Determining prey spectra of carnivorous sundews using DNA-metabarcoding

Krueger, Thilo Alexander

Krueger TA 2021.pdf (2.507Mb)

Appendix S5.xlsx (499.6Kb)

Appendix S6.xlsx (91.93Kb)

Access Status

Open access

Authors

Krueger, Thilo Alexander

Date

2021

Supervisor

Adam Cross

Type

Thesis

Award

MRes

Metadata

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Faculty

Science and Engineering

School

School of Molecular and Life Sciences

URI

http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/86225

Collection

Curtin Theses

Abstract

Prey spectra of five closely-related species of carnivorous plants (Drosera sect. Arachnopus, Droseraceae) were investigated in their natural habitats in Western Australia using novel in-situ macro photography and DNA-metabarcoding techniques. Accurate analysis of prey spectra (even of heavily digested prey) at a taxonomic resolution and level of completeness unachievable by morphology-based methods was demonstrated. Observed prey selectivity in the scented D. fragrans supported the existence of an olfactory prey attraction strategy in this species.