Data from: Pyrosequencing of prey DNA in reptile faeces: analysis of earthworm consumption by slow worms

Little quantitative ecological information exists on the diets of most invertebrate feeding reptiles, particularly nocturnal or elusive species that are difficult to observe. In the UK and elsewhere, reptiles are legally required to be relocated before land development can proceed, but without knowledge of their dietary requirements the suitability of receptor sites cannot be known. Here we tested the ability of non-invasive DNA-based molecular diagnostics (454 pyrosequencing) to analyse reptile diets, with the specific aims of determining which earthworm species are exploited by slow worms (the legless lizard Anguis fragilis) and whether they feed on the deeper-living earthworm species which only come to the surface at night. Slow worm faecal samples from four different habitats were analysed using earthworm-specific PCR primers. We found that 86% of slow worms (N=80) had eaten earthworms. In lowland heath and marshy, acid grassland Lumbricus rubellus, a surface-dwelling epigeic species, dominated slow worm diet. In two other habitats, riverside pasture and calciferous coarse grassland, diet was dominated by deeper-living anecic and endogeic species. We conclude that all species of earthworm are exploited by these reptiles and lack of specialisation allows slow worms to thrive in a wide variety of habitats. Pyrosequencing of prey DNA in faeces showed promise as a practical, rapid and relatively inexpensive means of obtaining detailed and valuable ecological information on the diets of reptiles.目前针对多数以无脊椎动物为食的爬行动物的食性定量生态学数据仍较为匮乏，针对夜行性或难以观测的隐匿物种更是如此。在英国及其他地区，法律要求在开展土地开发前必须对爬行动物进行迁地安置，但倘若缺乏其食性需求相关信息，则无法判定接收安置位点的适宜性。本研究验证了非侵入性DNA分子诊断技术（454焦磷酸测序，454 pyrosequencing）用于分析爬行动物食性的可行性，具体研究目标为明确慢缺肢蜥（无腿蜥蜴Anguis fragilis）所取食的蚯蚓类群，以及其是否以仅夜间才会爬到地表的深栖蚯蚓为食。研究采用蚯蚓特异性PCR引物，对来自4种不同生境的慢缺肢蜥粪便样本开展了分析。结果显示，86%的慢缺肢蜥（样本量N=80）曾取食蚯蚓。在低地荒原与沼泽酸性草原生境中，表栖类蚯蚓红正蚓（Lumbricus rubellus）为慢缺肢蜥的主要食物来源；而在另外两种生境——河畔牧场与钙化粗草原中，慢缺肢蜥的食性则以深栖型与内栖型蚯蚓为主。本研究得出结论：慢缺肢蜥会取食所有类群的蚯蚓，这种食性特化的缺失使其能够在多种生境中存活繁衍。粪便中猎物DNA的焦磷酸测序技术展现出良好的应用前景，可作为一种实用、快速且相对经济的手段，以获取爬行动物食性相关的详细且极具价值的生态学信息。