The curse of observer experience: Error in noninvasive genetic sampling.
Noninvasive genetic sampling (NGS) is commonly used to study elusive or rare species where direct observation or capture is difficult. Little attention has been paid to the potential effects of observer bias while collecting noninvasive genetic samples in the field, however. Over a period of 7 years...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:a327a8cbeae4404c924e1073b4b0a3c9 2023-05-15T15:50:38+02:00 The curse of observer experience: Error in noninvasive genetic sampling. Jillian M Soller David E Ausband Micaela Szykman Gunther 2020-01-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0229762 https://doaj.org/article/a327a8cbeae4404c924e1073b4b0a3c9 EN eng Public Library of Science (PLoS) https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0229762 https://doaj.org/toc/1932-6203 1932-6203 doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0229762 https://doaj.org/article/a327a8cbeae4404c924e1073b4b0a3c9 PLoS ONE, Vol 15, Iss 3, p e0229762 (2020) Medicine R Science Q article 2020 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0229762 2022-12-31T11:47:11Z Noninvasive genetic sampling (NGS) is commonly used to study elusive or rare species where direct observation or capture is difficult. Little attention has been paid to the potential effects of observer bias while collecting noninvasive genetic samples in the field, however. Over a period of 7 years, we examined whether different observers (n = 58) and observer experience influenced detection, amplification rates, and correct species identification of 4,836 gray wolf (Canis lupus) fecal samples collected in Idaho and Yellowstone National Park, USA and southwestern Alberta, Canada (2008-2014). We compared new observers (n = 33) to experienced observers (n = 25) and hypothesized experience level would increase the overall success of using NGS techniques in the wild. In contrast to our hypothesis, we found that new individuals were better than experienced observers at detecting and collecting wolf scats and correctly identifying wolf scats from other sympatric carnivores present in the study areas. While adequate training of new observers is crucial for the successful use of NGS techniques, attention should also be directed to experienced observers. Observer experience could be a curse because of their potential effects on NGS data quality arising from fatigue, boredom or other factors. The ultimate benefit of an observer to a project is a combination of factors (i.e., field savvy, local knowledge), but project investigators should be aware of the potential negative effects of experience on NGS sampling. Article in Journal/Newspaper Canis lupus gray wolf Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Canada PLOS ONE 15 3 e0229762 |
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Medicine R Science Q |
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Medicine R Science Q Jillian M Soller David E Ausband Micaela Szykman Gunther The curse of observer experience: Error in noninvasive genetic sampling. |
topic_facet |
Medicine R Science Q |
description |
Noninvasive genetic sampling (NGS) is commonly used to study elusive or rare species where direct observation or capture is difficult. Little attention has been paid to the potential effects of observer bias while collecting noninvasive genetic samples in the field, however. Over a period of 7 years, we examined whether different observers (n = 58) and observer experience influenced detection, amplification rates, and correct species identification of 4,836 gray wolf (Canis lupus) fecal samples collected in Idaho and Yellowstone National Park, USA and southwestern Alberta, Canada (2008-2014). We compared new observers (n = 33) to experienced observers (n = 25) and hypothesized experience level would increase the overall success of using NGS techniques in the wild. In contrast to our hypothesis, we found that new individuals were better than experienced observers at detecting and collecting wolf scats and correctly identifying wolf scats from other sympatric carnivores present in the study areas. While adequate training of new observers is crucial for the successful use of NGS techniques, attention should also be directed to experienced observers. Observer experience could be a curse because of their potential effects on NGS data quality arising from fatigue, boredom or other factors. The ultimate benefit of an observer to a project is a combination of factors (i.e., field savvy, local knowledge), but project investigators should be aware of the potential negative effects of experience on NGS sampling. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Jillian M Soller David E Ausband Micaela Szykman Gunther |
author_facet |
Jillian M Soller David E Ausband Micaela Szykman Gunther |
author_sort |
Jillian M Soller |
title |
The curse of observer experience: Error in noninvasive genetic sampling. |
title_short |
The curse of observer experience: Error in noninvasive genetic sampling. |
title_full |
The curse of observer experience: Error in noninvasive genetic sampling. |
title_fullStr |
The curse of observer experience: Error in noninvasive genetic sampling. |
title_full_unstemmed |
The curse of observer experience: Error in noninvasive genetic sampling. |
title_sort |
curse of observer experience: error in noninvasive genetic sampling. |
publisher |
Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
publishDate |
2020 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0229762 https://doaj.org/article/a327a8cbeae4404c924e1073b4b0a3c9 |
geographic |
Canada |
geographic_facet |
Canada |
genre |
Canis lupus gray wolf |
genre_facet |
Canis lupus gray wolf |
op_source |
PLoS ONE, Vol 15, Iss 3, p e0229762 (2020) |
op_relation |
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0229762 https://doaj.org/toc/1932-6203 1932-6203 doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0229762 https://doaj.org/article/a327a8cbeae4404c924e1073b4b0a3c9 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0229762 |
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PLOS ONE |
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15 |
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3 |
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e0229762 |
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