Seasonal Variation in the Diet Composition of Wild Boars (Sus scrofa) Based on Fecal DNA Metabarcoding in Bukhansan National Park, Republic of Korea

Abstract

The diet of wild boars (Sus scrofa) is highly diverse, consisting of both plant and animal materials, and their foraging behavior varies seasonally. However, limited research has investigated the composition of macrofungi in the diet of these omnivorous mammals, and relevant information remains scarce. This study aimed to assess the diversity of plant, animal, and macrofungal components in the diet of wild boars and to evaluate seasonal variations in Bukhansan National Park, Republic of Korea. Fecal samples were collected across different seasons, and DNA metabarcoding was applied to compare the taxonomic composition of dietary items. The results revealed that the wild boar diet included 54 plant genera, 9 animal genera, and 22 macrofungal genera. Among the plants, Pueraria, Quercus, and Ipomoea were the most dominant, with relative abundances of 21.3%, 18.3%, and 16.4%, respectively. The primary animal taxa consisted of Neomyia (54.7%) and Didea (39.4%), while Rhizopogon accounted for 95.3% of the macrofungal sequences detected. Overall, the study demonstrated clear seasonal variation in the diet of wild boars, reflecting their remarkable adaptability to changing environmental conditions.