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Meier R, Hartop E, Pylatiuk C, Srivathsan A. Towards holistic insect monitoring: species discovery, description, identification and traits for all insects. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2024; 379:20230120. [PMID: 38705187 PMCID: PMC11070263 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2023.0120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Holistic insect monitoring needs scalable techniques to overcome taxon biases, determine species abundances, and gather functional traits for all species. This requires that we address taxonomic impediments and the paucity of data on abundance, biomass and functional traits. We here outline how these data deficiencies could be addressed at scale. The workflow starts with large-scale barcoding (megabarcoding) of all specimens from mass samples obtained at biomonitoring sites. The barcodes are then used to group the specimens into molecular operational taxonomic units that are subsequently tested/validated as species with a second data source (e.g. morphology). New species are described using barcodes, images and short diagnoses, and abundance data are collected for both new and described species. The specimen images used for species discovery then become the raw material for training artificial intelligence identification algorithms and collecting trait data such as body size, biomass and feeding modes. Additional trait data can be obtained from vouchers by using genomic tools developed by molecular ecologists. Applying this pipeline to a few samples per site will lead to greatly improved insect monitoring regardless of whether the species composition of a sample is determined with images, metabarcoding or megabarcoding. This article is part of the theme issue 'Towards a toolkit for global insect biodiversity monitoring'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rudolf Meier
- Center for Integrative Biodiversity Discovery, Museum für Naturkunde, Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, Invalidenstraße 43, 10115 Berlin, Germany
- Institute of Biology, Humboldt University, 10115 Berlin, Germany
| | - Emily Hartop
- Center for Integrative Biodiversity Discovery, Museum für Naturkunde, Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, Invalidenstraße 43, 10115 Berlin, Germany
- Department of Natural History, NTNU University Museum, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, NO-7491, Norway
| | - Christian Pylatiuk
- Institute for Automation and Applied Informatics, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Amrita Srivathsan
- Center for Integrative Biodiversity Discovery, Museum für Naturkunde, Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, Invalidenstraße 43, 10115 Berlin, Germany
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2
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Srivathsan A, Loh RK, Ong EJ, Lee L, Ang Y, Kutty SN, Meier R. Network analysis with either Illumina or MinION reveals that detecting vertebrate species requires metabarcoding of iDNA from a diverse fly community. Mol Ecol 2023; 32:6418-6435. [PMID: 36326295 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Revised: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
DNA obtained from invertebrates (iDNA) can be metabarcoded in order to survey vertebrate communities. However, little attention has been paid to the interaction between the invertebrate and vertebrate species. Here, we tested for specialization by sampling the dung and carrion fly community of a swamp forest remnant along a disturbance gradient (10 sites: 80-310 m from a road). Approximately, 60% of the baited 407 flies yielded 294 vertebrate identifications based on two COI fragments and 16S. A bipartite network analysis found no statistically significant specialization in the interactions between fly and vertebrate species, but uncommon fly species can carry the signal for vertebrate species that are otherwise difficult to detect with iDNA. A spatial analysis revealed that most of the 20 vertebrate species reported in this study could be detected within 150 m of the road (18 spp.) and that the fly community sourced for iDNA was unexpectedly rich (24 species, 3 families). They carried DNA for rare and common species inhabiting different layers of the forest (ground-dwelling: wild boar, Sunda pangolin, skinks, rats; arboreal: long-tailed macaque, Raffles' banded langur; flying: pin-striped tit-babbler, olive-winged bulbul). All our results were obtained with a new, greatly simplified iDNA protocol that eliminates DNA extraction by obtaining template directly through dissolving fly faeces and regurgitates with water. Lastly, we show that MinION- and Illumina-based metabarcoding yield similar results. We conclude by urging more studies that use different baits and involve experiments that are capable of revealing the dispersal capabilities of the flies carrying the iDNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amrita Srivathsan
- Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Discovery, Museum für Naturkunde, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Rebecca Ker Loh
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Elliott James Ong
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Leshon Lee
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Yuchen Ang
- Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | | | - Rudolf Meier
- Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Discovery, Museum für Naturkunde, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
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3
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Chua PYS, Bourlat SJ, Ferguson C, Korlevic P, Zhao L, Ekrem T, Meier R, Lawniczak MKN. Future of DNA-based insect monitoring. Trends Genet 2023:S0168-9525(23)00038-0. [PMID: 36907721 DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2023.02.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Revised: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023]
Abstract
Insects are crucial for ecosystem health but climate change and pesticide use are driving massive insect decline. To mitigate this loss, we need new and effective monitoring techniques. Over the past decade there has been a shift to DNA-based techniques. We describe key emerging techniques for sample collection. We suggest that the selection of tools should be broadened, and that DNA-based insect monitoring data need to be integrated more rapidly into policymaking. We argue that there are four key areas for advancement, including the generation of more complete DNA barcode databases to interpret molecular data, standardisation of molecular methods, scaling up of monitoring efforts, and integrating molecular tools with other technologies that allow continuous, passive monitoring based on images and/or laser imaging, detection, and ranging (LIDAR).
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Affiliation(s)
- Physilia Y S Chua
- Tree of Life, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, UK.
| | - Sarah J Bourlat
- Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change, Museum Koenig, Adenauerallee 127, 53113 Bonn, Germany
| | - Cameron Ferguson
- Tree of Life, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, UK
| | - Petra Korlevic
- Tree of Life, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, UK
| | - Leia Zhao
- Tree of Life, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, UK
| | - Torbjørn Ekrem
- Department of Natural History, NTNU University Museum, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway
| | - Rudolf Meier
- Museum für Naturkunde, Center for Integrative Biodiversity Discovery, Leibniz-Institut für Evolutions- und Biodiversitätsforschung, Berlin, Germany
| | - Mara K N Lawniczak
- Tree of Life, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, UK
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4
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de Flamingh A, Ishida Y, Pečnerová P, Vilchis S, Siegismund HR, van Aarde RJ, Malhi RS, Roca AL. Combining methods for non-invasive fecal DNA enables whole genome and metagenomic analyses in wildlife biology. Front Genet 2023; 13:1021004. [PMID: 36712847 PMCID: PMC9876978 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.1021004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Non-invasive biological samples benefit studies that investigate rare, elusive, endangered, or dangerous species. Integrating genomic techniques that use non-invasive biological sampling with advances in computational approaches can benefit and inform wildlife conservation and management. Here, we used non-invasive fecal DNA samples to generate low- to medium-coverage genomes (e.g., >90% of the complete nuclear genome at six X-fold coverage) and metagenomic sequences, combining widely available and accessible DNA collection cards with commonly used DNA extraction and library building approaches. DNA preservation cards are easy to transport and can be stored non-refrigerated, avoiding cumbersome or costly sample methods. The genomic library construction and shotgun sequencing approach did not require enrichment or targeted DNA amplification. The utility and potential of the data generated was demonstrated through genome scale and metagenomic analyses of zoo and free-ranging African savanna elephants (Loxodonta africana). Fecal samples collected from free-ranging individuals contained an average of 12.41% (5.54-21.65%) endogenous elephant DNA. Clustering of these elephants with others from the same geographic region was demonstrated by a principal component analysis of genetic variation using nuclear genome-wide SNPs. Metagenomic analyses identified taxa that included Loxodonta, green plants, fungi, arthropods, bacteria, viruses and archaea, showcasing the utility of this approach for addressing complementary questions based on host-associated DNA, e.g., pathogen and parasite identification. The molecular and bioinformatic analyses presented here contributes towards the expansion and application of genomic techniques to conservation science and practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alida de Flamingh
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, United States,*Correspondence: Alida de Flamingh, ; Ripan S. Malhi, ; Alfred L. Roca,
| | - Yasuko Ishida
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, United States
| | - Patrícia Pečnerová
- Section for Computational and RNA Biology, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Sahara Vilchis
- Department of Anthropology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, United States
| | - Hans R. Siegismund
- Section for Computational and RNA Biology, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Rudi J. van Aarde
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, Conservation Ecology Research Unit, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Ripan S. Malhi
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, United States,Department of Anthropology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, United States,*Correspondence: Alida de Flamingh, ; Ripan S. Malhi, ; Alfred L. Roca,
| | - Alfred L. Roca
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, United States,Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, United States,*Correspondence: Alida de Flamingh, ; Ripan S. Malhi, ; Alfred L. Roca,
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Wührl L, Pylatiuk C, Giersch M, Lapp F, von Rintelen T, Balke M, Schmidt S, Cerretti P, Meier R. DiversityScanner: Robotic handling of small invertebrates with machine learning methods. Mol Ecol Resour 2021; 22:1626-1638. [PMID: 34863029 DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.13567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2021] [Revised: 11/20/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Invertebrate biodiversity remains poorly understood although it comprises much of the terrestrial animal biomass, most species and supplies many ecosystem services. The main obstacle is specimen-rich samples obtained with quantitative sampling techniques (e.g., Malaise trapping). Traditional sorting requires manual handling, while molecular techniques based on metabarcoding lose the association between individual specimens and sequences and thus struggle with obtaining precise abundance information. Here we present a sorting robot that prepares specimens from bulk samples for barcoding. It detects, images and measures individual specimens from a sample and then moves them into the wells of a 96-well microplate. We show that the images can be used to train convolutional neural networks (CNNs) that are capable of assigning the specimens to 14 insect taxa (usually families) that are particularly common in Malaise trap samples. The average assignment precision for all taxa is 91.4% (75%-100%). This ability of the robot to identify common taxa then allows for taxon-specific subsampling, because the robot can be instructed to only pick a prespecified number of specimens for abundant taxa. To obtain biomass information, the images are also used to measure specimen length and estimate body volume. We outline how the DiversityScanner can be a key component for tackling and monitoring invertebrate diversity by combining molecular and morphological tools: the images generated by the robot become training images for machine learning once they are labelled with taxonomic information from DNA barcodes. We suggest that a combination of automation, machine learning and DNA barcoding has the potential to tackle invertebrate diversity at an unprecedented scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenz Wührl
- Institute for Automation and Applied Informatics (IAI), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Christian Pylatiuk
- Institute for Automation and Applied Informatics (IAI), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Matthias Giersch
- Institute for Automation and Applied Informatics (IAI), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Florian Lapp
- Institute for Automation and Applied Informatics (IAI), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Thomas von Rintelen
- Museum für Naturkunde, Center for Integrative Biodiversity Discovery, Leibniz-Institut für Evolutions- und Biodiversitätsforschung, Berlin, Germany
| | - Michael Balke
- SNSB - Zoologische Staatssammlung München, Munich, Germany
| | - Stefan Schmidt
- SNSB - Zoologische Staatssammlung München, Munich, Germany
| | - Pierfilippo Cerretti
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology 'Charles Darwin', Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Rudolf Meier
- Museum für Naturkunde, Center for Integrative Biodiversity Discovery, Leibniz-Institut für Evolutions- und Biodiversitätsforschung, Berlin, Germany
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Lopes S, Calegaro-Marques C, Klain V, Chaves ÓM, Bicca-Marques JC. Necropsies disclose a low helminth parasite diversity in periurban howler monkeys. Am J Primatol 2021; 84:e23346. [PMID: 34783067 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.23346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Revised: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Primate-parasite interactions are often investigated via coprological studies given ethical and conservation restrictions of collecting primate hosts. Yet, these studies are inadequate to recover adult helminths for taxonomic identification and to accurately assess their prevalence, intensity, abundance, and site of infection. Fresh carcasses found in anthropogenic landscapes come as informative and reliable alternatives. In this study, we identified the helminths of brown howler monkeys (Alouatta guariba clamitans) and their sites of infection, and measured their prevalence, intensity, and abundance of infection. We necropsied 18 adult males, 11 adult females, and 7 juvenile males that died in conflicts with the anthropogenic environment (domestic dog attacks, n = 11; electrocutions and road-kills, n = 10 each; unknown, n = 5) in periurban landscapes of southern Brazil between 2013 and 2019. We found three nematodes (Trypanoxyuris minutus, Dipetalonema gracile, and Parabronema bonnei) and one cestode (Bertiella cf. studeri), a diversity estimated to account for a sampling completeness of 99%. Prevalence ranged from 3% for P. bonnei to 100% for T. minutus. Mean abundance ranged from 2 (D. gracile and B. cf. studeri) to 55,116 (T. minutus) and mean intensity of infection ranged from 4 (B. cf. studeri) to 55,116 (T. minutus). Trypanoxyuris minutus sex ratio was strongly male-biased. The intensity of infection with T. minutus was higher in juvenile males and adult females than in adult males. The low parasite diversity and the helminths' mode of transmission are compatible with howlers' arboreality and folivorous-frugivorous diet. The howlers were not infected with soil-transmitted helminth parasites of humans and domestic animals on the ground and probably did not eat invertebrates to complement the diet. Given the lack of evidence of howler health problems, we suggest that the causes of death of the necropsied howlers are the major threats to the long-term conservation of the species at the study periurban landscapes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Lopes
- Departamento de Zoologia, Laboratório de Helmintologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Cláudia Calegaro-Marques
- Departamento de Zoologia, Laboratório de Helmintologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Vinícius Klain
- Escola de Ciências da Saúde e da Vida, Laboratório de Primatologia, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, PUCRS, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Óscar M Chaves
- Escola de Ciências da Saúde e da Vida, Laboratório de Primatologia, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, PUCRS, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.,Escuela de Biología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Júlio César Bicca-Marques
- Escola de Ciências da Saúde e da Vida, Laboratório de Primatologia, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, PUCRS, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
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Srivathsan A, Lee L, Katoh K, Hartop E, Kutty SN, Wong J, Yeo D, Meier R. ONTbarcoder and MinION barcodes aid biodiversity discovery and identification by everyone, for everyone. BMC Biol 2021; 19:217. [PMID: 34587965 PMCID: PMC8479912 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-021-01141-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND DNA barcodes are a useful tool for discovering, understanding, and monitoring biodiversity which are critical tasks at a time of rapid biodiversity loss. However, widespread adoption of barcodes requires cost-effective and simple barcoding methods. We here present a workflow that satisfies these conditions. It was developed via "innovation through subtraction" and thus requires minimal lab equipment, can be learned within days, reduces the barcode sequencing cost to < 10 cents, and allows fast turnaround from specimen to sequence by using the portable MinION sequencer. RESULTS We describe how tagged amplicons can be obtained and sequenced with the real-time MinION sequencer in many settings (field stations, biodiversity labs, citizen science labs, schools). We also provide amplicon coverage recommendations that are based on several runs of the latest generation of MinION flow cells ("R10.3") which suggest that each run can generate barcodes for > 10,000 specimens. Next, we present a novel software, ONTbarcoder, which overcomes the bioinformatics challenges posed by MinION reads. The software is compatible with Windows 10, Macintosh, and Linux, has a graphical user interface (GUI), and can generate thousands of barcodes on a standard laptop within hours based on only two input files (FASTQ, demultiplexing file). We document that MinION barcodes are virtually identical to Sanger and Illumina barcodes for the same specimens (> 99.99%) and provide evidence that MinION flow cells and reads have improved rapidly since 2018. CONCLUSIONS We propose that barcoding with MinION is the way forward for government agencies, universities, museums, and schools because it combines low consumable and capital cost with scalability. Small projects can use the flow cell dongle ("Flongle") while large projects can rely on MinION flow cells that can be stopped and re-used after collecting sufficient data for a given project.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amrita Srivathsan
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Leshon Lee
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Kazutaka Katoh
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
- Artificial Intelligence Research Center, AIST, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Emily Hartop
- Zoology Department, Stockholms Universitet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Station Linné, Öland, Sweden
| | - Sujatha Narayanan Kutty
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Tropical Marine Science Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Johnathan Wong
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Darren Yeo
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Rudolf Meier
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
- Museum für Naturkunde, Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, Center for Integrative Biodiversity Discovery, Berlin, Germany.
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Chua PYS, Crampton-Platt A, Lammers Y, Alsos IG, Boessenkool S, Bohmann K. Metagenomics: A viable tool for reconstructing herbivore diet. Mol Ecol Resour 2021; 21:2249-2263. [PMID: 33971086 PMCID: PMC8518049 DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.13425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2020] [Revised: 04/08/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Metagenomics can generate data on the diet of herbivores, without the need for primer selection and PCR enrichment steps as is necessary in metabarcoding. Metagenomic approaches to diet analysis have remained relatively unexplored, requiring validation of bioinformatic steps. Currently, no metagenomic herbivore diet studies have utilized both chloroplast and nuclear markers as reference sequences for plant identification, which would increase the number of reads that could be taxonomically informative. Here, we explore how in silico simulation of metagenomic data sets resembling sequences obtained from faecal samples can be used to validate taxonomic assignment. Using a known list of sequences to create simulated data sets, we derived reliable identification parameters for taxonomic assignments of sequences. We applied these parameters to characterize the diet of western capercaillies (Tetrao urogallus) located in Norway, and compared the results with metabarcoding trnL P6 loop data generated from the same samples. Both methods performed similarly in the number of plant taxa identified (metagenomics 42 taxa, metabarcoding 43 taxa), with no significant difference in species resolution (metagenomics 24%, metabarcoding 23%). We further observed that while metagenomics was strongly affected by the age of faecal samples, with fresh samples outperforming old samples, metabarcoding was not affected by sample age. On the other hand, metagenomics allowed us to simultaneously obtain the mitochondrial genome of the western capercaillies, thereby providing additional ecological information. Our study demonstrates the potential of utilizing metagenomics for diet reconstruction but also highlights key considerations as compared to metabarcoding for future utilization of this technique.
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Affiliation(s)
- Physilia Y S Chua
- Section for Evolutionary Genomics, Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Youri Lammers
- Tromsø Museum, UiT - The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Inger G Alsos
- Tromsø Museum, UiT - The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Sanne Boessenkool
- Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis (CEES), Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Kristine Bohmann
- Section for Evolutionary Genomics, Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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9
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Tsutaya T, Mackie M, Sawafuji R, Miyabe-Nishiwaki T, Olsen JV, Cappellini E. Faecal proteomics as a novel method to study mammalian behaviour and physiology. Mol Ecol Resour 2021; 21:1808-1819. [PMID: 33720532 PMCID: PMC8360081 DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.13380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2020] [Revised: 02/28/2021] [Accepted: 03/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Mammalian faeces can be collected noninvasively during field research and provide valuable information on the ecology and evolution of the source individuals. Undigested food remains, genome/metagenome, steroid hormones, and stable isotopes obtained from faecal samples provide evidence on diet, host/symbiont genetics, and physiological status of the individuals. However, proteins in mammalian faeces have hardly been studied, which hinders the molecular investigations into the behaviour and physiology of the source individuals. Here, we apply mass spectrometry-based proteomics to faecal samples (n = 10), collected from infant, juvenile, and adult captive Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata), to describe the proteomes of the source individual, of the food it consumed, and its intestinal microbes. The results show that faecal proteomics is a useful method to: (i) investigate dietary changes along with breastfeeding and weaning, (ii) reveal the taxonomic and histological origin of the food items consumed, and (iii) estimate physiological status inside intestinal tracts. These types of insights are difficult or impossible to obtain through other molecular approaches. Most mammalian species are facing extinction risk and there is an urgent need to obtain knowledge on their ecology and evolution for better conservation strategy. The faecal proteomics framework we present here is easily applicable to wild settings and other mammalian species, and provides direct evidence of their behaviour and physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takumi Tsutaya
- Department of Evolutionary Studies of Biosystems, The Graduate University for Advanced Studies, Hayama, Japan.,Biogeochemistry Research Center, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology, Yokosuka, Japan
| | - Meaghan Mackie
- Evolutionary Genomics Section, The Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Proteomics Program, Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research, Faculty of Health Science, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Rikai Sawafuji
- Department of Evolutionary Studies of Biosystems, The Graduate University for Advanced Studies, Hayama, Japan
| | | | - Jesper V Olsen
- Proteomics Program, Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research, Faculty of Health Science, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Enrico Cappellini
- Evolutionary Genomics Section, The Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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10
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Faecal DNA to the rescue: Shotgun sequencing of non-invasive samples reveals two subspecies of Southeast Asian primates to be Critically Endangered species. Sci Rep 2020; 10:9396. [PMID: 32523128 PMCID: PMC7287133 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-66007-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2019] [Accepted: 04/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
A significant number of Southeast Asian mammal species described in the 19th and 20th century were subsequently synonymized and are now considered subspecies. Many are affected by rapid habitat loss which creates an urgent need to re-assess the conservation status based on species boundaries established with molecular data. However, such data are lacking and difficult to obtain for many populations and subspecies. We document via a literature survey and empirical study how shotgun sequencing of faecal DNA is a still underutilized but powerful tool for accelerating such evaluations. We obtain 11 mitochondrial genomes for three subspecies in the langur genus Presbytis through shotgun sequencing of faecal DNA (P. femoralis femoralis, P. f. percura, P. siamensis cf. cana). The genomes support the resurrection of all three subspecies to species based on multiple species delimitation algorithms (PTP, ABGD, Objective Clustering) applied to a dataset covering 40 species and 43 subspecies of Asian colobines. For two of the newly recognized species (P. femoralis, P. percura), the results lead to an immediate change in IUCN status to Critically Endangered due to small population sizes and fragmented habitats. We conclude that faecal DNA should be more widely used for clarifying species boundaries in endangered mammals.
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