Quantitative analysis of diet structure by real-time PCR, reveals different feeding patterns by two dominant grasshopper species

• DOI: 10.1038/srep32166
• Publication Date: 2016-08-26T09:47:12Z
• Authors: Xunbing Huang; Huihui Wu; Mark Richard McNeill; Xinghu Qin; Jingchuan Ma; Xiongbing Tu; Guangchun Cao; Guangjun Wang; Xiangqun Nong; Zehua Zhang
• Keywords: Grasshopper; Leymus

Abstract Studies on grasshopper diets have historically employed a range of methodologies, each with certain advantages and disadvantages. For example, some methodologies are qualitative instead quantitative. Others require long experimental periods or examine population-level effects, only. In this study, we used real-time PCR to individual grasshoppers. The method has the advantage being both fast Using two species, Oedaleus asiaticus Dasyhippus barbipes , designed ITS primer sequences for their three main host plants, Stipa krylovii, Leymus chinensis Cleistogenes squarrosa test diet structure qualitatively quantitatively. lowest detection efficiency grass species was ~80% strong correlation between actual PCR-measured food intake. We found that maintained an unchanged across grasslands different communities. By comparison, changed its structure. These results revealed why O. distribution is mainly confined -dominated grassland, D. more widely distributed Inner Mongolia. Overall, shown be useful tool investigating diets, which in turn offers insight into distributions improved pest management.