Articles | Volume 17, issue 1
https://doi.org/10.5194/we-17-9-2017
https://doi.org/10.5194/we-17-9-2017
Standard article
 | 
09 Mar 2017
Standard article |  | 09 Mar 2017

Validating the use of non-invasively sourced DNA for population genetic studies using pedigree data

Faye Wedrowicz, Jennifer Mosse, Wendy Wright, and Fiona E. Hogan

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Cited articles

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Bergner, L. M., Jamieson, I. G., and Robertson, B. C.: Combining genetic data to identify relatedness among founders in a genetically depauperate parrot, the Kakapo (Strigops habroptilus), Conserv. Genet., 15, 1013–1020, 2014.
Bonin, A., Bellemain, E., Bronken Eidesen, P., Pompanon, F., Brochmann, C., and Taberlet, P.: How to track and assess genotyping errors in population genetics studies, Mol. Ecol., 13, 3261–3273, 2004.
Bradley, B. J., Stiller, M., Doran-Sheehy, D. M., Harris, T., Chapman, C. A., Vigilant, L., and Poinar, H.: Plant DNA sequences from feces: potential means for assessing diets of wild primates, Am. J. Primatol., 69, 699–705, 2007.
Cercueil, A., Bellemain, E., and Manel, S.: PARENTE: computer program for parentage analysis, J. Hered., 93, 458–459, 2002.
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Short summary
Non-invasive collection of DNA from scats (faeces) can enable the rapid acquisition of data. Ensuring data reliability is important. We therefore aimed to validate genetic data obtained from koala scats by comparison with known pedigree relationships. We found that DNA from koala scats provides reliable data that can discriminate individuals and infer parentage. The ability to non-invasively sample koala DNA can assist in the collection of data critical for koala conservation.