Isolation and amplification of shrew DNA from barn owl pellets

Abstract

The last decade has seen a number of studies reporting the extraction of DNA from ancient sources, such as fossil bones. Owl pellets, which contain an excellent skeletal record of small mammals consumed, can be used in a noninvasive sampling method for genetic studies of free-ranging animals without the need for direct capture or even observation. Such a non-invasive sampling method will allow us to address questions that cannot be answered using conventional methods and will lead to a more integrated study of micromammals. In the present study, various protocols used for ancient DNA extraction were investigated, in order to determine the applicability of owl pellets as a source of DNA for phylogenetic and phylogeographical studies of micromammals. Of the 12 bone samples used in this study, 11 gave sequences of expected species ( Crocidura , Rattus and Mus ) and size (around 300 bp), using the pair of primers L14841/H15149, which target a highly conserved region of the cytochrome b gene. The results obtained demonstrate that mitochondrial DNA can be isolated and amplified using bones of micromammals found in barn owl ( Tyto alba ) pellets. The recovery of genetic data from owl pellets will enable the identification of prey species for several phylogenetic and phylogeographical studies of small mammals (Muridae and Insectivora) appearing in the owl's diet. The main advantages of this new approach are that (a) the pellets are very easy to find and collect, (b) the pellets can potentially provide a large number of individuals of small mammals, and (c) the method can cover a wide geographical area complementary to the range of owls of this type.

Barcoding, molecular taxonomy, and exploration of the diversity of shrews (Soricomorpha: Soricidae) on Mount Nimba (Guinea)

“…These values were congruent with those previously described between species of Soricidae by Fumagalli et al . (1999) with 1.3–21.7% and within the genus Crocidura by Poulakakis et al . (2005) with 12.7–19.0% and Vogel et al .…”

Forest refugia and riverine barriers promote diversification in the West African pygmy shrew (Crocidura obscurior complex, Soricomorpha)

“…() with 1.3–21.7% and within the genus Crocidura by Poulakakis et al . () with 12.7–19.0%, Vogel et al . () with 14.3–20.6% and Jacquet et al .…”

Faeces of generalist predators as ‘biodiversity capsules’: A new tool for biodiversity assessment in remote and inaccessible habitats

“…can be easily isolated from pellets and analysed individually, molecular analysis of these do not involve mixed DNA samples and can be performed using Sanger sequencing (Taberlet & Fumagalli, 1996). Such analyses have been performed to investigate the diversity and genetic variability in small mammals inhabiting the foraging areas of raptors (Hadly & Tuinen, 2003) and barn owls (Poulakakis, 2005). Although this method can potentially inform biodiversity assessment of prey communities and shares similarities with the biodiversity capsule…”