Detection of Predator Presence at Elk Mortality Sites Using mtDNA Analysis of Hair and Scat Samples

Abstract

The identification of carnivores responsible for preying on wild or domestic ungulates often is of interest to wildlife managers. Typically, field personnel collect a variety of data at mortality sites including scat or hair samples that may have been deposited by the predator. We compared mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) analysis of hair and scat samples (n = 122) collected at elk (Cervus elaphus) mortality sites between 1997 and 2004 in north‐central Idaho, USA, with field identification of carnivore presence. We amplified mtDNA from samples via a 2‐step process involving an initial screening for American black bears (Ursus americanus), brown bears (Ursus arctos), and gray wolves (Canis lupus) using a length variation in the 5′ hypervariable section of the control region. Samples that failed the first screening subsequently were analyzed using conserved mtDNA primers that amplify a wide array of vertebrates. Species identification success rate was high (88.5%) and established the presence of 3 predators at elk mortality sites including black bears (55.7%), cougars (Puma concolor; 27.9%), and coyotes (Canis latrans; 6.6%). Attempts at hair and scat identification by field personnel were correct for 58% of hair samples and 79% of fecal samples. Results from these analyses demonstrate the merits of combining field mortality assessments with mtDNA species identification to aid wildlife managers in more accurately pinpointing predators involved in either predation or depredation events.

Development and testing of an optimized method for DNA-based identification of jaguar (Panthera onca) and puma (Puma concolor) faecal samples for use in ecological and genetic studies

“…If affirmed by further sampling and analyses of other carnivore communities, this result would indicate that the markers proposed here might have advantages in terms of identification performance relative to others that have been published previously (e.g. see Adams et al 2003 andOnorato et al 2006). In addition, we also saw no evidence of numt amplification or co-amplification (e.g.…”

“…More recently, Miotto et al (2007) used those same primers in a study to determine the presence of pumas and their estimated minimum population in two protected areas in Brazil, and also achieved 60% success rate in amplification and sequencing. Higher amplification success rates (83% and 85%, respectively) were observed with cyt b markers in the studies of Adams et al (2003) and Onorato et al (2006) in different areas of the United States. However, both of these papers reported a certain amount of prey DNA amplification using these primers (13 and 8%, respectively), which suggests that additional marker development is desirable to maximize the efficiency of assays capable of identifying carnivore species.…”

Describing a developing hybrid zone between red wolves and coyotes in eastern North Carolina, USA

“…We screened samples for species identification using a PCR‐based mitochondrial DNA control region fragment analysis test (Onorato et al. ). This test can differentiate between scats deposited by coyotes and red wolves from those deposited by dogs and gray wolves.…”

Abundance and threats to the survival of the snow leopard – a review

“…After PCR, the sample of an approximately 160 base-pair section of the cytochrome B gene of the mitochondrial DNA control region is sequenced . To identify which species deposited each faecal sample, stated primers and formerly published methods are used (Farrell et al 2000;Onorato et al 2006). To distinguish individuals of snow leopard, it is appropriate to have as many primers (polymorphic microsatellite loci) as possible.…”