Species-specific mitochondrial DNA markers for identification of non-invasive samples from sympatric carnivores in the Iberian Peninsula

摘要: Genetic species identification of non-invasively collected samples has become an important tool in ecological research, management and conservation wildlife forensics. This is especially true for carnivores, due to their elusive nature, crucial when several ecologically phylogenetically close species, with similar faeces, hairs, bones and/or pelts, occur sympatry. the case Iberian Peninsula, a region carnivore community 16 species—about two-thirds European fauna. Here we present simple, efficient reliable PCR-based protocol, using novel set species-specific primers, unambiguous or forensic materials from carnivores. For each consensus all cytochrome b haplotypes, found here previously reported, designed primer pairs short fragments, most likely persist low-quantity degraded DNA samples. The predicted specificity pair was assessed through PCR positive extracts exhaustive array potential prey humans. robustness amplification sampled tested scat primers did not produce false positives correctly identified level. In comparison sequencing PCR-RFLP assays, our method is, respectively, cost- time-effective, suited monitoring surveys targeting multiple populations/species. It also introduces approach that works whole carnivores living sympatrically over large geographic area.