Determination of Dietary Composition from Eleon Hawthorn (Falco eleonorae) Pellets by eDNA Metabarcoding Method
Project Coordinator:
Project Research Team: Ayşegül Er Gökçe , Alaz Uslu, Seher Ayça Deniz , Dilan Melisa Özsoy, Tutku Taşğın , Arzu İlayda Sümer, Emre Keskin
Supported by: Evolutionary Genetics Laboratory ( eGL)
Project Status: Ongoing (2025 - )
The Eleonora's Falcon ( Falco eleonorae ) is a migratory, colony-breeding raptor species endemic to the Mediterranean basin. In Turkey, it has a limited number of breeding colonies, mainly on islands along the Mediterranean and Aegean coasts, making it a priority species for conservation. Although classified as Least Concern (LC) by the IUCN, local populations are threatened by habitat loss, climate change, and hunting pressure. This project aims to understand the feeding ecology of the Eleonora's Falcon by analyzing pellet samples collected from individuals using environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding. DNA isolated from the pellets will be amplified using universal primers specific to different taxonomic groups and identified using high-throughput sequencing technologies. This will allow for the characterization of the diet composition and the evaluation of the species' habitat use and trophic relationships.
The data obtained will provide a scientific contribution to better understanding the ecological needs of the island's nature, determining conservation priorities, and sustainably managing the species' habitats.