e Evolução, Departamento de Genética, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Galiano
authors: Laboratório de Citogenética e Evolução, Departamento de Genética, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
authors: B B
authors: BB
authors: Kubiak
authors: Laboratório de Citogenética e Evolução, Departamento de Genética, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Langone
authors: Laboratório de Citogenética e Evolução, Departamento de Genética, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
authors: F M
authors: FM
authors: Garcias
authors: Laboratoire d'Ecologie Alpine, CNRS-UMR 5553, Université Joseph Fourier, Grenoble, France.
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Gielly
authors: Laboratoire d'Ecologie Alpine, CNRS-UMR 5553, Université Joseph Fourier, Grenoble, France.
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Coissac
authors: Laboratório de Citogenética e Evolução, Departamento de Genética, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
authors: T R O
authors: TR
authors: de Freitas
authors: Laboratoire d'Ecologie Alpine, CNRS-UMR 5553, Université Joseph Fourier, Grenoble, France.
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Taberlet
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil; D058893:DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic / Q000379:methods*; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary*; D017753:Ecosystem; D005260:Female; D005843:Geography; D008297:Male; D010944:Plants / Q000235:genetics; D012377:Rodentia / Q000502:physiology*; D013045:Species Specificity; D061350:Sympatry
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