DNA metabarcoding provides new insight into the diet of invasive chital deer (Axis axis) in a tropical savanna landscape

The introduction of non-native species into new environments can cause significant ecological harm, and is considered a major conservation threat. As populations of invasive species continue to establish and increase across the globe, novel methods can provide new insights into their biology, and potentially aid in management. In this study, we examined the diet of non-native chital deer (Axis axis) in a tropical savanna environment in northern Australia. Using DNA metabarcoding of faecal samples, we described the dietary items consumed by 149 individuals over a two-year sampling period and associated each item with individual body condition. The DNA metabarcoding method detected significantly more dietary items consumed by individual chital deer at each of the taxonomic levels (family, genus, and species) when compared with previous analyses. We observed marked differences in diet composition across multiple seasons and sites. Significantly more sequences from the genera Terminali..., This study was conducted across two cattle stations in the Einasleigh Uplands bioregion of northern Australia, approximately 110 km north of Charters Towers (20° 4' 35.1'' S, 146° 15' 24.6'' E). Faecal samples were collected from both stations during sampling programs in the October 2014 and 2015 dry seasons, and the March 2015 and 2016 wet seasons. A total of 67 males and 85 females were necropsied across each of the four sampling events. For each of the sampled deer, faecal samples were removed from the rectum, placed in separate field collection bags, and frozen at -4 °C. Samples were removed directly from culled individuals, thereby reducing the likelihood of contamination by pollen, seeds, or plant material not consumed by deer.
Faecal samples for the DNA extraction protocol were prepared by homogenising the collected pellets from each individual deer within their separate field collection bags. 200 mg from each homogenised faecal sample was transferred into a 2 mL microcentrifuge ..., , # DNA metabarcoding provides new insight into the diet of invasive chital deer (Axis axis) in a tropical savanna landscape

[https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.gqnk98sxd](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.gqnk98sxd)

## Description of the data and file structure

The files in this repository are for 'DNA metabarcoding provides new insight into the diet of invasive chital deer (*Axis axis*) in a tropical savanna landscape'

### Files and variables

#### File: MQuin\_-*Supplementary\_Material*-\_Taxonomy\_Table.xlsx

**Description:** 

The taxonomy table provides the full taxonomic classification for each Amplicon Sequence Variant (ASV) at the levels of Class, Order, Family, Genus, and Species. The growth form of each classified ASV is detailed in the 'Form' column, and whether an ASV is native or exotic is detailed in the 'Endemicity' column. The sum of the sequence reads for each ASV across all samples is included in the column 'Total Sequence Reads'. Lastly, the 'Frequency of Occurrence' column...,