Using next-generation sequencing to analyse the diet of a highly endangered land snail (Powelliphanta augusta) feeding on endemic earthworms

• Published in: PloS one 2013-09, Vol.8 (9), p.e75962-e75962
• Main Author: Boyer, Stéphane
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Biodiversity and Ecology; Computational Biology; Conservation; Deoxyribonucleic acid; Diet; DNA; DNA - genetics; DNA Primers - genetics; Earthworms; Endangered & extinct species; Endangered Species; Environmental aspects; Environmental Sciences; Feces; Feces - chemistry; Feeding and feeds; Food; Gene Library; Genetic testing; Genomes; Habitat; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing - methods; Identification; Leaf litter; Leaves; Life sciences; Mining; Mollusca; Morphology; New Zealand; Nocturnal; Oligochaeta; Oligochaeta - genetics; Open pit mining; Opencast; Powelliphanta; Predation; Predators; Prey; Primers; Protection; Ribosomal DNA; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S - genetics; Snails; Snails - physiology; Strip mining; Translocation; Wildlife conservation
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0075962

Analyses the diet of 'Powelliphanta augusta', a carnivorous land snail endemic to New Zealand and critically endangered after most of its natural habitat (Mount Augustus on the western scarp of the Stockton Plateau, South Island) has been lost to opencast mining. Notes how previous studies have shown that P. augusta almost exclusively feeds on earthworms, but that the identity of the predated species as well as their relative contributions remains unknown. Aims to provide a detailed analysis of the snail’s diet to inform the conservation programme and ensure long-term survival of relocated and captive populations. Source: National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Matauranga o Aotearoa, licensed by the Department of Internal Affairs for re-use under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 New Zealand Licence.