Using DNA Metabarcoding to Examine Wild Pig (Sus scrofa) Diets in a Subtropical Agro-Ecosystem

Anderson, Wesley M.; Boughton, Raoul K.; Wisely, Samantha W.; Merrill, Mary M.; Boughton, Elizabeth H.; Robeson, Michael S.; Piaggio, Antoinette J.

doi:10.5070/v42811017

Cited by 6 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…Given that previous work has found that domestic pigs exhibit neophobia towards new food sources (Figueroa et al 2013) and take weeks to develop a dietary preference based on nutrition content (Black et al 1986, Kyriazakis et al 1991), our results provide some evidence that the wild pigs used in our study have been exposed to earthworms before and identified them as a desirable food source. Wild pigs consume earthworms in other parts of the U.S. (Giffin 1978, Anderson et al 2018) and Europe (Hafez et al 1962, Baubet et al 2003), and our results provide some evidence that wild pigs in Central Texas consider earthworms to be a desirable food source as well. It is also possible that the wild pigs used in this study have never been exposed to earthworms before but developed a taste for earthworms based on their palatability.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 55%

“…Acorns and other seasonal nuts have been described as a staple of wild pig diet across the world (Barrett and Birmingham 1994, Massei et al 1996, Calenge et al 2004). Wild pigs have been shown to consume soil invertebrates (Hafez et al 1962, Giffin 1978), and one recent study found evidence of earthworm consumption in over 83% of wild pig fecal samples collected over a year (Anderson et al 2018).…”

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confidence: 99%

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Alternatives to corn for baiting wild pigs

Foster

Williamson

Kinsey

et al. 2023

Wildlife Society Bulletin

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We examined dietary preferences of wild pigs to discern possible bait alternatives to corn. Captive trials were conducted during spring and fall 2021 in the Wild Pig Research Facility at Kerr Wildlife Management Area, Hunt, Texas, USA. We conducted 2‐choice tests by allowing wild pigs to feed ad libitum on soybeans, split peas, mealworms, and peanuts (spring 2021), and oats, acorns, earthworms, and peanuts (fall 2021), always with corn available as a second choice for reference. In each trial, we used proportion of test bait eaten versus total bait eaten, and relative access to both food sources as indices of bait preference. We found that a higher proportion of corn was consumed than that of any test bait in the spring, but not in the fall. However, we found that earthworms were consumed more than any other test bait in the fall. We also found that corn was accessed more than test baits in the spring, but not more than earthworms or peanuts in the fall. Greater consumption of earthworms relative to other baits, and access rates comparable to corn indicated that earthworms could be an effective alternative bait to corn. Our work suggests that alternative baits may be equally or more effective for attracting wild pigs than corn.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 55%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Alternatives to corn for baiting wild pigs

Foster

Williamson

Kinsey

et al. 2023

Wildlife Society Bulletin

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“…in winter and summer. The dominance of Fagaceae species in the wild boar's diet in Lebanon was also observed in boar in California and south-central Florida using the trnL marker (Anderson et al 2018;Robeson et al 2018).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 77%

Using DNA metabarcoding to decipher the diet plant component of mammals from the Eastern Mediterranean region

Boukhdoud¹,

Saliba²,

Parker³

et al. 2021

MBMG

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Longevity of species populations depends largely on interactions among animals and plants in an ecosystem. Predation and seed dispersal are among the most important interactions necessary for species conservation and persistence, and diet analysis is a prerequisite tool to evaluate these interactions. Understanding these processes is crucial for identifying conservation targets and for executing efficient reforestation and ecological restoration. In this study, we applied a scat DNA metabarcoding technique using the P6-loop of the trnL (UAA) chloroplastic marker to describe the seasonal plant diet composition of 15 mammal species from a highly biodiverse Lebanese forest in the Eastern Mediterranean. We also recovered plant seeds, when present, from the scats for identification. The mammal species belong to 10 families from 5 different orders. More than 133 plant species from 54 plant families were detected and identified. Species from the Rosaceae, Poaceae, Apiaceae, Fabaceae, Fagaceae and Berberidaceae families were consumed by the majority of the mammals and should be taken into consideration in future reforestation and conservation projects. Our results showed that the DNA metabarcoding approach provides a promising method for tracking the dietary plant components of a wide diversity of mammals, yielding key insights into plant-animal interactions inside Lebanon’s forests.

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“…For example, Wood and Roark (1980) found acorns comprised 79.8% of the total dry weight of wild pig stomach contents during winter months. Likewise, using DNA metabarcoding, Anderson et al (2018) found that 94% of sampled wild pig stomachs contained acorns. This high rate of acorn consumption by wild pigs reduces availability for other wildlife species.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Likewise, using DNA metabarcoding, Anderson et al . (2018) found that 94% of sampled wild pig stomachs contained acorns. This high rate of acorn consumption by wild pigs reduces availability for other wildlife species.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impacts of wild pigs on acorn availability as a food source for native wildlife

Fay,

Zenas,

Smith

et al. 2023

Wildlife Res.

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Context. Wild pigs (Sus scrofa) are a non-native invasive species that causes millions of dollars in damage each year to agriculture in the United States of America, destroys native plant communities, and competes with native wildlife for seasonally available pulse resources such as acorns. Despite many anecdotal observations and diet studies suggesting wild pigs reduce acorn availability for other wildlife species, no studies have comparatively examined acorn consumption among species in a natural environment (i.e. competition). Aims. Our objective was to estimate the consumption of acorns by wild pigs relative to that of other native wildlife species. Methods. We established 40 monitoring stations beneath acorn-producing trees in a 3406-ha study area in eastern Alabama with an approximate density of 9 pigs/km 2 . At each monitoring station, we placed five acorns on a 1-m × 1-m sand pad and positioned a game camera to record acorn fate during 2-week intervals once a month from September to February 2018-2019 and 2019-2020. Cameras were set to capture images once every minute continuously during the survey period. Additionally, we constructed acorn traps from 18.9-L plastic buckets to estimate the timing and relative amounts of acorns that were potentially available for consumption at each monitoring station. Key results. From approximately 7.3 million camera images, we observed 15 wildlife species consuming 707 acorns over the 2 years. Aside from animal consumption, acorn fate was categorised as lost due to flooding (n = 153), remaining on the sand pad at time of camera failure (n = 720), or not consumed during the sampling period (n = 536). Key conclusions. Top acorn consumers were squirrel (Sciurus spp.), white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), raccoon (Procyon lotor), and wild pig. In the 2018-2019 sampling period, wild pigs consumption accounted for 23.4% (n = 87) of the total consumed acorns. After wild pig removal efforts were initiated in the summer and autumn of 2019, wild pigs consumed only 7.2% (n = 24) of consumed acorns. Implications. Wild pigs consume a significant number of acorns and likely reduce the availability of this pulse resource for other native wildlife species and may potentially influence oak regeneration.

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Using DNA Metabarcoding to Examine Wild Pig (Sus scrofa) Diets in a Subtropical Agro-Ecosystem

Cited by 6 publications

References 28 publications

Alternatives to corn for baiting wild pigs

Alternatives to corn for baiting wild pigs

Using DNA metabarcoding to decipher the diet plant component of mammals from the Eastern Mediterranean region

Impacts of wild pigs on acorn availability as a food source for native wildlife

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