Molecular Identification of Central African Ungulates from Fecal Pellets

Citation

Ntie S, Johnston AR, Mickala P, Jansen van Vuuren B, Bowkett AE, Telfer P, Wickings EJ, Maisels F, Ryder O & Anthony NM (2007) Molecular Identification of Central African Ungulates from Fecal Pellets. ConGen3: The 3rd Biannual International Symposium on Conservation Genetics, New York, NY, USA, 27.09.2007-29.09.2007.

Abstract
The main aim of this study is to develop a molecular diagnostic for the identification of different ungulate species from field-collected fecal pellets. Central African forest ungulates constitute a diverse yet heavily hunted group composed primarily of species within the genera Cephalophus, Tragelaphus, Neotragus and Hyemoschus. Of these, the genus Cephalophus is the richest with as many as six species occurring in sympatry. However, practical identification of these species based on dung and tissue samples is difficult. This poses a problem for conservation managers who wish to index species abundances and distributions, or identify products from the meat trade. Using samples of known species identity, we constructed a reference phylogeny based on ~600 bp of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene and the left hand domain of the control region. Although species resolution with cytochrome b was weak, the control region phylogeny proved to be successful in recovering species identity from fecal samples of unknown origin. We also identified restriction enzyme sites for the rapid recognition of species DNA. These approaches could be used to better understand species distributions, their habitat associations and in the regulation of bush meat trade. Notes: Poster