Molecular Approaches to Predator-Prey Interactions

Over the past two decades, molecular tools have transformed our understanding of predator–prey dynamics by enabling direct detection, quantification and network‐level analysis of trophic interactions. PCR‐based assays, from diagnostic and quantitative PCR to metabarcoding with high-throughput sequencing, allow recovery of prey DNA fragments from predator gut contents or faeces with high sensitivity. DNA barcoding and next-generation sequencing facilitate species-level resolution across diverse taxonomic groups, while multiplex PCR improves throughput and cost-effectiveness. Integration of these molecular data with ecological network theory, null models and functional metrics has refined our knowledge of feeding specialisation, functional redundancy, intraguild predation and temporal shifts in prey use. Such advances inform practical applications in agroecosystems, conservation biological control and invasive-species management, offering strategies to enhance ecosystem services like pest suppression. Combining molecular approaches with stable-isotope analysis, spatial sampling and network modelling further elucidates food-web architecture and drivers of ecosystem stability, opening new avenues to predict and manage the impacts of environmental change on predation dynamics.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent work has employed DNA-based molecular gut-content analysis to elucidate prey use by generalist invertebrate predators in temperate agricultural fields. By pairing multiplex PCR assays with network-temperature metrics, researchers distinguished non-random “warm” and “cool” trophic links and quantified within-season variation in interactions with aphid pests. Findings revealed low overall specialisation coupled with temporally complementary prey choice among predator species and a high degree of functional redundancy. This integrated approach provides empirical insights into dynamic predation patterns and offers guidance for optimising biological pest control through targeted support of predator diversity.

Molecular Approaches to Predator-Prey Interactions publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in molecular approaches to predator-prey interactions across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Diagnostic PCR: Polymerase chain reaction using prey-specific primers to detect target DNA sequences within predator samples.

High-throughput sequencing (HTS): Massively parallel DNA sequencing that identifies multiple taxa simultaneously in mixed samples.

DNA metabarcoding: Use of HTS on standardised barcode regions to profile complete diets of predators.

Functional redundancy: Overlap in prey use among predator species that buffers ecosystem functions against species loss.

Intraguild predation: Predation among species that share similar prey resources, influencing network structure and stability.

References

1. econullnetr: An r package using null models to analyse the structure of ecological networks and identify resource selection. Methods in Ecology and Evolution (2017).
2. Conservation Biological Control of Pests in the Molecular Era: New Opportunities to Address Old Constraints. Frontiers in Plant Science (2016).
3. High Redundancy as well as Complementary Prey Choice Characterize Generalist Predator Food Webs in Agroecosystems. Scientific Reports (2018).
4. Diagnostic PCR assays to unravel food web interactions in cereal crops with focus on biological control of aphids. Journal of Pest Science (2015).
5. Optimizing methods for PCR‐based analysis of predation. Molecular Ecology Resources (2011).
6. Money spider dietary choice in pre‐ and post‐harvest cereal crops using metabarcoding. Ecological Entomology (2020).
7. DNA Metabarcoding as a Tool for Disentangling Food Webs in Agroecosystems. Insects (2020).