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Thesis
How Database Improvements Change Least Tern Dietary DNA Metabarcoding Results
University of West Florida Libraries
Master of Science (MS), University of West Florida
2025
Abstract
DNA metabarcoding, combined with high-throughput sequencing of fecal samples, provides a powerful tool for accurately assessing diet composition. Seabirds such as the Least Tern (Sternula antillarum) have recently been studied using this approach to better understand their prey composition, particularly fish species. These analyses depend on reference databases containing previously published DNA sequences, and the accuracy of species identification is limited by the completeness and curation of those databases. In this study, an updated, curated reference database with newly added species was used to reanalyze previously collected Least Tern fecal samples. Prey species identified using the original database were compared to those identified with the updated database to evaluate improvements in taxonomic resolution and prey detection. The most abundant prey by relative read abundance (RRA) was Anchoa mitchilli, which increased from 46% to 66% of the total RRA. Additionally, Pterois spp., previously recorded as a prey item, was reclassified as Phenacoscorpius nebris with the updated database. Other sequences were also reclassified, including Brevoortia tyrannus, Menidia beryllina, and Fundulus pulvereus. The improved database resulted in the identification of 11 new fish taxa as prey for the Least Tern. These results demonstrate how database enhancements can substantially influence the outcomes of dietary DNA metabarcoding studies.
Details
- Title
- How Database Improvements Change Least Tern Dietary DNA Metabarcoding Results
- Resource Type
- Thesis
- Contributors
- Alexis M Janosik (Advisor)Christopher M Pomory (Committee Member)Victoria E Bogantes (Committee Member)
- Publisher
- University of West Florida Libraries
- Format
- pdf
- Number of pages
- 35
- Copyright
- © 2025 Nicholas M. Caruso
- Identifiers
- 99381563233206600
- Academic Unit
- Biology
- Language
- English
- Awarding Institution
- University of West Florida; Master of Science (MS)
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Science (MS), University of West Florida