Data from: DNA metabarcoding reveals diet overlap between the endangered Walia ibex and domestic goats - implications for conservation

Human population expansion and associated degradation of the habitat of many wildlife species cause loss of biodiversity and species extinctions. The small Simen Mountains National Park in Ethiopia is one of the last strongholds for the preservation of a number of afro-alpine mammals, plants and birds, and it is home to the rare endemic Walia ibex, Capra walie. The narrow distribution range of this species as well as potential competition for resources with livestock, especially with domestic goat, Capra hircus, may compromise its future survival. Based on a curated afro-alpine taxonomic reference library constructed for plant taxon identification, we investigated the diet of the Walia ibex and addressed the dietary overlap with domestic goat using DNA metabarcoding of faecal samples. Faeces of both species were collected from different localities in the National Park. We show that both species are browsers, with forbs, shrubs and trees comprising the largest proportion of their diet, supplemented by grasses. There was a considerable overlap in dietary preferences. Several of the preferred diet items of the Walia ibex (Alchemilla sp., Hypericum revolutum, Erica arborea and Rumex sp.) were also among the most preferred diet items of the domestic goat. These results indicate that there is potential for competition between the two species, especially during the dry season, when resources are limited. Our findings, in combination with the expected increase in domestic herbivores, suggest that management plans should consider the potential threat posed by domestic goats to ensure future survival of the endangered Walia ibex.

人类人口扩张及其伴随的诸多野生动物栖息地退化，导致生物多样性丧失与物种灭绝。埃塞俄比亚瑟门山国家公园是众多非洲高山（afro-alpine）哺乳动物、植物与鸟类得以存续的最后据点之一，同时也是稀有特有物种瓦利亚野山羊（Walia ibex，学名*Capra walie*）的原生栖息地。该物种狭窄的分布范围，以及与家畜（尤其是家养山羊*Capra hircus*）的潜在资源竞争，可能威胁其未来存续。本研究基于为植物类群鉴定构建的经人工质控整理的非洲高山分类参考库，通过粪便样本的DNA元条形码（DNA metabarcoding）技术，分析了瓦利亚野山羊的食性，并探讨了其与家养山羊的食性重叠情况。研究从该国家公园的不同区域采集了两种动物的粪便样本。结果表明，两种动物均为灌木择食者，其食谱以杂类草、灌木与乔木占比最高，辅以禾本科草本植物。二者的食性偏好存在显著重叠。瓦利亚野山羊偏好的部分食物类群（如羽衣草属*Alchemilla* sp.、突脉金丝桃*Hypericum revolutum*、欧石楠*Erica arborea*以及酸模属*Rumex* sp.），同样也是家养山羊的优先取食物类群。上述结果表明，两种动物间存在潜在竞争，在资源匮乏的旱季这一情况尤为突出。结合本研究结果与家养草食动物数量预期增长的趋势，相关管理规划应考虑到家养山羊带来的潜在威胁，以保障濒危瓦利亚野山羊的未来存续。