Female Blow Flies As Vertebrate Resource Indicators
Owings CG, Banerjee A, Asher TM, Gilhooly WP, Tuceryan A, Huffine M, Skaggs CL, Adebowale IM, Manicke NE, Picard CJ. 2019. Female Blow Flies As Vertebrate Resource Indicators. Scientific Reports. 9(10594):9 pages
ABSTRACT: Rapid vertebrate diversity evaluation is invaluable for monitoring changing ecosystems worldwide. Wild blow flies naturally recover DNA and chemical signatures from animal carcasses and feces. We demonstrate the power of blow flies as biodiversity monitors through sampling of flies in three environments with varying human influences: Indianapolis, IN and two national parks (the Great Smoky Mountains and Yellowstone). Dissected fly guts underwent vertebrate DNA sequencing (12S and 16S rRNA genes) and fecal metabolite screening. Integrated Nested Laplace Approximation (INLA) was used to determine the most important abiotic factor influencing fly-derived vertebrate richness. In 720 min total sampling time, 28 vertebrate species were identified, with 42% of flies containing vertebrate resources: 23% DNA, 5% feces, and 14% contained both. The species of blow fly used was not important for vertebrate DNA recovery, however the use of female flies versus male flies directly influenced DNA detection. Temperature was statistically relevant across environments in maximizing vertebrate detection (mean = 0.098, sd = 0.048). This method will empower ecologists to test vertebrate community ecology theories previously out of reach due practical challenges associated with traditional sampling.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Owings, Charity; Banerjee, Aniruddha; Asher, Travis; Gilhooly, William; Tuceryan, Anais; Huffine, Mary; Skaggs, Christine; Adebowale, Iyun; Manicke, Nicholas; Picard, Christine
- Units
- GRSM , YELL
- Keywords
- APHN, Appalachian Highlands Network, biodiversity, blow flies, Calliphoridae, Diptera, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, GRSM, GRSM-02039, mammals, SER, Southeast Region, wildlife management, YELL, Yellowstone National Park