Is it possible to identify four small Neotropical felids (Carnivora: Felidae) based on hair microstructure?

Rinaldi, Alcides Ricieri; Rodriguez, Flávia Heloísa; Passos, Fernando C.

doi:10.1590/s1984-46702015000100012

Cited by 3 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…One report [ 20 ], on the other hand, seems to support our view of the importance of color (and banding) and medullar shape, since it compared only the scale patterns of the ocelot, margay, oncilla and jaguarundi, and was unable to distinguish them on this basis.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 76%

“…For this reason, the success of the DNA extraction is evaluated only by amplifying the DNA in the PCR. In recent studies with fecal samples, DNA quantification and quality were also not measured after DNA extraction [ 3 , 8 , 17 – 20 ].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Nonetheless, trichology as a method of identification has certain drawbacks. The most important one, according to some investigators [ 20 ], is that species identification is not completely certain, particularly in the case of closely related species with morphologically similar hairs. However, the molecular method may also not be completely reliable, since usually DNA cannot be successfully amplified from all the samples [ 7 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, the molecular method may also not be completely reliable, since usually DNA cannot be successfully amplified from all the samples [ 7 ]. In any case, some studies have used trichology to identify mammal species in the Neotropical region [ 20 – 24 ] even being available a reliable molecular methodology to identify them from fecal samples [ 25 – 31 ]. Part of the literature on hair morphology provides identification keys [ 32 – 35 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Comparing hair-morphology and molecular methods to identify fecal samples from Neotropical felids

et al. 2017

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To avoid certain problems encountered with more-traditional and invasive methods in behavioral-ecology studies of mammalian predators, such as felids, molecular approaches have been employed to identify feces found in the field. However, this method requires a complete molecular biology laboratory, and usually also requires very fresh fecal samples to avoid DNA degradation. Both conditions are normally absent in the field. To address these difficulties, identification based on morphological characters (length, color, banding, scales and medullar patterns) of hairs found in feces could be employed as an alternative. In this study we constructed a morphological identification key for guard hairs of eight Neotropical felids (jaguar, oncilla, Geoffroy’s cat, margay, ocelot, Pampas cat, puma and jaguarundi) and compared its efficiency to that of a molecular identification method, using the ATP6 region as a marker. For this molecular approach, we simulated some field conditions by postponing sample-conservation procedures. A blind test of the identification key obtained a nearly 70% overall success rate, which we considered equivalent to or better than the results of some molecular methods (probably due to DNA degradation) found in other studies. The jaguar, puma and jaguarundi could be unequivocally discriminated from any other Neotropical felid. On a scale ranging from inadequate to excellent, the key proved poor only for the margay, with only 30% of its hairs successfully identified using this key; and have intermediate success rates for the remaining species, the oncilla, Geoffroy’s cat, ocelot and Pampas cat, were intermediate. Complementary information about the known distributions of felid populations may be necessary to substantially improve the results obtained with the key. Our own molecular results were even better, since all blind-tested samples were correctly identified. Part of these identifications were made from samples kept in suboptimal conditions, with some samples remaining outdoors for up to seven days, simulating conditions in the field. It appears that both methods can be used, depending on the available laboratory facilities and on the expected results.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 76%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Comparing hair-morphology and molecular methods to identify fecal samples from Neotropical felids

et al. 2017

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“…The study of mammalian hair microstructure may benefit from the development of a technique that does not necessitate the use of media for embedding that may interfere with the biochemical profile of the sample and delivers even cross sections of single hair fibers that may be more amenable to improved morphological analysis and high‐resolution imaging of hair internal microstructure. Such a new tool for the fast processing of mammalian hair for morphological assessment in the laboratory may find new applications in answering a diverse range of wildlife forensic questions .…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

A Novel Application of a Cryosectioning Technique to Aid Scat Hair Microanalysis

Mandoreba

Cloete

Minnis‐Ndimba

et al. 2018

Journal of Forensic Sciences

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Scat hair presents a diverse profile of hairs for morphological assessment that may find versatile applications in wildlife forensic investigations. Successful morphological assessment of scat hair microstructure, however, depends on a robust sectioning methodology. We assessed the feasibility and efficacy of a cryosectioning technique compared to that of a gold standard hand‐sectioning technique. Scat hairs were embedded in paraffin wax and hand‐sectioned, while cryopreserved scat hairs were sectioned with a cryostat. The results showed that cryosectioning preserved the pristine morphology of the scat hair and provided cross sections more amenable to high‐resolution imaging of hair internal microstructure than hand‐sectioning. The cryosectioning technique may find novel applications as a more reliable and robust technique to aid (i) scat hair internal microstructure analysis for cross‐referencing with species identification keys in wildlife forensic studies and (ii) downstream toxicological analysis in wildlife forensic studies as hair biochemistry is not altered during cryopreservation.

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Análise tricológica em morcegos do Brasil revela diferenciação ao nível de família (Mammalia: Chiroptera)

Marchioro

Miranda

2017

Revista Brasileira De Zoociências

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O estudo da microestrutura dos pelos pode ser aplicado em diversas áreas, como: zoologia, ecologia, ciências forenses, arqueologia, epidemiologia e paleontologia, além de ser uma ferramenta útil e importante na identificação das espécies de mamíferos. O objetivo do presente estudo foi analisar os padrões da microestrutura cuticular dos pelos de 68 espécies de morcegos ocorrentes no Brasil. Foram coletados pelos do dorso de espécimes depositados em coleção científica (via úmida). Posteriormente esses pelos foram prensados em lâminas para microscopia junto a uma fina camada de esmalte incolor, com o objetivo de marcar a impressão cuticular, que foi observada em microscópio óptico e comparada com literatura específica. As impressões cuticulares foram classificadas em oito padrões morfológicos: (1) folidáceo estreito, (2) conoidal liso, (3) conoidal contínuo liso, (4) conoidal ornamentado largo, (5) conoidal ornamentado descontínuo, (6) conoidal ornamentado dentado, (7) conoidal liso com bráctea e (8) ondeado oblíquo. Foi possível a diferenciação em nível de Família ou Subfamília. A partir da morfologia cuticular dos pelos foi construída uma chave para identificação de pelos de morcegos até o nível de família ou Subfamília (no caso de Phyllostomidae).

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Is it possible to identify four small Neotropical felids (Carnivora: Felidae) based on hair microstructure?

Cited by 3 publications

References 15 publications

Comparing hair-morphology and molecular methods to identify fecal samples from Neotropical felids

Comparing hair-morphology and molecular methods to identify fecal samples from Neotropical felids

A Novel Application of a Cryosectioning Technique to Aid Scat Hair Microanalysis

Análise tricológica em morcegos do Brasil revela diferenciação ao nível de família (Mammalia: Chiroptera)

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