Using Next Generation Sequencing to characterize species diets: a study case with faeces of wild boar in the Spanish Pyrenees

The genomic era offer an exciting opportunity to establish biodiversity assessment for plants and animals. More specifically, DNA metabarcoding can be used as a proxy for the biodiversity existing in a sample (soil, water, faeces,..) and therefore it represents a powerful and a non invasive tool to answer concerns regarding ecological questions (conservation, restoration). To illustrate such prospect, we conducted a study on the expanding wild boar populations in the Spanish Pyrenees. Over the last decades, the populations of wild boar are growing in the Iberian peninsula mainly due to their high adaptability to new environments, new climates, varied diets and high reproduction rates. Despite the economic interest of the species in the Peninsula, this expansion cause many damage on ecosystems, humans and farming practices. By moving higher in altitude, it has been suggested that the wild boar populations might be responsible for the rapid decline of the endangered capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) populations in the Pyrenees. By searching for food, they come accross the ground nesting bird nest and gobble the eggs. The aim of this study was therefore to analyze the diet of the wild boar populations in higher altitude in the Spanish Pyrenees. 81 faecal samples collected during summer and autumn 2014 in the Aigues Tortes National Park have been extracted, amplified and sequenced using the Illumina Technology. With this method, a precise estimation of the animal prey existing in the wild boar faeces was possible and will eventually allow wild life managers to apply concrete management measures for this expanding species.