Environmental DNA metabarcoding of cow dung reveals taxonomic and functional diversity of invertebrate assemblages.

摘要: Insects and other terrestrial invertebrates are declining in species richness abundance. This includes the associated with herbivore dung, which have been negatively affected by grazing abandonment progressive loss of large herbivores since Late Pleistocene. Importantly, traditional monitoring these is time-consuming requires considerable taxonomic expertise, becoming increasingly scarce. In this study, we investigated potential environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding cow dung samples for biomonitoring dung-associated invertebrates. From eight pats recovered eDNA from 12 orders, 29 families, at least 54 (mostly insects), representing several functional groups. Furthermore, compositions differed between three sampled habitats dry grassland, meadow, forest. These differences were accordance species' ecology; instance, known to be humid conditions or lower temperatures found only forest habitat. We discuss caveats method, as well directions future study perspectives implementation research monitoring.