A non-invasive approach to determining pine marten abundance and predation

摘要: A non-invasive approach was used to investigate variation in pine marten (Martes martes) abundance between the midlands and east of Ireland, determine frequency occurrence squirrels other small mammals diet. Remotely plucked hair samples were genotyped differentiate individual animals, real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) identify predator prey DNA scats. Macro analysis remains carried out on a sub sample scats results from both methods are compared. Non-invasive techniques successful determining presence relative at woodland level. As expected, found be higher core population than east. Pine martens reach numbers per km2 forested habitat Ireland their British or European counterparts. Both traditional hard part molecular dietary mammalian yielded similar results. We provide first evidence predating upon North American grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) its invasive range. While not available as item any sites, it east, where featured significantly more frequently diet native red squirrel. In woodmouse is most occurring mammal