Comparing iDNA from mosquitoes and flies to survey mammals in a semi-controlled Neotropical area

Author(s)

Saranholi, Bruno H. ; Rodriguez-Castro, Karen G. ; Carvalho, Carolina S. ; Chahad-Ehlers, Samira ; Gestich, Carla C. ; Andrade, Sonia C. S. ; Freitas, Patricia D. ; Galetti, Pedro M.

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: MOLECULAR ECOLOGY RESOURCES; v. 23, n. 8, p. 10-pg., 2023-08-03.

Abstract

Ingested-derived DNA (iDNA) from insects represents a powerful tool for assessing vertebrate diversity because insects are easy to sample, have a diverse diet and are widely distributed. Because of these advantages, the use of iDNA for detecting mammals has gained increasing attention. Here we aimed to compare the effectiveness of mosquitoes and flies to detect mammals with a small sampling effort in a semi-controlled area, a zoo that houses native and non-native species. We compared mosquitoes and flies regarding the number of mammal species detected, the amount of mammal sequence reads recovered, and the flight distance range for detecting mammals. We also verified if the combination of two mini-barcodes (12SrRNA and 16SrRNA) would perform better than either mini-barcode alone to inform local mammal biodiversity from iDNA. To capture mosquitoes and flies, we distributed insect traps in eight sampling points during 5 days. We identified 43 Operational Taxonomic Units from 10 orders, from the iDNA of 17 mosquitoes and 46 flies. There was no difference in the number of species recovered per individual insect between mosquitoes and flies, but the number of flies captured was higher, resulting in more mammal species recovered by flies. Eight species were recorded exclusively by mosquitoes and 20 by flies, suggesting that using both samplers would allow a more comprehensive screening of the biodiversity. The maximum distance recorded was 337 m for flies and 289 m for mosquitoes, but the average range distance did not differ between insect groups. Our assay proved to be efficient for mammal detection, considering the high number of species detected with a reduced sampling effort. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 15/20139-9 - Seascape genetics and evaluation of expression profiles on marine invertebrates on Brazilian Southeast coast
• Grantee: Sónia Cristina da Silva Andrade
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants
• FAPESP's process: 22/01741-3 - Reassessment of mammal species believed to be locally extinct at the Pernambuco Endemism Center (CEP), from mixed sample DNA and metabarcoding
• Grantee: Bruno Henrique Saranholi
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 19/26436-6 - Reassessment of mammalian species believed to be locally extinct at the Pernambuco endemism center (CEP) from mixed sample DNA and metabarcoding
• Grantee: Carolina da Silva Carvalho
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 17/23548-2 - Evaluation, recovering and conservation of endangered animal species from the Pernambuco Centre of Endemism
• Grantee: Luís Fábio Silveira
• Support Opportunities: BIOTA-FAPESP Program - Thematic Grants