Optimised scat collection protocols for dietary DNA metabarcoding in vertebrates

These spreadsheets provide the sequences counts for the DNA groups found in the scats of Shy Albatross at Albatross Island, Tasmania, Australia. Samples were collected during three stages of the breeding season: Incubation (Late September 2014), Brood (December 2014) and Chick-rearing (March 2014 and 2015). Scat samples were collected from breeding birds, chicks and non-breeders. 'Breeders' were identified as individuals incubating an egg or attending a chick, whereas 'non-breeders' were usually pairs that had reoccupied the colony and were building new practice nests with no chick present. Non-breeders in the colony include immature birds that have not yet bred and mature birds of breeding age that did not breed in a particular season (e.g. no partner or insufficient body condition) Details of the molecular methods and synthesis of this data can be found in: McInnes, J.C., Alderman, R., Deagle, B.E. Lea, M-A., Raymond, B. and Jarman, S.N. 2016. Optimised scat collection protocols for dietary DNA metabarcoding in vertebrates. Methods in Ecology and Evolution.