Multiple species-specific molecular markers using nanofluidic array as a tool to detect prey DNA from carnivore scats

Area of Science:

• Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
• Molecular Biology and Genetics
• Forensic Science

Background:

• Understanding large carnivore feeding ecology is vital for effective predator and prey management and conservation.
• Accurate prey species identification from predator scat is crucial for dietary studies.
• DNA-based methods offer superior prey detection rates and reliability compared to traditional macroscopic analyses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a molecular method for identifying prey species in wolf (Canis lupus) scats.
• To establish a cost-efficient and fast tool for prey identification applicable to large carnivore research.

Main Methods:

• Developed a panel of 80 species-specific DNA marker assays targeting the cytochrome b gene for 18 prey species.
• Utilized high-throughput Nanofluidic array technology (Fluidigm Inc.) for specific amplification of target DNA.
• Applied the method to analyze DNA from 80 wolf scats collected in Sweden.

Main Results:

• The developed molecular method successfully identified prey species DNA in wolf scats.
• Detection success rates, based on the number of amplifying markers, ranged from 44% to 92%.
• The method proved to be a fast and cost-efficient tool for prey identification.

Conclusions:

• The molecular assay provides a reliable and efficient tool for prey species identification in wolf scats.
• The method has potential for adaptation to other large carnivore species and research contexts.
• Further evaluation of marker numbers is recommended for optimizing sensitive species detection.