In this section
@article{Savolainen:2021:10.1111/2041-210X.13573,
author = {Savolainen, V and Allen, R and Binstead, M and Arnold, R and Priestley, V},
doi = {10.1111/2041-210X.13573},
journal = {Methods in Ecology and Evolution},
pages = {818--827},
title = {Quick detection of a rare species: forensic swabs of survey tubes for hazel dormouse Muscardinus avellanarius urine},
url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/2041-210X.13573},
volume = {12},
year = {2021}
}
TY - JOUR
AB - 1. Effective conservation decisions rely on accurate survey data, but methods can be resourceintensive and risk false negative results. Presence of the threatened hazel dormouse (England, UK) is typically confirmed by looking for its nest in survey tubes, over a 6month period. As an alternative, environmental DNA (eDNA) surveys have proven benefits in efficiency and accuracy for other taxa, but generally rely on the extraction and amplification of DNA from water, soil or sediment, which are not yet dependable samples for rare terrestrial mammals like the hazel dormouse.2. At a known occupancy site, paperlined survey tubes were used to capture a DNA sample. Like other species of rodent, the hazel dormouse excretes urine freely, and this was highlighted by ultraviolet torch, swabbed from the paper, extracted and hazel dormouse eDNA amplified by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR).3. Hazel dormouse presence was confirmed in this way in three out of 50 tubes within 8 days. Detection by conventional nest survey occurred on day 63 when a hazel dormouse nest was found in a single survey tube. We calculate that amplification of eDNA left behind in tubes increased survey efficiency here at least 12fold.4. Synthesis and applications. In this study we demonstrate that eDNA swabbed from a clean substrate placed in survey apparatus can significantly hasten the detection of a rare species. This method has the potential to broaden the application of eDNA to other terrestrial vertebrates, including surveys at large spatiotemporal scales. Beyond presence/absence, the noninvasive DNA sample could also offer insights into sex ratio, abundance, behaviour and population genetics.
AU - Savolainen,V
AU - Allen,R
AU - Binstead,M
AU - Arnold,R
AU - Priestley,V
DO - 10.1111/2041-210X.13573
EP - 827
PY - 2021///
SN - 2041-210X
SP - 818
TI - Quick detection of a rare species: forensic swabs of survey tubes for hazel dormouse Muscardinus avellanarius urine
T2 - Methods in Ecology and Evolution
UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/2041-210X.13573
UR - http://hdl.handle.net/10044/1/87542
VL - 12
ER -