@article{fdi:010058205,
  title = {{I}mproving {PCR} detection of prey in molecular diet studies : importance of group-specific primer set selection and extraction protocol performances},
  author = {{Z}arzoso-{L}acoste, {D}. and {C}orse, {E}. and {V}idal, {E}ric},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{W}hile the morphological identification of prey remains in predators' faeces is the most commonly used method to study trophic interactions, many studies indicate that this method does not detect all consumed prey. {P}olymerase chain reactionbased methods are increasingly used to detect prey {DNA} in the predator food bolus and have proven efficient, delivering highly accurate results. {W}hen studying complex diet samples, the extraction of total {DNA} is a critical step, as polymerase chain reaction ({PCR}) inhibitors may be co-extracted. {A}nother critical step involves a careful selection of suitable group-specific primer sets that should only amplify {DNA} from the targeted prey taxon. {I}n this study, the food boluses of five {R}attus rattus and seven {R}attus exulans were analysed using both morphological and molecular methods. {W}e tested a panel of 31 {PCR} primer pairs targeting bird, invertebrate and plant sequences; four of them were selected to be used as group-specific primer pairs in {PCR} protocols. {T}he performances of four {DNA} extraction protocols ({QIA}amp ({R}) {DNA} stool mini kit, {DN}easy ({R}) mericon food kit and two of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide-based methods) were compared using four variables: {DNA} concentration, {A}260/{A}280 absorbance ratio, food compartment analysed (stomach or faecal contents) and total number of prey-specific {PCR} amplification per sample. {O}ur results clearly indicate that the {A}260/{A}280 absorbance ratio, which varies between extraction protocols, is positively correlated to the number of {PCR} amplifications of each prey taxon. {W}e recommend using the {DN}easy ({R}) mericon food kit ({QIAGEN}), which yielded results very similar to those achieved with the morphological approach.},
  keywords = {{A}(260)/{A}(280) absorbance ratio ; diet analysis ; extraction protocol ; performances ; group-specific primer set ; invasive rats ; {PCR}-based method},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{M}olecular {E}cology {R}esources},
  volume = {13},
  numero = {1},
  pages = {117--127},
  ISSN = {1755-098{X}},
  year = {2013},
  DOI = {10.1111/1755-0998.12029},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010058205},
}