Stefaniya Kamenova and collaborators are currently trying to elucidate possible methodological biases in the assessment of diet in large herbivores. This is motivated by our recent observation that considerable discrepancies occur in the estimation of dietary proportions in the Svalbard reindeer according to the method used (i.e. DNA metabarcoding, microhistology, stable isotope analysis…). Consequently, we aim at comparing these three methods using samples from the very same individuals, collected at the same time.
While we have a rather good grasp of the DNA metabarcoding and stable isotope methods, microhistology remains a technique requiring very specific training. Therefore, our call is for collaborators trained in the microhistological analysis of herbivore diets, to help us with the screening of 96 rumen and faecal Svalbard reindeer samples.
If you have the expertise and certain interest for this iconic Arctic herbivore, please get in touch with Stefaniya.
Photo: Svalbard reindeer (Eeva Soininen)