Dietary analysis using prey-DNA metabarcoding from fecal samples of the generalist arthropod predator, Eremias argus

Species-specific dietary information contributes to the conservation of biodiversity and an understanding of the trophic structure of habitats. To investigate the diet of the Mongolian racerunner (Eremias argus), classified as an endangered species in the Republic of Korea, we analyzed its fecal samples using metabarcoding with the arthropod mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) universal primer. In our study, 53 prey taxa were detected in 41 genera, 26 families, 8 orders, and 2 classes (Insecta and Arachnida), and 30 (56.6 %) were identified at the species level. Lepidoptera were the most abundant prey source, accounting for 57.4 % of the total identified prey taxa, followed by Coleoptera (11.3 %), Orthoptera (7.5 %), and Araneae (7.5 %). Compared to previous studies, our approaches were more efficient in detecting various and specific prey types of E. argus, known as a generalist predator. We also discussed the shortcomings of metabarcoding dietary analysis in brief. Overall, our results show that the fecal DNA metabarcoding approach is appropriate for studying the diet of E. argus, an arthropod generalist, and that our results may contribute to the conservation of this endangered species.