%0 Journal Article
%T Non-invasive genetic approaches for estimation of ungulate population size: a study on roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) based on faeces
%A Ebert
%A C.
%A Sandrini
%A J.
%A Spielberger
%A B.
%A Thiele
%A B.
%J Animal Biodiversity and Conservation
%D 2012
%I The Natural Science Museum of Barcelona
%X Estimating population size is particularly difficult for animal species living in concealing habitats with dense vegetation. This is the case for roe deer as for many other ungulates. Our objective was to develop a non每invasive genetic capture每mark每recapture approach based on roe deer faeces collected along transects. In a pilot study, we collected 1,790 roe deer faeces during five sampling days in a forested study area in south western Germany. We extracted DNA from 410 of these samples and carried out microsatellite analysis using seven dinucleotide markers. The analyses resulted in 328 useable consensus genotypes which were assigned to 174 individuals. The population size estimated using a Bayesian approach was 94 (82每111) male and 136 (121每156) female roe deer. Our study shows that non每invasive genetic methods are a valuable management tool for roe deer.
%K Abundance
%K Ungulates
%K Faecal pellets
%K Capreolus capreolus
%K Capture每mark每recapture
%K DNA
%U http://abc.museucienciesjournals.cat/files/ABC_35-2_pp_267-275.pdf