Prey Identification of the Little Tern, Sternula albifrons (Pallas, 1764), by Applying DNA Barcoding to Fecal Materials

Abstract

This study describes the prey DNA fragments found in the feces of a migratory bird species, the little tern, Sternula albifrons (Pallas, 1764), based on a DNA barcoding approach. This species is found in Nakdong Estuary, South Korea, and is a species designated as ‘Least Concern’ (IUCN Red List). Prey identification is a central issue of population conservation, and we applied DNA barcoding (using cytochrome oxidase I; COI) to fecal materials from little tern individuals. We successfully identified prey consumed by little tern individuals. All prey items comprised one phylum including three classes, six orders, and eight families based on a robust dual certification scheme (combined analysis of BLASTn searches and phylogenetic tree construction). Even though the success of identification was largely dependent on the degree of completion of the database in the genebank or BOLD systems, an increased resolution of prey identification to species level is important in predator–prey research. The current study used a small number of fecal samples to evaluate the applicability of the COI barcoding region to avifaunal feces, and more fecal samples are expected to convey increased information that can be used to infer the range of the prey species of little terns.