Comparative visual and DNA-based diet assessment extends the prey spectrum of polar cod Boreogadus saida

The Arctic marine ecosystem is changing fast due to climate change, emphasizing the need for solid ecological baselines and monitoring. The polar cod Boreogadus saida functions as a key species in the Arctic marine food web. We investigated the stomach contents of polar cod from the northern Barents Sea using DNA metabarcoding with the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I gene in parallel with classical visual analysis. Arctic amphipods and krill dominated the diet in both methods. Yet, metabarcoding allowed for the identification of digested and unidentifiable prey and provided higher taxonomic resolution, revealing new and undiscovered prey items of polar cod in the area. Furthermore, molecular results suggest a higher importance of barnacles and fish (presumably eggs and pelagic larvae) in the diet than previously recorded. Parasites and, in 6 cases, other prey items were only visually identified, demonstrating the complementary nature of both approaches. The presence of temperate and boreal prey species such as northern krill and (early life stages of) European flounder and European plaice illustrates the advection of boreal taxa into the polar region or may be indicative of ongoing borealisation in the Barents Sea. We show that a combination of visual analysis and metabarcoding provides complementary and semi-quantitative dietary information and integrative insights to monitor changing marine food webs.

Automated summary

The Arctic marine ecosystem is rapidly changing, emphasizing the importance of establishing ecological baselines and monitoring. Polar cod plays a key role in the Arctic marine food web. By analyzing the stomach contents of polar cod from the northern Barents Sea, researchers found that Arctic amphipods and krill were the dominant prey items. The use of DNA metabarcoding provided higher taxonomic resolution and revealed new prey items. The combination of visual analysis and metabarcoding offers complementary and semi-quantitative dietary information for monitoring changing marine food webs.