Diets of Rodents Revealed through DNA Metabarcoding

Rodents are the most abundant mammals on Earth, prevalent on all continents except Antarctica, and they fulfill important ecological roles in various ecosystems. Recent progress in high-throughput DNA-sequencing technology has enabled identification of diet components in various environmental samples, such as feces or stomach contents, through DNA metabarcoding. Studies using this method have begun to clarify the diets of small, nocturnal, and elusive rodents. This review summarizes previous studies that used DNA metabarcoding to clarify the diets of native or exotic species in Rodentia to understand progress and unresolved problems in such analyses. Furthermore, the methodology of dietary DNA metabarcoding in rodents is discussed, together with issues that should be taken into consideration. Finally, future perspectives and directions to be considered in the use of DNA metabarcoding in dietary studies of rodents are discussed. Received 30 March 2024. Accepted 22 August 2024