Feather Barbs as a Good Source of mtDNA for Bird Species Identification in Forensic Wildlife Investigations
Background: The ability to accurately identify bird species is crucial for wildlife law enforcement and bird-strikeinvestigations. However, such identifications may be challenging when only partial or damaged feathers areavailable for analysis.Results: By applying vigorous contamination controls and...
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ftsimonfu:oai:summit.sfu.ca:11132 2023-05-15T15:46:18+02:00 Feather Barbs as a Good Source of mtDNA for Bird Species Identification in Forensic Wildlife Investigations Nicholas, George Speller, Camilla Yang, Dongya 2011 http://summit.sfu.ca/item/11132 English eng http://summit.sfu.ca/item/11132 Article 2011 ftsimonfu 2022-04-07T18:37:27Z Background: The ability to accurately identify bird species is crucial for wildlife law enforcement and bird-strikeinvestigations. However, such identifications may be challenging when only partial or damaged feathers areavailable for analysis.Results: By applying vigorous contamination controls and sensitive PCR amplification protocols, we found that itwas feasible to obtain accurate mitochondrial (mt)DNA-based species identification with as few as two featherbarbs. This minimally destructive DNA approach was successfully used and tested on a variety of bird species,including North American wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo), Canada goose (Branta canadensis), blue heron (Ardeaherodias) and pygmy owl (Glaucidium californicum). The mtDNA was successfully obtained from ‘fresh’ feathers,historic museum specimens and archaeological samples, demonstrating the sensitivity and versatility of thistechnique.Conclusions: By applying appropriate contamination controls, sufficient quantities of mtDNA can be reliablyrecovered and analyzed from feather barbs. This previously overlooked substrate provides new opportunities foraccurate DNA species identification when minimal feather samples are available for forensic analysis. Article in Journal/Newspaper Branta canadensis Canada Goose Summit - SFU Research Repository (Simon Fraser University) Canada |
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Open Polar |
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Summit - SFU Research Repository (Simon Fraser University) |
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ftsimonfu |
language |
English |
description |
Background: The ability to accurately identify bird species is crucial for wildlife law enforcement and bird-strikeinvestigations. However, such identifications may be challenging when only partial or damaged feathers areavailable for analysis.Results: By applying vigorous contamination controls and sensitive PCR amplification protocols, we found that itwas feasible to obtain accurate mitochondrial (mt)DNA-based species identification with as few as two featherbarbs. This minimally destructive DNA approach was successfully used and tested on a variety of bird species,including North American wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo), Canada goose (Branta canadensis), blue heron (Ardeaherodias) and pygmy owl (Glaucidium californicum). The mtDNA was successfully obtained from ‘fresh’ feathers,historic museum specimens and archaeological samples, demonstrating the sensitivity and versatility of thistechnique.Conclusions: By applying appropriate contamination controls, sufficient quantities of mtDNA can be reliablyrecovered and analyzed from feather barbs. This previously overlooked substrate provides new opportunities foraccurate DNA species identification when minimal feather samples are available for forensic analysis. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Nicholas, George Speller, Camilla Yang, Dongya |
spellingShingle |
Nicholas, George Speller, Camilla Yang, Dongya Feather Barbs as a Good Source of mtDNA for Bird Species Identification in Forensic Wildlife Investigations |
author_facet |
Nicholas, George Speller, Camilla Yang, Dongya |
author_sort |
Nicholas, George |
title |
Feather Barbs as a Good Source of mtDNA for Bird Species Identification in Forensic Wildlife Investigations |
title_short |
Feather Barbs as a Good Source of mtDNA for Bird Species Identification in Forensic Wildlife Investigations |
title_full |
Feather Barbs as a Good Source of mtDNA for Bird Species Identification in Forensic Wildlife Investigations |
title_fullStr |
Feather Barbs as a Good Source of mtDNA for Bird Species Identification in Forensic Wildlife Investigations |
title_full_unstemmed |
Feather Barbs as a Good Source of mtDNA for Bird Species Identification in Forensic Wildlife Investigations |
title_sort |
feather barbs as a good source of mtdna for bird species identification in forensic wildlife investigations |
publishDate |
2011 |
url |
http://summit.sfu.ca/item/11132 |
geographic |
Canada |
geographic_facet |
Canada |
genre |
Branta canadensis Canada Goose |
genre_facet |
Branta canadensis Canada Goose |
op_relation |
http://summit.sfu.ca/item/11132 |
_version_ |
1766380997461409792 |