Invasive wild pig (Sus scrofa) diets on barrier islands in the southeastern United States

• Published in: Pest management science 2024-08, Vol.80 (8), p.3901-3911
• Main Authors: Canright, Vienna R, Piaggio, Antoinette J, Beasley, James C
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Amphibians; Aquatic reptiles; Barrier islands; Beaches; Biodiversity; Composition; Crustaceans; Diet; DNA barcoding; DNA metabarcoding; Ecosystem management; Ecosystems; Endemic species; Feces; feral hog; Flora; Foraging habitats; Hogs; impacts; Indigenous plants; Invasions; invasive pest; Invasive species; Invertebrates; Islands; Marine animals; Nesting; next‐generation sequencing (NGS); Pest control; Population decline; Reptiles; Reptiles & amphibians; Sea turtles; sensitive insular species; Shellfish; Sus scrofa; Swine; Taxa; Vertebrates
• ISSN: 1526-498X; 1526-4998; 1526-4998
• DOI: 10.1002/ps.8093

BACKGROUND Biological invasions are a leading cause of reductions in global biodiversity. Islands are particularly sensitive to invasions, which often result in cascading impacts throughout island communities. Wild pigs (Sus scrofa) are globally invasive and pose threats to numerous taxa and ecosystems, particularly for islands where they have contributed to declines of many endemic species. However, the impacts of wild pig diet on the flora and fauna remain understudied in many island systems. RESULTS We used DNA metabarcoding of wild pig fecal samples to quantify the seasonal diet composition of wild pigs on three barrier islands in the southeastern United States. Wild pigs exhibited a diverse diet dominated by plants, but also including marine and terrestrial animals. The diet composition of plants varied seasonally and between islands. Consumption of invertebrates also changed seasonally, with a shift to coastal invertebrates, particularly crabs, in spring and summer. Vertebrates were found in