Profiling Analysis of Filter Feeder Polypedilum (Chironomidae) Gut Contents Using eDNA Metabarcoding Following Contrasting Habitat Types—Weir and Stream

Boobal Rangaswamy, Chang Woo Ji, Won-Seok Kim, Jae-Won Park, Yong Jun Kim and Ihn-Sil Kwak ()
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Boobal Rangaswamy: Fisheries Science Institute, Chonnam National University, Yeosu 59626, Korea
Chang Woo Ji: Fisheries Science Institute, Chonnam National University, Yeosu 59626, Korea
Won-Seok Kim: Department of Ocean Integrated Science, Chonnam National University, Yeosu 59626, Korea
Jae-Won Park: Department of Ocean Integrated Science, Chonnam National University, Yeosu 59626, Korea
Yong Jun Kim: Department of Ocean Integrated Science, Chonnam National University, Yeosu 59626, Korea
Ihn-Sil Kwak: Fisheries Science Institute, Chonnam National University, Yeosu 59626, Korea

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 17, 1-14

Abstract: We analyzed the dietary composition of Polypedilum larvae among two contrasting habitats (river and weir). Our approach was (i) to apply eDNA-based sampling to reveal the gut content of the chironomid larvae, (ii) the diversity of gut contents in the two aquatic habitats, and (iii) assessment of habitat sediment condition with the food sources in the gut. The most abundant food was Chlorophyta in the gut of the river (20%) and weir (39%) chironomids. The average ratio of fungi, protozoa, and zooplankton in river chironomids gut was 5.9%, 7.2%, and 3.8%, while it was found decreased to 1.2%, 2.5%, and 0.1% in weir chironomids. Aerobic fungi in river midge guts were 3.6% and 10.34% in SC and IS, while they were in the range of 0.34–2.58% in weir midges. The hierarchical clustering analysis showed a relationship of environmental factors with food contents. Abiotic factors (e.g., pH) in the river and weir habitats correlated the clustered pattern with phytoplankton and minor groups of fungi. This study could help understand the food source diversity in the chironomid and habitat environmental conditions by using eDNA metabarcoding as an effective tool to determine dietary composition.

Keywords: chironomid gut contents; eDNA metabarcoding; next-generation sequencing (NGS); river and weir habitats (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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