Application of species-specific primers to estimate the diet of [Cladocera, Onychopoda] in its native European range via molecular gut content analysis.

The study of invasive species often focuses on regions of recent introduction rather than native habitats. Understanding an invasive species in its natural environment, however, can provide important insights regarding the long-term outcome of invasions. In this study we investigated the diet of the invasive spiny water flea, , in two Austrian perialpine lakes, where it is native. The gut contents of wild-caught individuals were estimated by quantitative polymerase chain reaction, targeting species-specific fragments of the barcoding region of the cytochrome c oxidase I gene of potential prey. The observed prey spectrum of in the study lakes consisted primarily of and . The complex, and also contributed to the diet. Results indicate that is a generalist feeder with a preference for epilimnetic prey.