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dc.contributor.authorSoininen, Eeva Marjatta
dc.contributor.authorZinger, Lucie
dc.contributor.authorGielly, Ludovic
dc.contributor.authorBellemain, Eva
dc.contributor.authorBråthen, Kari Anne
dc.contributor.authorBrochmann, Christian
dc.contributor.authorEpp, Laura
dc.contributor.authorGusarova, Galina
dc.contributor.authorHassel, Kristian
dc.contributor.authorHenden, John-André
dc.contributor.authorKillengreen, Siw Turid
dc.contributor.authorRämä, Teppo
dc.contributor.authorStenøien, Hans
dc.contributor.authorYoccoz, Nigel
dc.contributor.authorIms, Rolf Anker
dc.date.accessioned2014-03-04T09:06:01Z
dc.date.available2014-03-04T09:06:01Z
dc.date.issued2013
dc.description.abstractLemmings are key herbivores in many arctic food webs, and their population dynamics have major impacts on the functioning of tundra systems. However, current knowledge of lemming diet is limited, hampering evaluation of lemming–vegetation interactions. This lack of knowledge is mainly due to methodological challenges, as previously used microhistological methods result in large proportions of poorly resolved plant taxa. We analyzed diets of Norwegian lemmings (Lemmus lemmus) in three different habitats using a new method, DNA metabarcoding of stomach contents. To achieve detailed information on ingested vascular plants, bryophytes, and fungi, we amplified short fragments of chloroplast DNA (for plants; P6 loop of the trnL intron) and nuclear ribosomal DNA (for fungi; ITS1-region). Our results revealed that lemming diets were dominated by grasses, mainly Avenella flexuosa, and mosses, mainly Dicranum spp., but that a variety of other food items were also eaten. Vascular plant composition of the diets differed between heath, meadow, and wetland habitats, whereas bryophyte composition did not. Also, a variety of fungal taxa were retrieved, but as most of the identified taxa belong to micromycetes, they were unlikely to be consumed as food. The role of fungi in the diet of lemmings remains to be investigated. We suggest that there may be substantial variation between habitats and regions in lemming diet.en
dc.identifier.citationPolar Biology 36(2013) nr. 7 s. 1069-1076en
dc.identifier.cristinIDFRIDAID 1025530
dc.identifier.doihttp://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00300-013-1328-2
dc.identifier.issn0722-4060
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10037/5888
dc.identifier.urnURN:NBN:no-uit_munin_5587
dc.language.isoengen
dc.publisherSpringer Verlagen
dc.rights.accessRightsopenAccess
dc.subjectVDP::Mathematics and natural science: 400::Basic biosciences: 470::Genetics and genomics: 474en
dc.subjectVDP::Matematikk og Naturvitenskap: 400::Basale biofag: 470::Genetikk og genomikk: 474en
dc.titleShedding new light on the diet of Norwegian lemmings: DNA metabarcoding of stomach contenten
dc.typeJournal articleen
dc.typeTidsskriftartikkelen
dc.typePeer revieweden


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