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Data from: Investigating anthropogenic and social influences on diet of semi-urban vervet monkeys using DNA metabarcoding

Felsch, Joey12; Mas-Carriò, Eduard1; Mercier, Stéphanie34; Schneider, Judith1; Forss, Sofia34; van de Waal, Erica14; Fumagalli, Luca15

Research facility: Urban Vervet Project
Published Feb 04, 2026 on Dryad. https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.15dv41p8p

Data files

Feb 04, 2026 version files 12.08 GB

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Abstract

In human-dominated ecosystems, wildlife has been forced either to disappear or to adapt its behaviour in order to exploit the opportunities associated with anthropogenic activities. Vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus pygerythrus) are omnivorous primates whose natural habitats have been progressively encroached upon by expanding suburban development. Due to their generalist and opportunistic feeding behaviour, vervet monkeys have successfully adapted to semi-urban environments. Characterising the composition of their diet can therefore reveal how they exploit anthropogenic resources and uncover new foraging behaviours. However, accurately determining their diet through direct observation can be challenging, especially in semi-urban areas where numerous anthropogenic structures obstruct visibility. Environmental DNA (eDNA) has been proposed as a non-invasive complementary method to determine diet and foraging strategies by analysing the DNA mixtures present in faecal samples. In this study, we determined the dietary components of vervet monkeys using DNA metabarcoding of 447 faecal samples collected from two monkey groups over four months in a semi-urban neighbourhood in South Africa, and compared the results with observational foraging data to elucidate how vervet monkeys exploit anthropogenic resources. Subsequently, we evaluated whether dietary patterns can be distinguished between groups and within matrilineal levels. We found DNA metabarcoding data to be consistent with observational data, but the former revealed a broader diversity of consumed taxa. Additionally, we detected a difference in diet between the two groups, and a tendency for similar dietary patterns among matrilineal pairs compared to other group members. Our results support the use of the DNA metabarcoding methodology, both to determine the complex diet of omnivorous species in urbanised habitats and to address interindividual foraging behaviours.