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Molecular species identification for multiple carnivores

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Abstract

Species identification is crucial for carnivore conservation and ecological studies. We present a simple molecular genetic test that amplifies DNA of 16 wild carnivore species from three continents. The test is based on co-amplification of two mitochondrial DNA fragments and scoring of the resulting species-specific size patterns. We evaluated the performance of this method using 332 known tissue, blood, hair and fecal samples from 23 carnivore and 11 potential prey species. Results demonstrate that this test can distinguish many Caniform species but not members of Felidae. The test can be performed with a single PCR and capillary sequencer run for cost-effective processing of large sample numbers typical of non-invasive genetic projects.

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Acknowledgments

We thank agencies and individuals that provided samples and permits for this study: J. Aycrigg, M. Ben-David, U. Breitenmoser, J. Byers, R. Cisneros, A. Crupi, AK Dept. Fish and Game, ID Dept. Fish and Game, P. de Groot, R. Januszewski, D. Morin, Newfoundland Dept. Environment and Conservation, J. Pauli, Autonomous Trento Province, E. Randi, D. Schwalm, M. Schwartz, T. Steury, K. Woodruff, US Dept. Agriculture, US Fish and Wildlife Service, J. Vucetich and J. Young, Ministry of Environment of Ecuador.

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Author notes

  1. Marta De Barba

    Present address: Université Joseph Fourier, Laboratoire d’Ecologie Alpine, F-38000, Grenoble, France

  2. Caren S. Goldberg

    Present address: School of the Environment, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Fish and Wildlife Sciences, University of Idaho, 875 Perimeter Drive, Moscow, ID, 83844-1136, USA

    Marta De Barba, Jennifer R. Adams, Caren S. Goldberg, Carisa R. Stansbury & Lisette P. Waits

  2. Departamento de Ciencias Natuales, Universdiad Técnica Particular de Loja, San Cayetano Alto s/n, C.P. 1101608, Loja, Ecuador

    Daniela Arias & Rodrigo Cisneros

Authors
  1. Marta De Barba
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  2. Jennifer R. Adams
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  3. Caren S. Goldberg
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  4. Carisa R. Stansbury
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  5. Daniela Arias
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  6. Rodrigo Cisneros
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  7. Lisette P. Waits
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lisette P. Waits.

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De Barba, M., Adams, J.R., Goldberg, C.S. et al. Molecular species identification for multiple carnivores. Conservation Genet Resour 6, 821–824 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12686-014-0257-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12686-014-0257-x

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