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

Piggott, Maxine P.; Taylor, Andrea Carolyn

doi:10.1071/wr02077

Cited by 155 publications

(130 citation statements)

References 106 publications

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“…One of the major drawbacks of non-invasive sampling, the generally small amount and low quality of genetic material (Piggott and Taylor 2003), has been overcome by our current approach. As demonstrated, we were able to amplify species-specific microsatellites with high amplification success (96.2%) and comparably low error rate (ADO, 4.6%).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Those methods allow researchers to collect samples without any observer bias or negative consequences for individuals due to handling or stress. Therefore, they are most frequently applied in studies with rare, cryptic, or endangered species (Piggott and Taylor 2003;Waits and Paetkau 2005). The source of sample material together with DNA extraction methods and PCR conditions is among the most crucial sources of error (Beja Pereira et al 2009;Broquet et al 2007;Taberlet et al 1999).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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An optimized hair trap for non-invasive genetic studies of small cryptic mammals

2011

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As sample quality and quantity is a crucial factor in non-invasive genetics, we focused on the improvement of sampling efficiency of glue hair traps. We invented an optimized hair trap with moveable parts which enhanced sampling of high-quality genetic material. With the aid of the optimized hair trap, we were able to remotely pluck a sufficient amount of hair bulbs from our study animal the common hamster (Cricetus cricetus) with a trapping success of 49.3% after one survey night. The number of collected hairs with bulbs ranged between 1 and 50, with an average of 20.7±14.8. Subsequently, the use of the hair trap in combination with a simplified laboratory routine allowed us to amplify species-specific microsatellites with an amplification success of 96.2% and ADO of 4.6%. This optimized trap may find usage for species identification or could be used as an instrument for long-term genetic monitoring of mammal populations.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An optimized hair trap for non-invasive genetic studies of small cryptic mammals

2011

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“…First, by unobtrusively collecting biological material (e.g., feces, hairs, feathers, saliva and mucus) from wild populations, researchers can study these species without disturbing, handling, or even observing them, thus reducing risks to both animals and researchers. Second, noninvasive genetic sampling enables biologists to study populations of elusive and rare species, a task that can prove difficult with more traditional live-trapping approaches 6 . And third, NGS can potentially increase sample sizes by reducing disturbance to animals, sampling efforts, and costs, thus helping to minimise biases in estimates of population parameters 7 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Noninvasive Hair Sampling Technique to Obtain High Quality DNA from Elusive Small Mammals

Henry

Russello

2011

JoVE

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Noninvasive genetic sampling approaches are becoming increasingly important to study wildlife populations. A number of studies have reported using noninvasive sampling techniques to investigate population genetics and demography of wild populations 1 . This approach has proven to be especially useful when dealing with rare or elusive species 2 . While a number of these methods have been developed to sample hair, feces and other biological material from carnivores and medium-sized mammals, they have largely remained untested in elusive small mammals. In this video, we present a novel, inexpensive and noninvasive hair snare targeted at an elusive small mammal, the American pika (Ochotona princeps). We describe the general set-up of the hair snare, which consists of strips of packing tape arranged in a web-like fashion and placed along travelling routes in the pikas' habitat. We illustrate the efficiency of the snare at collecting a large quantity of hair that can then be collected and brought back to the lab. We then demonstrate the use of the DNA IQ system (Promega) to isolate DNA and showcase the utility of this method to amplify commonly used molecular markers including nuclear microsatellites, amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLPs), mitochondrial sequences (800bp) as well as a molecular sexing marker. Overall, we demonstrate the utility of this novel noninvasive hair snare as a sampling technique for wildlife population biologists. We anticipate that this approach will be applicable to a variety of small mammals, opening up areas of investigation within natural populations, while minimizing impact to study organisms. Video LinkThe video component of this article can be found at https://www.jove.com/video/2791/ Protocol Hair snarePrior to setting up a snare, an ideal location has to be determined within the pika habitat or talus slope. This includes hay piles, which are vegetation caches that the animals collect in late summer as well as fresh scats found at latrine sites. Strips of packing tape (10-50cm in length) are rolled up to provide a 360° sticky surface and are arranged in a web-like manner to envelope the entrance to the pika's hay pile (Fig. 1) or latrine site. Depending on the configuration of the rocks, a piece of fishing line may be used to support the structure of the hair snare, but this is often not necessary when entrances are quite small (<30cm in diameter), a complete description of the use of fishing line can be found in Henry and Russello (2010) 3 . Hair snares are checked as often as possible, and hair samples deposited on the tape (Fig. 2) are then collected and labeled. Once transported back to the lab, hairs are removed from the sticky tape using sterile forceps and transferred into cryogenic tubes and stored at -20°C until further manipulation. Hair samples clustered together along a hair snare are considered to belong to a single individual, while samples clustered independently are assumed to belong to different individuals. In the latter case, the hair is then place...

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“…Dealing with the special habitat requirements, poor dispersal capabilities, sensitivity to human disturbance, and low detection probabilities typically associated with many rare, habitat specific or cryptic species, pose serious challenges for conservation planning (Piggott & Taylor 2003). Conservation efforts are desperately required to address the issue of habitat connectivity and protection for Juliana's golden mole.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecological variables governing habitat suitability and the distribution of the endangered Juliana’s golden mole

et al. 2008

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Juliana's golden mole (Neamblysomus julianae) occurs in three isolated populations in the northeastern parts of South Africa. This cryptic species is not evenly distributed throughout its restricted range and appears to have very specific habitat requirements. Its endangered status reflects the necessity for a conservation management programme, which to date has not been comprehensive. A primary hindrance to such initiatives has been the lack of information pertaining to its habitat requirements. We assessed various soil and vegetation parameters, at each population site, in areas where the animals were found to be present or absent. A multiple logistic regression model highlighted the importance of soil hardness (governed by soil particle size distribution), in combination with the cover provided by trees, as the two ecological factors that best explained habitat suitability for Juliana's golden mole at the three localities. An IndVal analysis failed to identify any plant species that could reliably act as an indicator of habitat suitability for this fossorial mammal. These results have important implications for the conservation of the species.

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

Cited by 155 publications

References 106 publications

An optimized hair trap for non-invasive genetic studies of small cryptic mammals

An optimized hair trap for non-invasive genetic studies of small cryptic mammals

A Noninvasive Hair Sampling Technique to Obtain High Quality DNA from Elusive Small Mammals

Ecological variables governing habitat suitability and the distribution of the endangered Juliana’s golden mole

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