Analysis of the diet of finless porpoise (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis sunameri) based on prey morphological characters and DNA barcoding

摘要

Knowledge of the dietary choices of organisms is the key to understanding their roles in ecosystems, which plays an important role in conservation of species that are vulnerable to overexploitation. Finless porpoise Neophocaena asiaeorientalis sunameri is one of the most endangered marine mammalian. In this study, the dietary composition were analyzed in 23 samples of finless porpoise collected across its distributing range. The prey species was identified using morphological and mitochondrial COI barcoding analyses. A total of 21 species including 16 fish, 2 cephalopods, 2 crustaceans, and one bivalve were identified based on both two methods. However, mtDNA barcoding increased taxonomic resolution and revealed more 9 taxa than morphological traits. For the quantitative analysis of the dietary, Odontamblyopus lacepedii, Scomber australasicus, Larimichthys polyactis, Nibea albiflora and Saurida elongate were dominant. Moreover, geographical variation in prey composition was observed comparing with previous studies. Our reports offered important information in understanding biological habits of finless porpoise which is crucial in conservation of the species.