Spanik et al.: Using DNA barcoding to improve taxonomic resolution of the diet of Lutjanus campechanus 
Table 1 
Diet composition for red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus) sampled along the Atlantic coast of the southeastern 
United States in 2017 and 2018, based on analysis of stomach contents. For prey found in stomachs, frequency 
of occurrence (%FO), mean percentage by number (%N), mean percentage by weight (%W), and index of relative 
importance (IRI) values are provided. Taxa of prey items were identified by using visual and molecular methods 
combined. An asterisk (*) denotes species identifications determined by using DNA barcoding only. Prey items that 
could not be identified to species are designated as unidentified (unid.) members of families or other taxa. 
Phylum, class 
or other taxa 
Polychaeta 
Mollusca 
Cephalopoda 
Copepoda 
Stomatopoda 
Amphipoda 
Decapoda 
Scientific name 
Amphinomidae 
Spionidae 
Polychaeta 
Pectinidae 
Tellinidae 
Illex sp. 
Loligo sp. 
Teuthida 
Octopus sp. 
Octopoda 
Calanoida 
Squillidae 
Ampeliscidae 
Hyperiidea 
Leptochela papulata 
Mesopenaeus tropicalis 
Penaeoidea 
Rimapenaeus constrictus 
Sicyonia brevirostris 
Sicyonia sp. 
Sicyoniidae 
Solenoceridae 
Stomatopoda 
Decapoda 
Achelous ordwayi 
Achelous spinicarpus 
Achelous sp. 
Portunidae 
Albunea catherinae 
Calappa flammea 
Ethusa mascarone 
Hepatus epheliticus 
Hepatus pudibundus 
Inachinae 
Ovalipes stephensoni 
Ovalipes sp. 
Pilumnus sp. 
Pinnixa sp. 
Ranilia muricata 
Raninidae 
Brachyura 
Common name 
Unid. bristle worm 
Unid. spionid polychaete 
Unid. polychaete 
Unid. scallop 
Unid. tellin clam 
Unid. shortfin squid 
Unid. longfin squid 
Unid. squid 
Unid. octopus 
Unid. octopus 
Unid. calanoid copepod 
Unid. mantis shrimp 
Unid. red-eyed amphipod 
Unid. hyperiid amphipod 
Light glass shrimp 
Salmon shrimp 
Unid. penaeoid shrimp 
Roughneck shrimp 
Brown rock shrimp 
Unid. rock shrimp 
Unid. rock shrimp 
Solenocerid shrimp 
Unid. mantis shrimp 
Unid. shrimp 
Redhair swimming crab 
Longspine swimming crab 
Swimming crab 
Unid. swimming crab 
Mole crab 
Flame box crab 
Stalkeye sumo crab 
Calico box crab 
Flecked box crab 
Unid. spider crab 
Coarsehand lady crab 
Unid. lady crab 
Unid. hairy crap 
Unid. pea crab 
Muricate frog crab 
Unid. frog crab 
Unid. true crab 
%EO 
0.95 
0.95 
5.71 
1.90 
9.52 
2.86 
21.90 
9.52 
0.95 
0.95 
3.81 
0.95 
4.76 
14.29 
2.86 
11.43 
0.95 
3.81 
0.95 
1.90 
0.95 
0.95 
4.76 
3.81 
0.95 
0.95 
0.95 
0.95 
1.90 
JoW IRI (%) 
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