“Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner”: Molecular Tools to Reconstruct multilocus Genetic Profiles from Wild Canid Consumption Remains
Non-invasive genetic sampling is a practical tool to monitor pivotal ecological parameters and population dynamic patterns of endangered species. It can be particularly suitable when applied to elusive carnivores such as the Apennine wolf ( Canis lupus italicus ) and the European wildcat ( Felis sil...
Published in: | Animals |
---|---|
Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
Published: |
MDPI AG
2022
|
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12182428 https://doaj.org/article/9e8e8923cb1142588f8b7bf60f6b778c |
id |
ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:9e8e8923cb1142588f8b7bf60f6b778c |
---|---|
record_format |
openpolar |
spelling |
ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:9e8e8923cb1142588f8b7bf60f6b778c 2023-05-15T15:51:06+02:00 “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner”: Molecular Tools to Reconstruct multilocus Genetic Profiles from Wild Canid Consumption Remains Edoardo Velli Federica Mattucci Lorenzo Lazzeri Elena Fabbri Giada Pacini Irene Belardi Nadia Mucci Romolo Caniglia 2022-09-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12182428 https://doaj.org/article/9e8e8923cb1142588f8b7bf60f6b778c EN eng MDPI AG https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/18/2428 https://doaj.org/toc/2076-2615 doi:10.3390/ani12182428 2076-2615 https://doaj.org/article/9e8e8923cb1142588f8b7bf60f6b778c Animals, Vol 12, Iss 2428, p 2428 (2022) anthropogenic hybridisation canid consumption domestic cat European wildcat food habits multilocus genotypes Veterinary medicine SF600-1100 Zoology QL1-991 article 2022 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12182428 2022-12-30T19:58:10Z Non-invasive genetic sampling is a practical tool to monitor pivotal ecological parameters and population dynamic patterns of endangered species. It can be particularly suitable when applied to elusive carnivores such as the Apennine wolf ( Canis lupus italicus ) and the European wildcat ( Felis silvestris silvestris ), which can live in overlapping ecological contexts and sometimes share their habitats with their domestic free-ranging relatives, increasing the risk of anthropogenic hybridisation. In this case study, we exploited all the ecological and genetic information contained in a single biological canid faecal sample, collected in a forested area of central Italy, to detect any sign of trophic interactions between wolves and European wildcats or their domestic counterparts. Firstly, the faecal finding was morphologically examined, showing the presence of felid hair and claw fragment remains. Subsequently, total genomic DNA contained in the hair and claw samples was extracted and genotyped, through a multiple-tube approach, at canid and felid diagnostic panels of microsatellite loci . Finally, the obtained individual multilocus genotypes were analysed with reference wild and domestic canid and felid populations to assess their correct taxonomic status using Bayesian clustering procedures. Assignment analyses classified the genotype obtained from the endothelial cells present on the hair sample as a wolf with slight signals of dog ancestry, showing a q i = 0.954 (C.I. 0.780–1.000) to the wolf cluster, and the genotype obtained from the claw as a domestic cat, showing a q i = 0.996 (95% C.I. = 0.982–1.000) to the domestic cat cluster. Our results clearly show how a non-invasive multidisciplinary approach allows the cost-effective identification of both prey and predator genetic profiles and their taxonomic status, contributing to the improvement of our knowledge about feeding habits, predatory dynamics, and anthropogenic hybridisation risk in threatened species. Article in Journal/Newspaper Canis lupus Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Animals 12 18 2428 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
anthropogenic hybridisation canid consumption domestic cat European wildcat food habits multilocus genotypes Veterinary medicine SF600-1100 Zoology QL1-991 |
spellingShingle |
anthropogenic hybridisation canid consumption domestic cat European wildcat food habits multilocus genotypes Veterinary medicine SF600-1100 Zoology QL1-991 Edoardo Velli Federica Mattucci Lorenzo Lazzeri Elena Fabbri Giada Pacini Irene Belardi Nadia Mucci Romolo Caniglia “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner”: Molecular Tools to Reconstruct multilocus Genetic Profiles from Wild Canid Consumption Remains |
topic_facet |
anthropogenic hybridisation canid consumption domestic cat European wildcat food habits multilocus genotypes Veterinary medicine SF600-1100 Zoology QL1-991 |
description |
Non-invasive genetic sampling is a practical tool to monitor pivotal ecological parameters and population dynamic patterns of endangered species. It can be particularly suitable when applied to elusive carnivores such as the Apennine wolf ( Canis lupus italicus ) and the European wildcat ( Felis silvestris silvestris ), which can live in overlapping ecological contexts and sometimes share their habitats with their domestic free-ranging relatives, increasing the risk of anthropogenic hybridisation. In this case study, we exploited all the ecological and genetic information contained in a single biological canid faecal sample, collected in a forested area of central Italy, to detect any sign of trophic interactions between wolves and European wildcats or their domestic counterparts. Firstly, the faecal finding was morphologically examined, showing the presence of felid hair and claw fragment remains. Subsequently, total genomic DNA contained in the hair and claw samples was extracted and genotyped, through a multiple-tube approach, at canid and felid diagnostic panels of microsatellite loci . Finally, the obtained individual multilocus genotypes were analysed with reference wild and domestic canid and felid populations to assess their correct taxonomic status using Bayesian clustering procedures. Assignment analyses classified the genotype obtained from the endothelial cells present on the hair sample as a wolf with slight signals of dog ancestry, showing a q i = 0.954 (C.I. 0.780–1.000) to the wolf cluster, and the genotype obtained from the claw as a domestic cat, showing a q i = 0.996 (95% C.I. = 0.982–1.000) to the domestic cat cluster. Our results clearly show how a non-invasive multidisciplinary approach allows the cost-effective identification of both prey and predator genetic profiles and their taxonomic status, contributing to the improvement of our knowledge about feeding habits, predatory dynamics, and anthropogenic hybridisation risk in threatened species. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Edoardo Velli Federica Mattucci Lorenzo Lazzeri Elena Fabbri Giada Pacini Irene Belardi Nadia Mucci Romolo Caniglia |
author_facet |
Edoardo Velli Federica Mattucci Lorenzo Lazzeri Elena Fabbri Giada Pacini Irene Belardi Nadia Mucci Romolo Caniglia |
author_sort |
Edoardo Velli |
title |
“Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner”: Molecular Tools to Reconstruct multilocus Genetic Profiles from Wild Canid Consumption Remains |
title_short |
“Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner”: Molecular Tools to Reconstruct multilocus Genetic Profiles from Wild Canid Consumption Remains |
title_full |
“Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner”: Molecular Tools to Reconstruct multilocus Genetic Profiles from Wild Canid Consumption Remains |
title_fullStr |
“Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner”: Molecular Tools to Reconstruct multilocus Genetic Profiles from Wild Canid Consumption Remains |
title_full_unstemmed |
“Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner”: Molecular Tools to Reconstruct multilocus Genetic Profiles from Wild Canid Consumption Remains |
title_sort |
“guess who’s coming to dinner”: molecular tools to reconstruct multilocus genetic profiles from wild canid consumption remains |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
publishDate |
2022 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12182428 https://doaj.org/article/9e8e8923cb1142588f8b7bf60f6b778c |
genre |
Canis lupus |
genre_facet |
Canis lupus |
op_source |
Animals, Vol 12, Iss 2428, p 2428 (2022) |
op_relation |
https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/18/2428 https://doaj.org/toc/2076-2615 doi:10.3390/ani12182428 2076-2615 https://doaj.org/article/9e8e8923cb1142588f8b7bf60f6b778c |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12182428 |
container_title |
Animals |
container_volume |
12 |
container_issue |
18 |
container_start_page |
2428 |
_version_ |
1766386151652851712 |