Trophic Plasticity of the Invasive Redbelly Tilapia (Coptodon zillii) in China Inferred From DNA Metabarcoding Analysis
ABSTRACT The redbelly tilapia (Coptodon zillii) is one of the most dangerous invasive alien fishes in the world. In order to better understand the feeding patterns of invasive populations in different habitats and seasons, and to reveal the possible force of differences in dietary composition among...
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Wiley
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Ecology and Evolution |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.71118 |
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| author | Shoujie Tang Ying Xing Temesgen Tola Geletu Jinliang Zhao |
| author_facet | Shoujie Tang Ying Xing Temesgen Tola Geletu Jinliang Zhao |
| author_sort | Shoujie Tang |
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| description | ABSTRACT The redbelly tilapia (Coptodon zillii) is one of the most dangerous invasive alien fishes in the world. In order to better understand the feeding patterns of invasive populations in different habitats and seasons, and to reveal the possible force of differences in dietary composition among populations, we used DNA metabarcoding technology to analyze the dietary composition of 23 specimens from five different water bodies (two rivers and three reservoirs) in southern China, and 60 specimens from Shuikou Reservoir in four seasons (spring, summer, fall, and winter). The results showed that samples from five different water bodies and four seasons in Shuikou Reservoir were annotated to a total of 22 and 37 phyla of food categories, respectively. Generalist trophic strategies were dominant in C. zillii populations. There was significant spatial heterogeneity in the diet composition, with higher levels of trophic diversity in riverine populations. Water temperature, dissolved oxygen, and conductivity were important environmental factors driving changes in prey taxa of populations from different habitats. The dietary composition of populations in Shuikou Reservoir showed significant seasonal heterogeneity, with summer being the season with the highest level of trophic diversity. Total nitrogen, turbidity degree, pH, and permanganate index were the important environmental factors driving the prey taxa changes of populations in different seasons of Shuikou Reservoir. Our results indicated that C. zillii are omnivorous; they have a wide range of recipes in both rivers and reservoirs in southern China, and show high trophic plasticity in different habitats and at different seasons of the year. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2045-7758 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-3e386718ab8e45dc972cbd0decbdd07d2025-08-20T02:35:33ZengWileyEcology and Evolution2045-77582025-04-01154n/an/a10.1002/ece3.71118Trophic Plasticity of the Invasive Redbelly Tilapia (Coptodon zillii) in China Inferred From DNA Metabarcoding AnalysisShoujie Tang0Ying Xing1Temesgen Tola Geletu2Jinliang Zhao3Key Laboratory of Freshwater Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Shanghai Ocean University Shanghai ChinaKey Laboratory of Freshwater Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Shanghai Ocean University Shanghai ChinaKey Laboratory of Freshwater Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Shanghai Ocean University Shanghai ChinaKey Laboratory of Freshwater Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Shanghai Ocean University Shanghai ChinaABSTRACT The redbelly tilapia (Coptodon zillii) is one of the most dangerous invasive alien fishes in the world. In order to better understand the feeding patterns of invasive populations in different habitats and seasons, and to reveal the possible force of differences in dietary composition among populations, we used DNA metabarcoding technology to analyze the dietary composition of 23 specimens from five different water bodies (two rivers and three reservoirs) in southern China, and 60 specimens from Shuikou Reservoir in four seasons (spring, summer, fall, and winter). The results showed that samples from five different water bodies and four seasons in Shuikou Reservoir were annotated to a total of 22 and 37 phyla of food categories, respectively. Generalist trophic strategies were dominant in C. zillii populations. There was significant spatial heterogeneity in the diet composition, with higher levels of trophic diversity in riverine populations. Water temperature, dissolved oxygen, and conductivity were important environmental factors driving changes in prey taxa of populations from different habitats. The dietary composition of populations in Shuikou Reservoir showed significant seasonal heterogeneity, with summer being the season with the highest level of trophic diversity. Total nitrogen, turbidity degree, pH, and permanganate index were the important environmental factors driving the prey taxa changes of populations in different seasons of Shuikou Reservoir. Our results indicated that C. zillii are omnivorous; they have a wide range of recipes in both rivers and reservoirs in southern China, and show high trophic plasticity in different habitats and at different seasons of the year.https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.71118Coptodon zilliiDNA metabarcodingfeeding strategyinvasive speciestrophic plasticity |
| spellingShingle | Shoujie Tang Ying Xing Temesgen Tola Geletu Jinliang Zhao Trophic Plasticity of the Invasive Redbelly Tilapia (Coptodon zillii) in China Inferred From DNA Metabarcoding Analysis Ecology and Evolution Coptodon zillii DNA metabarcoding feeding strategy invasive species trophic plasticity |
| title | Trophic Plasticity of the Invasive Redbelly Tilapia (Coptodon zillii) in China Inferred From DNA Metabarcoding Analysis |
| title_full | Trophic Plasticity of the Invasive Redbelly Tilapia (Coptodon zillii) in China Inferred From DNA Metabarcoding Analysis |
| title_fullStr | Trophic Plasticity of the Invasive Redbelly Tilapia (Coptodon zillii) in China Inferred From DNA Metabarcoding Analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Trophic Plasticity of the Invasive Redbelly Tilapia (Coptodon zillii) in China Inferred From DNA Metabarcoding Analysis |
| title_short | Trophic Plasticity of the Invasive Redbelly Tilapia (Coptodon zillii) in China Inferred From DNA Metabarcoding Analysis |
| title_sort | trophic plasticity of the invasive redbelly tilapia coptodon zillii in china inferred from dna metabarcoding analysis |
| topic | Coptodon zillii DNA metabarcoding feeding strategy invasive species trophic plasticity |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.71118 |
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