Weathered antlers as a source of DNA

Abstract We tested antlers of Coues white‐tailed (Odocoileus virginianus couesi) and mule deer (O. hemionus) in various stages of natural decomposition to determine the degree of weathering that cast antlers could endure and still yield usable DNA. Based on physical characteristics, we partitioned a...

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Main Authors: Roy G. Lopez, Paul Beier
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2012-06-01
Series:Wildlife Society Bulletin
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.138
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author Roy G. Lopez
Paul Beier
author_facet Roy G. Lopez
Paul Beier
author_sort Roy G. Lopez
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description Abstract We tested antlers of Coues white‐tailed (Odocoileus virginianus couesi) and mule deer (O. hemionus) in various stages of natural decomposition to determine the degree of weathering that cast antlers could endure and still yield usable DNA. Based on physical characteristics, we partitioned antlers into 7 weathering categories ranging from freshly cast (class 1) to having been exposed to weathering for ≥8 years (class 7). Most antlers that had weathered 1–7 years yielded amplifiable DNA, whereas antlers weathered for ≥8 years failed to yield replicable DNA. This study confirms that antlers exposed to weathering for 1–7 years can be a source of replicable DNA and, thus, contribute an additional, and previously overlooked, non‐invasive sample for analysis in molecular genetics studies. Published 2012. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
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spelling doaj-art-598fa5e9da3a4bd7b38099396c9a34cd2024-12-16T11:25:55ZengWileyWildlife Society Bulletin2328-55402012-06-0136238038210.1002/wsb.138Weathered antlers as a source of DNARoy G. Lopez0Paul Beier1Rocky Mountain Research Station, 2500 S Pine Knoll Drive, Flagstaff, AZ 86001, USANorthern Arizona University, School of Forestry, 200 E Pine Knoll Drive, Flagstaff, AZ 86001, USAAbstract We tested antlers of Coues white‐tailed (Odocoileus virginianus couesi) and mule deer (O. hemionus) in various stages of natural decomposition to determine the degree of weathering that cast antlers could endure and still yield usable DNA. Based on physical characteristics, we partitioned antlers into 7 weathering categories ranging from freshly cast (class 1) to having been exposed to weathering for ≥8 years (class 7). Most antlers that had weathered 1–7 years yielded amplifiable DNA, whereas antlers weathered for ≥8 years failed to yield replicable DNA. This study confirms that antlers exposed to weathering for 1–7 years can be a source of replicable DNA and, thus, contribute an additional, and previously overlooked, non‐invasive sample for analysis in molecular genetics studies. Published 2012. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.138antlersCoues white‐tailed deerDNAmule deerOdocoileus hemionusOdocoileus virginianus couesi
spellingShingle Roy G. Lopez
Paul Beier
Weathered antlers as a source of DNA
Wildlife Society Bulletin
antlers
Coues white‐tailed deer
DNA
mule deer
Odocoileus hemionus
Odocoileus virginianus couesi
title Weathered antlers as a source of DNA
title_full Weathered antlers as a source of DNA
title_fullStr Weathered antlers as a source of DNA
title_full_unstemmed Weathered antlers as a source of DNA
title_short Weathered antlers as a source of DNA
title_sort weathered antlers as a source of dna
topic antlers
Coues white‐tailed deer
DNA
mule deer
Odocoileus hemionus
Odocoileus virginianus couesi
url https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.138
work_keys_str_mv AT royglopez weatheredantlersasasourceofdna
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