Species identification using a small nuclear gene fragment: application to sympatric wild carnivores from South-western Europe

摘要: Species identification is essential for non-invasive studies of elusive and rare animals, detecting illegal harvest or trade wildlife species. However, most molecular tests identify only a limited number species require multiple laboratory steps to distinguish many taxa. Additionally, protocols use mitochondrial DNA being, therefore, especially prone problems such as nuclear insert copies, high intraspecific diversity heteroplasmy. Here, we developed test based on the polymorphisms detected small gene fragment (221 bp IRBP -Interphotoreceptor Retinoid-Binding Protein- exon 1). This revealed 51 variable sites (including 12 non-synonymous 19 species-specific sites), which enabled successful distinction all 16 carnivore native South-western Europe. A SSCP (Single-Strand Conformational Polymorphism) gel electrophoresis technique was also optimized allow simple inexpensive application this test. Sequences profiles were consistent in identifying total 387 samples, including faeces (172) hairs (17) collected non-invasively field. Due its low cost, simplicity, wide range identifiable species, shows great promise facilitate ecology, conservation genetics, forensic analysis, well bar-coding projects.