Group-specific polymerase chain reaction for DNA-based

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analysis of species diversity and identity in dietary samples

10

stron

6589

ID

Australian Antarctic Division

2004

rok

Abstract

Unique DNA sequences are present in all species and can be used as biomarkers for the detection

of cells from that species. These DNA sequences can most easily be detected using the

polymerase chain reaction (PCR), which allows very small quantities of target DNA sequence to be

amplified even when the target is mixed with large amounts of nontarget DNA. PCR amplification of

DNA markers that are present in a wide range of species has proven very useful for studies of

species diversity in environmental samples. The taxonomic range of species to be identified from

environmental samples may often need to be restricted to simplify downstream analyses and to

ensure that less abundant sequences are amplified. Group-specific PCR primer sets are one means

of specifying the range of taxa that produce an amplicon in a PCR. We have developed a range of

groupspecific PCR primers for studying the prey diversity found in predator stomach contents and

scats. These primers, their design and their application to studying prey diversity and identity in

predator diet are described.