Molecular scatology: the use of molecular genetic analysis to assign species, sex and individual identity to seal faeces

Reed, Jane Z.; Tollit, Dominic J.; Thompson, Paul M.; Amos, William

doi:10.1046/j.1365-294x.1997.00175.x

Cited by 219 publications

(204 citation statements)

References 42 publications

(58 reference statements)

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“…The use of DNA-based techniques for sex assignment of scats (e.g. Reed et al 1997) may allow assessment of sources of variation in diet composition in future studies.…”

Section: Comparison With Historical Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial and temporal variation in the diet of Steller sea lions in the Kodiak Archipelago, 1999 to 2005

McKenzie¹,

Wynne²

2008

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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Spatial and temporal variation in the diet of Steller sea lions Eumetopias jubatus was investigated using scat (fecal) samples collected from 4 regions in the Kodiak Archipelago. Over 2700 scats with identifiable prey were collected from the northern, eastern, southern and western sides of Kodiak Island from 1999 to 2005. Of 76 prey types identified using hard remains, the most important species in terms of frequency of occurrence and numerical abundance were Pacific sand lance Ammodytes hexapterus, walleye pollock Theragra chalcogramma, arrowtooth flounder Atheresthes stomias, Pacific cod Gadus macrocephalus, salmon Oncorhynchus spp., and Pacific herring Clupea pallasi. Significant differences in diet composition were found among regions, seasons, and years, suggesting that the diet of sea lions is strongly influenced by local and temporal distributions and abundances of prey. Herring dominated scat collections from the west coast and accounted for most (14 to 30%) of the differences in regional diet in spring and winter. Annual variation in diet was relatively low in winter, whereas spring and fall diets varied from year to year, with regional-specific shifts in dominant prey. Results from our study generally agree with diet studies conducted in the 1990s, but differ markedly in the relative importance of the major prey species.

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“…The use of DNA-based techniques for sex assignment of scats (e.g. Reed et al 1997) may allow assessment of sources of variation in diet composition in future studies.…”

Section: Comparison With Historical Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial and temporal variation in the diet of Steller sea lions in the Kodiak Archipelago, 1999 to 2005

McKenzie¹,

Wynne²

2008

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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“…For example, this approach allowed Reed et al (1997) to determine the relative impacts of grey (Halichoerus grypus) and harbour (Phoca vitulina) seals on fisheries, and Hansen and Jacobsen (1999) to better interpret the feeding biology of mink (Mustela vison), otters (Lutra lutra) and polecats (Mustela putorius). In another example, assignment of field-collected scats to each of four sympatric Venezuelan carnivore species using mtDNA analysis, indicated that scat size overlapped considerably among species.…”

Section: Dietary Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Remote collection of animal DNA and its applications in conservation management and understanding the population biology of rare and cryptic species

Piggott¹,

Taylor²

2003

Wildl. Res.

155

127

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Abstract.Obtaining useful information about elusive or endangered species can be logistically difficult, particularly if relying entirely on field signs such as hair, feathers or faeces. However, recent developments in molecular technology add substantially to the utility of such 'non-invasive' samples, which provide a source of DNA that can be used to identify not only species but also individuals and their gender. This provides great potential to improve the accuracy of abundance estimates and determine behavioural parameters, such as home-range size, individual habitat and dietary preferences, and even some forms of social interaction. Non-invasive samples can also be a useful alternative to blood or tissue samples (the collection of which traditionally has required trapping of animals) as genetic material for applications such as relatedness, population genetic and phylogenetic analyses. Despite the huge potential of non-invasive genetic sampling, the current technology does have limitations. The low quantity and quality of DNA often obtained from such sources results in an increased risk of genotyping errors, which may lead to incorrect inferences, particularly false identification of individuals. Appropriate precautions and pilot studies are required to minimise these risks, and in some cases it may be wise to employ traditional methods when they are adequate.

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“…Feces is a non-invasive sample that is easy to collect and contains a large amount of ecological information (Waits and Paetkau, 2005;Brinkman and Hundertmark, 2009). The development of techniques that utilize DNA collected through non-invasive sampling from wild animals, particularly feces, has created new opportunities for sex determination in wildlife (Reed et al, 1997;Ding et al, 1998;Oliveira and Duarte, 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sex identification based on AMEL gene PCR amplification from blue sheep (Pseudois nayaur) fecal DNA samples

et al. 2015

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ABSTRACT. The use of noninvasive genetic sampling to identify the sex of wild animals is an extremely valuable and important tool in molecular ecology and wildlife conservation. Sex determination using the amelogenin gene has been conducted in many species because only a single pair of primers is required to amplify both Xand Y-linked alleles. However, this method has not been used in field research with the feces of wildlife. In this study, we applied this method to 222 fecal samples from wild blue sheep (Pseudois nayaur) using amelogenin primers (SE47/SE48) after testing the effectiveness of sex determination using tissue samples and fecal samples from blue sheep of known sex. We found this method to be highly reliable (80.2%) for blue sheep. Amelogenin can be used to identify the sex of wild animals using fecal samples.

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Molecular scatology: the use of molecular genetic analysis to assign species, sex and individual identity to seal faeces

Cited by 219 publications

References 42 publications

Spatial and temporal variation in the diet of Steller sea lions in the Kodiak Archipelago, 1999 to 2005

Spatial and temporal variation in the diet of Steller sea lions in the Kodiak Archipelago, 1999 to 2005

Remote collection of animal DNA and its applications in conservation management and understanding the population biology of rare and cryptic species

Sex identification based on AMEL gene PCR amplification from blue sheep (Pseudois nayaur) fecal DNA samples

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