Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42037579›Full record

ArticleMolecular ecology resources2026

DIY: A Practical Field-to-Sequencer Workflow for Metabarcoding the Diet of Terrestrial Carnivore Species.

Francisca A S Virtuoso, Jos Boekhorst, Shasa van Ravenstein, Dora Schouten, Maria Juanpere-Borràs, Femke Broekhuis, Sander Vissia, Richard Mazebedi, Alessandro Araldi, Frank van Langevelde

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in Molecular ecology resources, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Francisca A S VirtuosoWildlife Ecology and Conservation Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, the Netherlands.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0009-6201-9886
Jos BoekhorstHost-Microbiome Interactomics Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, the Netherlands.
Shasa van RavensteinWildlife Ecology and Conservation Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, the Netherlands.
Dora SchoutenWildlife Ecology and Conservation Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, the Netherlands.
Maria Juanpere-BorràsHost-Microbiome Interactomics Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, the Netherlands.
Femke BroekhuisWildlife Ecology and Conservation Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, the Netherlands.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4216-8819
Sander VissiaWildlife Ecology and Conservation Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, the Netherlands.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9958-6122
Richard MazebediBotswana International University of Science and Technology, Palapye, Botswana.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6010-6283
Alessandro AraldiResearch Department, Leopard Ecology & Conservation, Gaborone, Botswana.
Frank van LangeveldeWildlife Ecology and Conservation Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, the Netherlands.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8870-0797

Funding

Wageningen University and Research
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Metabarcoding of faecal samples is a powerful, non-invasive approach for investigating the feeding ecology of carnivores, revealing prey diversity and unexpected dietary components with greater resolution than traditional methods. However, the approach remains technically demanding, as challenges and potential biases arise at every stage, from scat collection and DNA extraction to primer selection, sequencing, and data interpretation. Methodological details for these steps are often scattered across studies, limiting reproducibility and accessibility for ecologists. Here, we present a comprehensive field-to-sequencer workflow for dietary metabarcoding of terrestrial carnivores using Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT), covering all stages from sample collection to ecological interpretation. Drawing on field-collected scats of brown (Parahyaena brunnea) and spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) across arid and semi-arid savannas in Botswana, we illustrate practical decisions, technical considerations, and common pitfalls encountered throughout the process. By integrating field, laboratory, and bioinformatic components into a single, accessible framework, this paper provides a pragmatic reference for ecologists aiming to design robust, transparent, and comparable studies of carnivore diet composition.

Indexed as

CarnivoraDietDNA Barcoding, TaxonomicMetagenomicsAnimalsFecesWorkflowdiet analysisfaecal DNAfield‐to‐sequencer workflowlong‐read sequencingmolecular ecology

Identifiers

PMID42037579
PMCPMC13112516

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.