ABSTRACT: Deep-sea benthic ecosystems are difficult to study, particularly when trying to clarify diet and trophic relationships. New Zealand scampi Metanephrops challengeri are endemic, commercially prized deep-sea lobsters that are bottom trawled. These lobsters are typically the dominant mobile megafaunal species in the deep-sea benthic habitat, and their burrowing behaviour plays an important role in bioturbation of seafloor habitats. DNA metabarcoding was undertaken on the gut contents of 66 scampi from 4 fishery management areas using COI and 18S rRNA markers to better understand their feeding habits and trophic role. Scampi were confirmed to be opportunistic benthic scavengers, with the gut samples containing over 150 species, ranging from small (e.g. alveolates) to large eukaryotes (e.g. fish). The main dietary components consisted of crabs and prawns, but also included macroalgae and fish. Significant differences were found among scampi gut contents when comparing season and geographic region, but not when comparing sex and size. Due to their generalist scavenging nature, scampi play an important role in the deep-sea benthic ecosystems and are natural benthic samplers that are well suited to being used as deep-sea ecosystem/biodiversity monitors.

中文翻译：

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从喂养习惯到食物网：探索机会主义底栖全科医生的饮食

摘要：深海底栖生态系统很难研究，特别是在试图弄清饮食和营养关系时。新西兰海螯虾是地方性的，有商业价值的深海龙虾，它们被拖网底捕捞。这些龙虾通常是深海底栖生境中主要的活动大型动植物种类，它们的穴居行为在海底生境的生物扰动中起着重要作用。使用COI和18S rRNA标记对来自4个渔业管理区的66个海虾的肠内容物进行了DNA元条形码，以更好地了解它们的摄食习惯和营养作用。Scampi被证实是机会性底栖生物清除剂，其肠道样本包含150多种，从小型（例如肺泡）到大型的真核生物（例如鱼）。饮食的主要成分包括螃蟹和虾，但也包括大型藻类和鱼类。比较季节和地理区域时，Scampi肠内容物之间存在显着差异，但在比较性别和身高时却没有。由于其通体的清除性质，Scampi在深海底栖生态系统中起着重要作用，并且是天然底栖采样器，非常适合用作深海生态系统/生物多样性监测器。