Enhanced understanding of predator–prey relationships using molecular methods to identify predator species, individual and sex

摘要: Predator species identification is an important step in understanding predator-prey interactions, but predator identifications using kill site observations are often unreliable. We used molecular tools to analyse saliva, scat and hair from caribou calf kills Newfoundland, Canada identify the species, individual sex. sampled DNA 32 carcasses cotton swabs collect saliva. fragment length analysis sequencing of mitochondrial distinguish between coyote, black bear, lynx red fox nuclear microsatellite individuals. compared detected those assigned via field at each kill. identified a 94% methods, while observational methods 62.5% kills. Molecular attributed 66.7% coyote 33.3% 40%, 45%, 10% 5% fox, respectively. Individual was successful 70% where identified. Only one kill, some individuals were found multiple sex predominantly male. demonstrate first large-scale evaluation techniques extract wild prey carcasses. Our results indicate that (i) can be highly identifying responsible; (ii) serve inform complement traditional methods.