Coastal populations are experiencing significant changes in relation to global warming and anthropogenic pressures. Some of the species traditionally found in our waters are becoming rare while new temperate species are found more regularly. Thus, understanding the feeding behaviour and dietary preferences of these species results essential for management and conservation of the natural resources. As a part of a student research project lead by our professor Enrique Blanco Gonzalez, we had the opportunity to get involved in an interesting research project to explore the dietary preferences of three common wrasses found in Agder following a metabarcoding analysis.
During this project, we learn how to carefully perform the dissection of fish for stomach content analyses. Working with different species gave us the opportunity to understand their biological and physiological differences. Later on, we performed the DNA extraction following a specific protocol for this type of analyses, analysed the DNA quality and prepared the samples for DNA metabarcoding. This approach enables the detailed identification of dietary components through high-throughput sequencing of DNA extracts.
This hands-on experience was not only fascinating but also deeply educational, as it allowed us to engage directly with cutting-edge molecular methods conducted at UiA and deepen our understanding of their real-world applications in ecological research. It has strengthened our research skills and has given us a solid foundation to carry forward into our master’s studies in coastal ecology, reinforcing our passion for exploring marine ecosystems and marine resources conservation.