Estimating marten Martes americana population size using hair capture and genetic tagging

摘要: We tested non-invasive genetic methods for estimating the abundance of marten Martes americana using baited glue-patch traps to pull hair samples from individual animals. divided our 800–km2 study area into 3 × km cells and put one trap in each cell. trapped 309 sites an average 15 days between January 14 March 1997. Based on tracks snow morphology, we captured marten, red squirrels Tamiasciurus hudsonicus, flying Glaucomys sabrinus, short or long-tailed weasels Mustela erminea M.frenata, several unidentified mouse vole species. Of sites, 58% collected a sample while 8% removed weasel hair. When roots were embedded adhesive, xylene wash was used remove them before extracting DNA. All genotyped at six microsatellite loci identify individuals. Xylene-washed yielded similar genotyping success that had never been exposed xylene, increased with number hairs sample. Genetic data allowed 139 be assigned 88 constituting 124 capture events during four trapping sessions. The population estimate 213 (95% Cl: 148–348) probability 0.15. density 0.33/km2 when inhospitable habitat calculation. believe sampling analysis could measure distribution, trend size perhaps also other carnivores.