Large scale molecular barcoding of prey DNA reveals environmental
predictors of intrapopulation feeding diversity in a marine predator
Abstract
Predator-prey interactions are critical to understand how communities
function. However, we need to describe intraspecific variation in diet
to accurately depict those interactions. Harbor seals (Phoca vitulina,
Linnaeus 1758) are an abundant marine predator that prey on species of
conservation concern. We estimated intrapopulation feeding diversity of
harbor seals in the Salish Sea relative to sex, time, and location with
a novel approach that combined molecular techniques, repeated
cross-sectional sampling of scat, and a specialization metric
(within-individual consistency in diet). Based on 1,083 scat samples
collected from five haul-out sites during four non-sequential years, we
quantified diet using metabarcoding techniques, and determined the sex
of the scat depositor using a molecular assay. Results suggest that
intrapopulation feeding diversity was pervasive. Specialization was high
over short periods (24 - 48 hours,〖PS〗_i = 0.392, 95% CI = 0.013, R
= 100,000) and variable in time and space. Females showed more
specialization than males, particularly during summer and fall, and
demersal and benthic prey species were correlated with more specialized
diets. The latter finding suggests that this type of prey likely require
specific foraging strategies and that there are trade-offs between
pelagic and benthic foraging styles for harbor seals. This differential
feeding on prey species, as well as between sexes of harbor seals,
indicate that predator-prey interactions in harbor seals are complex and
that each sex may have a different impact on species of conservation
concern. As such, describing intraspecific variation in diet may unravel
hitherto unknown complex predator-prey interactions in the community.