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- Title
Diet Diversity of the Fluviatile Masu Salmon, Oncorhynchus masou (Brevoort 1856) Revealed via Gastrointestinal Environmental DNA Metabarcoding and Morphological Identification of Contents.
- Authors
Li, Lijuan; Yin, Xuwang; Wan, Qianruo; Rusitanmu, Dilina; Han, Jie
- Abstract
Simple Summary: Masu salmon (Oncorhynchus masou), a commercially important fish endemic to the North Pacific Ocean, received national second-level protected animal status in China in 2021. Employing gastrointestinal tract environmental DNA (GITeDNA) metabarcoding and traditional morphology, this study explored the diet of fluviatile Masu salmon. The results showed a diverse prey composition, with larger fish exhibiting a significant preference for terrestrial invertebrates. The fluviatile Masu salmon acts as a crucial link between aquatic and terrestrial food webs, emphasizing the need for conservation efforts in riparian habitats. This study recommends combining GITeDNA metabarcoding and morphological observation for a comprehensive understanding of fish diet diversity. Masu salmon, Oncorhynchus masou (Brevoort 1856), a commercially important fish species endemic to the North Pacific Ocean, attained national second-level protected animal status in China in 2021. Despite this recognition, knowledge about the trophic ecology of this fish remains limited. This study investigated the diet diversity of fluviatile Masu salmon in the Mijiang River, China, utilizing the gastrointestinal tract environmental DNA (GITeDNA) metabarcoding and morphological identification. The results revealed a diverse prey composition, ranging from terrestrial and aquatic invertebrates to small fishes. The fluviatile Masu salmon in general consumed noteworthily more aquatic prey than terrestrial prey. There were much more prey taxa and a higher diet diversity detected by GITeDNA metabarcoding than by morphological identification. GITeDNA metabarcoding showed that larger and older Masu salmon consumed significantly more terrestrial insects than aquatic prey species did, with 7366 verses 5012 sequences in the group of ≥20 cm, 9098 verses 4743 sequences in the group of ≥100 g and 11,540 verses 729 sequences in the group of age 3+. GITeDNA metabarcoding also showed size- and age-related diet diversity, indicating that the dietary niche breadth and trophic diversity of larger and older Masu salmon increased with food resources expanding to more terrestrial prey. Terrestrial invertebrates of riparian habitats play a vital role in the diet of fluviatile Masu salmon, especially larger individuals, highlighting their importance in connecting aquatic and terrestrial food webs. Conservation plans should prioritize the protection and restoration of riparian habitats. This study advocates the combined use of GITeDNA metabarcoding and morphological observation for a comprehensive understanding of fish diet diversity.
- Subjects
CHINA; GENETIC barcoding; ONCORHYNCHUS; NATIVE fishes; AQUATIC insects; FISH diversity; ATLANTIC salmon
- Publication
Biology (2079-7737), 2024, Vol 13, Issue 2, p129
- ISSN
2079-7737
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.3390/biology13020129