Understanding predator guild niche partitioning using DNA metabarcoding

Fecal samples were collected in September 2019, December 2019, March 2019, and July 2019 in Dulan County, Qinghai Province, China. DNA was extracted at the Chinese Academy of Forestry (Dr. Zhang Yuguang lab) and a DNA metabarcoding segment of MT-RNR1 was amplified and sequenced on an Illumina NovaSeq 6000 by Guangdong Magigene Biotechnology Co [Guangzhou, China]. Reads were mapped to reference sequences to identify the predator and prey in each scat using CLC Genomics Workbench at Duquesne. Unmapped reads were assembled, and online databases were searched using BLAST to ensure species not in the references were identified. Data was used to examine seasonal variation in diet among sympatric carnivores.