There is an increased interest in the possibility to use large animals in the restoration of degraded ecosystems and to increase the capacity of natural areas to sustain richer biodiversity. We quantify the dietary differences and similarities between five moose and 22 red deer introduced in a 2100 ha fenced area under restoration (Lille Vildmose, Denmark) and their potential in the restoration process. Moose and red deer were selected based on their biogeographic affinity and existing knowledge of their diet and feeding behaviour, and are expected to counteract encroachment on open habitats. Using eDNA metabarcoding of dung collected in the field and species identification through saliva recovered from browsed twigs, we investigated the species’ diets and diet overlap after the moose were released into the area, and assessed how their diets match the expected ecosystem function. Despite the partial overlap of some dietary items, such as Betulaceae and Salicaceae, we report a differential use in height of tree species and distinctive use of other food resources between the two species, with red deer eating more herbaceous plants and the moose diet also containing aquatic plants. This study exemplifies a monitoring approach to restoration projects where large herbivores are expected to provide a key ecosystem function through their browsing and grazing.

中文翻译：

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用于野外项目监测的 eDNA 和元条形码，一种饮食方法

人们对利用大型动物恢复退化生态系统和增加自然区域维持更丰富生物多样性的能力的可能性越来越感兴趣。我们量化了在 2100 公顷正在修复的围栏区域（丹麦里尔维尔德摩斯）中引入的 5 只驼鹿和 22 只马鹿之间的饮食差异和相似之处，以及它们在修复过程中的潜力。驼鹿和马鹿是根据它们的生物地理亲和力和现有的饮食和摄食行为知识选择的，预计会抵消对开放栖息地的侵占。使用在野外收集的粪便的 eDNA 元条形码和通过从浏览过的树枝中回收的唾液进行物种鉴定，我们调查了驼鹿被释放到该地区后物种的饮食和饮食重叠，并评估他们的饮食如何与预期的生态系统功能相匹配。尽管某些饮食项目（例如桦木科和杨柳科）存在部分重叠，但我们报告说，这两个物种在树种高度的使用和其他食物资源的独特使用方面存在差异，马鹿食用更多的草本植物，而驼鹿的饮食也含有水生植物。本研究举例说明了恢复项目的监测方法，其中大型食草动物有望通过浏览和放牧提供关键的生态系统功能。马鹿吃更多的草本植物，而驼鹿的饮食也含有水生植物。本研究举例说明了恢复项目的监测方法，其中大型食草动物有望通过浏览和放牧提供关键的生态系统功能。马鹿吃更多的草本植物，而驼鹿的饮食也含有水生植物。本研究举例说明了恢复项目的监测方法，其中大型食草动物有望通过浏览和放牧提供关键的生态系统功能。