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Large-Scale Molecular Diet Analysis In A Generalist Marine Mammal Reveals Male Preference For Prey Of Conservation Concern, Dietmar Schwarz, Sara M. Spitzer, Austen C. Thomas, Christa M. Kohnert, Theresa R. Keates, Alejandro Acevedo-Gutiérrez
Large-Scale Molecular Diet Analysis In A Generalist Marine Mammal Reveals Male Preference For Prey Of Conservation Concern, Dietmar Schwarz, Sara M. Spitzer, Austen C. Thomas, Christa M. Kohnert, Theresa R. Keates, Alejandro Acevedo-Gutiérrez
Biology Faculty and Staff Publications
Sex-specific diet information is important in the determination of predator impacts on prey populations. Unfortunately, the diet of males and females can be difficult to describe, particularly when they are marine predators. We combined two molecular techniques to describe haul-out use and prey preferences of male and female harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) from Comox and Cowichan Bay (Canada) during 2012-2013. DNA metabarcoding quantified the diet proportions comprised of prey species in harbor seal scat, and qPCR determined the sex of the individual that deposited each scat. Using 287 female and 260 male samples, we compared the monthly sex ratio with …