Development and testing of an optimized method for DNA-based identification of jaguar (Panthera onca) and puma (Puma concolor) faecal samples for use in ecological and genetic studies

The elusive nature and endangered status of most carnivore species imply that efficient approaches for their non-invasive sampling are required to allow for genetic and ecological studies. Faecal samples are a major potential source of information, and reliable approaches are needed to foster their application in this field, particularly in areas where few studies have been conducted. A major obstacle to the reliable use of faecal samples is their uncertain species-level identification in the field, an issue that can be addressed with DNA-based assays. In this study we describe a sequence-based approach that efficiently distinguishes jaguar versus puma scats, and that presents several desirable properties: (1) considerably high amplification and sequencing rates; (2) multiple diagnostic sites reliably differentiating the two focal species; (3) high information content that allows for future application in other carnivores; (4) no evidence of amplification of prey DNA; and (5) no evidence of amplification of a nuclear mitochondrial DNA insertion known to occur in the jaguar. We demonstrate the reliability and usefulness of this approach by evaluating 55 field-collected samples from four locations in the highly fragmented Atlantic Forest biome of Brazil and Argentina, and document the presence of one or both of these endangered felids in each of these areas. © 2009 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.Fil: Haag, Taiana. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; Brasil. Pontificia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul; BrasilFil: Santos, Analisie S.. Pontificia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul; BrasilFil: de Angelo, Carlos Daniel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Centro de Investigaciones del Bosque Atlántico; ArgentinaFil: Srbek-Araujo, Ana Carolina. Instituto Ambiental Vale, Vitoria; BrasilFil: Sana, Dênis A.. Instituto Pró-Carnívoros, Atibaia; BrasilFil: Morato, Ronaldo G.. Instituto Pró-Carnívoros, Atibaia; Brasil. CENAP/ICMBio, Atibaia; BrasilFil: Salzano, Francisco M.. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; BrasilFil: Eizirik, Eduardo. Laboratory of Genomic Diversity, NCI, Frederick; Estados Unidos. Instituto Pró-Carnívoros, Atibaia; Brasil. Pontificia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul; Brasi

Molecular tracking of jaguar melanism using faecal DNA

Major evolutionary questions remain elusive due to persistent difficulties in directly studying the genetics of variable phenotypes in natural populations. Many phenotypic variants may be of adaptive relevance, and thus important to consider in the context of conservation genetics. However, since the dynamics of these traits is usually poorly understood in the wild, their incorporation in conservation strategies is difficult to accomplish. For animals which exhibit intriguing phenotypic variation but are difficult to track in the wild, innovative approaches are required to investigate such issues. Here we demonstrate that non-invasive DNA sampling can be used to study the genetics and ecology of melanism in the jaguar, by directly genotyping the molecular polymorphism underlying this coloration trait. These results open new prospects for the in-depth investigation of this polymorphism, and highlight the broader potential of non-invasive DNA-based phenotype tracking for wildlife in general.Fil: Haag, Taiana. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; Brasil. Pontificia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul; BrasilFil: Santos, Analisie S.. Pontificia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul; BrasilFil: Valdez, Fernanda P.. Pontificia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul; BrasilFil: Sana, Dênis A.. Instituto Pró-Carnívoros; BrasilFil: Silveira, Leandro. Instituto Onça Pintada; BrasilFil: Cullen Jr., Laury. Instituto de Pesquisas Ecológicas; BrasilFil: de Angelo, Carlos Daniel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste; Argentina. Centro de Investigaciones del Bosque Atlántico; ArgentinaFil: Morato, Ronaldo G.. Centro Nacional de Pesquisa e Conservaçao de Mamíferos Carnívoros; Brasil. Instituto Pró-Carnívoros; BrasilFil: Crawshaw Jr., Peter G.. Centro Nacional de Pesquisa e Conservaçao de Mamíferos Carnívoros; BrasilFil: Salzano, Francisco M.. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; BrasilFil: Eizirik, Eduardo. Instituto Pró-Carnívoros; Brasil. Pontificia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul; Brasi

Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) on wild animals from the Porto-Primavera Hydroelectric power station area, Brazil

From June 2000 to June 2001, a total of 741 ticks were collected from 51 free-living wild animals captured at the Porto-Primavera Hydroelectric power station area, located alongside an approximately 180 km course of the Paraná river, between the states of São Paulo and Mato Grosso do Sul, comprising 9 species of 3 genera: Ambly-omma (7 species), Boophilus (1) and Anocentor (1). A total of 421 immature Amblyomma ticks were reared in laboratory until the adult stage, allowing identification of the species. A. cajennense was the most frequent tick species (mostly immature stages) collected on 9 host species: Myrmecophaga tridactyla, Tamandua tetradactyla,Cerdocyon thous, Puma concolor,Tayassu tajacu, Mazama gouazoubira,Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris,Alouatta caraya, Cebus apella. Other tick species were less common, generally restricted to certain host taxa