Life Sciences Commons^™

Dietary Magnesium And Copper Affect Survival Time And Neuroinflammation In Chronic Wasting Disease, Tracy A. Nichols, Terry R. Spraker, Thomas Gidlewski, Bruce Cummings, Dana Hill, Qingzhong Kong, Aru Balachandran

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Chronic wasting disease (CWD), the only known wildlife prion disease, affects deer, elk and moose. The disease is an ongoing and expanding problem in both wild and captive North American cervid populations and is difficult to control in part due to the extreme environmental persistence of prions, which can transmit disease years after initial contamination. The role of exogenous factors in CWD transmission and progression is largely unexplored. In an effort to understand the influence of environmental and dietary constituents on CWD, we collected and analyzed water and soil samples from CWD-negative and positive captive cervid facilities, as well as …

The Influence Of Wildlife Water Developments And Vegetation On Rodent Abundance In The Great Basin Desert, Bryan M. Kluever, Eric M. Gese, Steven J. Dempsey

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Rodent communities have multiple functions including comprising a majority of the mammalian diversity within an ecosystem, providing a significant portion of the available biomass consumed by predators, and contributing to ecosystem services. Despite the importance of rodent communities, few investigations have explored the effects of increasing anthropogenic modifications to the landscape on rodents. Throughout the western United States, the construction of artificial water developments to benefit game species is commonplace. While benefits for certain species have been documented, several researchers recently hypothesized that these developments may cause unintentional negative effects to desert-adapted species and communities. To test this idea, we …

Widespread Detection Of Highly Pathogenic H5 Influenza Viruses In Wild Birds From The Pacific Flyway Of The United States, S. N. Bevins, R. J. Dusek, C. L. White, T. Gidlewski, B. Bodenstein, K. G, Mansfield, P. Debruyn, D. Kraege, E. Rowan, C. Gillin, B. Thomas, S. Chandler, J. A. Baroch, B. S. Schmit, M. J. Grady, R. S. Miller, M. L. Drew, S. Stopak, B. Zscheile, J. Bennett, J. Sengl, Caroline Brady, H. S. Ip, E. Spackman, M. L. Killian, M. K. Torchetti, J. M. Sleeman, T. J. Deliberto

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

A novel highly pathogenic avian influenza virus belonging to the H5 clade 2.3.4.4 variant viruses was detected in North America in late 2014. Motivated by the identification of these viruses in domestic poultry in Canada, an intensive study was initiated to conduct highly pathogenic avian influenza surveillance in wild birds in the Pacific Flyway of the United States. A total of 4,729 hunter-harvested wild birds were sampled and highly pathogenic avian influenza virus was detected in 1.3% (n = 63). Three H5 clade 2.3.4.4 subtypes were isolated from wild birds, H5N2, H5N8, and H5N1, representing the wholly Eurasian lineage H5N8 …

Alterations Of The Volatile Metabolome In Mouse Models Of Alzheimer’S Disease, Bruce A. Kimball, Donald A. Wilson, Daniel W. Weason

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

In the present study, we tested whether the volatile metabolome was altered by mutations of the Alzheimer’s disease (AD)-implicated amyloid precursor protein gene (APP) and comprehensively examined urinary volatiles that may potentially serve as candidate biomarkers of AD. Establishing additional biomarkers in screening populations for AD will provide enhanced diagnostic specificity and will be critical in evaluating disease-modifying therapies. Having strong evidence of gross changes in the volatile metabolome of one line of APP mice, we utilized three unique mouse lines which over-express human mutations of the APP gene and their respective non-transgenic litter-mates (NTg). Head-space gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) …

Chapter 8 Keeping Wildlife Out Of Your Food: Mitigation And Control Strategies To Reduce The Transmission Risk Of Food-Borne Pathogens, Alan B. Franklin, Kurt C. Vercauteren

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

In this chapter, we provide a general framework for developing strategies to mitigate the contamination of agricultural operations with pathogens carried by wildlife. As part of this framework, we present adaptive management as a viable approach to developing these strategies to reduce the uncertainty over time as to whether management methods are being effective. We provide the general steps to developing an adaptive management strategies as well as generic mitigation methods that can be applied to agricultural operations as part of an adaptive management strategy.

Plant Community Shifts Caused By Feral Swine Rooting Devalue Florida Rangeland, Brittany Bankovich, Elizabeth Boughton, Raoul Boughton, Michael L. Avery, Samantha M. Wisely

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Invasive species threaten agriculture by changing agroecosystem structure and function, reducing habitat value, decreasing biodiversity and ecosystem services and increasing management costs. Grazing lands in south central Florida are a mosaic of sown pastures, native grasslands, wetlands and woodlands that provide a variety of ecosystem services. Disturbance of these pastures and native grasslands by invasive feral swine (Sus scrofa) can have negative consequences for both economic productivity and biodiversity. In this study, we show that the effect of rooting on plant diversity depends on ecosystem type and initial levels of plant species diversity. For example, in native grassland pasture, rooting …

Molecular Forensics In Avian Conservation: A Dna‑Based Approach For Identifying Mammalian Predators Of Ground‑Nesting Birds And Eggs, Matthew W. Hopken, Elizabeth K. Orning, Julie K. Young, Antoinette J. Piaggio

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Background: The greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) is a ground-nesting bird from the Northern Rocky Mountains and a species at risk of extinction in in multiple U.S. states and Canada. Herein we report results from a proof of concept that mitochondrial and nuclear DNAs from mammalian predator saliva could be non-invasively collected from depredated greater sage-grouse eggshells and carcasses and used for predator species identification. Molecular forensic approaches have been applied to identify predators from depredated remains as one strategy to better understand predator–prey dynamics and guide management strategies. This can aid conservation efforts by correctly identifying predators most …

Bait Preference Of Free-Ranging Feral Swine For Delivery Of A Novel Toxicant, Nathan P. Snow, Joseph M. Halseth, Michael J. Lavelle, Thomas E. Hanson, Chad R. Blass, Justin A. Foster, Simon T. Humphrys, Linton D. Staples, David G. Hewitt, Kurt C. Vercauteren

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Invasive feral swine (Sus scrofa) cause extensive damage to agricultural and wildlife resources throughout the United States. Development of sodium nitrite as a new, orally delivered toxicant is underway to provide an additional tool to curtail growth and expansion of feral swine populations. A micro-encapsulation coating around sodium nitrite is used to minimize detection by feral swine and maximize stability for the reactive molecule. To maximize uptake of this toxicant by feral swine, development a bait matrix is needed to 1) protect the micro-encapsulation coating so that sodium nitrite remains undetectable to feral swine, 2) achieve a high …

Cholecalciferol Plus Diphacinone Baits For Vole Control: A Novel Approach To A Historic Problem, Roger A. Baldwin, Ryan Meinerz, Gary W. Witmer

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Combination baits containing cholecalciferol plus an anticoagulant are effective against commensal rodents resistant to anticoagulants, and they likely pose less risk than anticoagulant-only rodenticides due to lower concentrations of active ingredients and shorter time to death. However, these combination baits have not been tested for agricultural rodent pests. Therefore, we established a study to test the efficacy of cholecalciferol plus diphacinone artichoke bract and pellet baits to determine their ability to manage California voles Microtus californicus in artichokes, where resistance to anticoagulants is known to occur. Field tests using radiocollared voles indicated that bract baits were highly efficacious (85 %), …

Photographic Estimation Of Wild Boar Damage To Alpine Grazing Pastures In The Carpathian Mountains Of Central Romania, Richard M. Engeman, Renate Cattaruzza, Marco Cattaruzza, Justin W. Fischer

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Observations of wild boar damage to alpine grazing pastures in Romania’s Carpathian Mountains were collected using photographs of the slopes from vantage points. We mapped the rooted areas and then used GIS software to estimate the relative proportions of the total grazing areas visible in the photographs that were damaged by wild boar. The amounts of damage from our two demonstration pastures were 11.2 and 13.5 %. Pastures are rented for summer grazing with grazing density monitored. Wild boar damage essentially decreases the economic benefit received for the cost of the grazing rights. This paper appears to be the first …

Defending Against Disparate Marine Turtle Nest Predators: Nesting Success Benefits From Eradicating Invasive Feral Swine And Caging Nests From Raccoons, Richard M. Engeman, David Addison, J. C. Griffin

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Nest predation can threaten marine turtle nesting success, and having to address dissimilar predator species complicates nest protection efforts. On Florida’s Keewaydin Island predation by raccoons Procyon lotor and invasive feral swine Sus scrofa are disparate, significant threats tomarine turtle nests. Using 6 years of nesting data (mostly for loggerhead marine turtles Caretta caretta) we examined the impacts of swine predation on nests and the benefits of swine eradication, caging nests to protect them from raccoon predation, and the effects of nest caging on swine predation. Nest predation by swine began in mid nesting season 2007, after which swine …

Evaluation Of An Avian Radar System In A Midwestern Landscape, Michael B. Gerringer, Steven L. Lima, Travis L. Devault

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Bird strikes in aviation are an increasing threat to both aircraft and human safety. Management efforts have focused largely on the immediate airport environment. Avian radar systems could potentially be useful in assessing bird strike threats at greater distances from the airport, at higher altitudes, and at night, but few studies have been conducted to assess the capabilities of avian radar systems. Thus, our goal was to assess the detection and tracking abilities of a commercially available avian radar system in an airport environment in Indiana, USA, during October 2011–March 2012. Transits by free-flying birds allowed us to assess radar …

Development Of Artificial Bait For Brown Treesnake Suppression, Bruce A. Kimball, Scott A. Sterling, Thomas W. Mcauliffe, Randal S. Stahl, Rafael A. Garcia, William C. Pitt

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The brown treesnake (Boiga irregularis) was accidentally introduced to Guam in the 1940s from the Admiralty Islands. A native of Australia, Papua New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands, the brown treesnake (BTS) continues to threaten the economy and ecology of Guam and is currently the subject of a cooperative program to control snake populations on the island and prevent its spread throughout the Pacific Rim. Delivery of toxic baits is a primary component of population suppression efforts. While many food items tested as baits for toxicant delivery provide relevant food prey cues leading to investigatory behaviors in BTS, …

Retention Time Of Chlorophacinone In Black-Tailed Prairie Dogs Informs Secondary Hazards From A Prairie Dog Rodenticide Bait, Gary W. Witmer, Nathan P. Snow, Rachael S. Moulton

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

BACKGROUND: Secondary toxicity in mammals and birds that consume animals containing residues of anticoagulant rodenticides represents a persistent conflict between conservation, agriculture and environmental contamination. Chlorophacinone residues in black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus) represent a secondary exposure hazard to predatory and scavenging avian and mammalian species in the Central Plains of the United States, especially considering efforts to re-establish black-footed ferrets (Mustela nigripes). Rozol® Prairie Dog Bait (chlorophacinone 0.005%) is registered to control black-tailed prairie dogs in ten states throughout themidwestern and western United States.

RESULTS:We fed Rozol Prairie Dog Bait to captive black-tailed prairie dogs …

Evaluation Of Estimation Quality Of A General Paradigm For Indexing Animal Abundance When Observations Are Counts, Benjamin Shulman, Brandie D. Wagner, Gary K. Grunwald, Richard M. Engeman

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Relative abundance indices are widely applied to monitor wildlife populations. A general indexing paradigm was developed for structuring data collection and validly conducting analyses. This approach is applicable for many observation metrics, with observations made at stations through the area of interest and repeated over several days. The variance formula for the general index was derived using a linear mixed model, with statistical tests and confidence intervals constructed assuming Gaussian-distributed observations. However, many observation methods, like intrusions to track plots or camera traps, involve counts with many zeroes, producing Poisson-like observations. To fill this inferential gap between Gaussian analytical assumptions …

Susceptibility Of Rock Doves To Low-Pathogenic Avian Influenza A Viruses, Susan A. Shriner, J. Jeffrey Root, Nicole L. Mooers, Jeremy W. Ellis, Scott R. Stopak, Heather J. Sullivan, Kaci K. Vandalen, Alan B. Franklin

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Following a 2008 outbreak of North American low-pathogenic H5N8 influenza A virus at an upland gamebird farm, we sero-sampled rock doves (pigeons, Columba livia) at the outbreak site and conducted experimental inoculations of wild-caught pigeons using the H5N8 virus and another low-pathogenic virus (H4N6). While 13 % of pigeons at the outbreak site were seropositive, none were positive for exposure to H5, and one was positive for N8. Challenged pigeons exhibited low susceptibility and limited viral RNA excretion for both viruses tested, but at least one individual had RNA loads indicative of the potential for viral transmission to other …

Economic Impacts Of Bird Damage And Management In U.S. Sweet Cherry Production, J. L. Elser, A. M. Anderson, C. A. Lindell, N. Dalsted, A. Bernasek, S. A. Shwiff

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Bird damage is a common and costly problem for fruit producers, who try to limit damage by using management techniques. This analysis used survey data from producers in five U.S. states to estimate bird damage to sweet cherry (Prunus avium) crops with and without the use of bird management. A partial equilibrium model was applied to the data to estimate the change in the marginal cost of production resulting from disuse of bird management. The model incorporates both decreased yield and elimination of management costs. A welfare analysis was conducted with short and long run supply elasticities derived from time-series …

The Effects Of Habitat, Climate, And Barred Owls On Long-Term Demography Of Northern Spotted Owls, Katie M. Dugger, Eric D. Forsman, Alan B. Franklin, Raymond J. Davis, Gary C. White, Carl J. Schwarz, Kenneth P. Burnham, James D. Nichols, James E. Hines, Charles B. Yackulic, Paul F. Doherty Jr., Larissa Bailey, Darren A. Clark, Steven H. Ackers, Lawrence S. Andrews, Benjamin Augustine, Brian L. Biswell, Jennifer Blakesley, Peter C. Carlson, Matthew J. Clement, Lowell V. Diller, Elizabeth M. Glenn, Adam Green, Scott A. Gremel, Dale R. Herter, J. Mark Higley, Jeremy Hobson, Rob B. Horn, Kathryn P. Huyvaert, Christopher Mccafferty, Trent Mcdonald, Kevin Mcdonnell, Gail S. Olson, Janice A. Reid, Jeremy Rockweit, Viviana Ruiz, Jessica Saenz, Stan G. Sovern

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Estimates of species’ vital rates and an understanding of the factors affecting those parameters over time and space can provide crucial information for management and conservation. We used mark–recapture, reproductive output, and territory occupancy data collected during 1985–2013 to evaluate population processes of Northern Spotted Owls (Strix occidentalis caurina) in 11 study areas in Washington, Oregon, and northern California, USA. We estimated apparent survival, fecundity, recruitment, rate of population change, and local extinction and colonization rates, and investigated relationships between these parameters and the amount of suitable habitat, local and regional variation in meteorological conditions, and competition with …

Report To The Chicago Park District On Conflicts With Ring-Billed Gulls And The 2015 Integrated Ring-Billed Gull Damage Management Project, M. L. Bloomquist, J.W. Hartmann, C.K. Pullins, T.G. Guerrant, S. F. Beckerman, R. M. Engeman

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The large ring-billed gull (Larus delawarensis) population in the City of Chicago has caused various conflicts including general nuisance, property damage, economic losses, and threats to human health and safety. Several studies have shown a relationship between ring-billed gulls and increased levels of fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) such as Escherichia coli (E. coli) in nearshore waters. Results of tests for E. coli have led to the issuance of swim advisories at Chicago beaches. The objectives of the Chicago Ring-billed Gull Damage Management Project were to (1) reduce the local production of ring-billed gulls, (2) reduce the …

Identification Of Off Airport Interspecific Avian Hazards To Aircraft, Travis L. Devault, Bradley F. Blackwell, Thomas W. Seamans, Jerrold L. Belant

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Understanding relative hazards of wildlife to aircraft is important for developing effective management programs that can minimize hazards from wildlife strikes. Although interspecific differences in hazard level of birds and mammals on airport properties are described, no studies have quantified hazard level of bird species or identified factors that influence hazard level when birds are struck beyond airport boundaries (e.g., during aircraft climb or approach). We used Federal Aviation Administration National Wildlife Strike Database records from 1990 through 31 May 2014 to identify bird species involved most often in collisions with aircraft beyond airport boundaries in the United States and …

Guiding The Management Of An Agricultural Pest: Indexing Abundance Of California Meadow Voles In Artichoke Fields, Richard M. Engeman, Roger A. Baldwin, Denise I. Stetson

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Nearly 100% of U.S. artichoke production comes from California and is concentrated in Monterey County. California meadow voles are damaging rodent pests that can threaten the profitability of growing artichokes. A practical population monitoring method can be invaluable to integrated pest management programs for guiding when and where control is needed and assessing control efficacy. The standard method for indexing vole populations in artichoke fields has been based on observing chewing on artichoke bracts placed throughout the field. Because toxicants are delivered on artichoke bracts, bias for population indexing is potentially introduced. We therefore compared artichoke bracts to nontoxic grain-based …

Composition And Diversity Of Avian Communities Using A New Urban Habitat: Green Roofs, Brian E. Washburn, Ryan M. Swearingin, Craig K. Pullins, Matthew E. Rice

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Green roofs on buildings are becoming popular and represent a new component of the urban landscape. Public benefits of green roof projects include reduced stormwater runoff, improved air quality, reduced urban heat island effects, and aesthetic values. As part of a city-wide plan, several green roofs have been constructed at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD). Like some other landscaping features, green roofs on or near an airport might attract wildlife and thus increase the risk of bird–aircraft collisions. During 2007–2011, we conducted a series of studies to evaluate wildlife use of newly constructed green roofs and traditional (gravel) roofs on …

Identification Of Kill Sites From Gps Clusters For Jaguars (Panthera Onca) In The Southern Pantanal, Brazil, Eric M. Gese, Patricia Terletzky, Sandra M. C. Cavalcanti

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Context. Understanding predator–prey relationships is important for making informed management decisions. Knowledge of jaguar (Panthera onca) predation on livestock and native prey is imperative for future conservation of jaguars in Central and South America.

Aim. As part of an investigation to determine predation patterns of jaguars in the southern Pantanal, Brazil, we examined spatial, temporal and habitat variables, which are useful in categorising location clusters as kill sites and non-kill sites.

Methods. Using GPS-collars on 10 jaguars we obtained a total of 11 784 locations, from which 877 clusters were identified, visited and examined for …

High Rates Of Detection Of Clade 2.3.4.4 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5 Viruses In Wild Birds In The Pacific Northwest During The Winter Of 2014–15, Hon S. Ip, Robert J. Dusek, Barbara Bodenstein, Mia Kim Torchetti, Paul Debruyn, Kristin Mansfield, Thomas J. Deliberto, Jonathan M. Sleeman

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

SUMMARY. In 2014, clade 2.3.4.4 H5N8 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses spread across the Republic of Korea and ultimately were reported in China, Japan, Russia, and Europe. Mortality associated with a reassortant HPAI H5N2 virus was detected in poultry farms in western Canada at the end of November. The same strain (with identical genetic structure) was then detected in free-living wild birds that had died prior to December 8, 2014, of unrelated causes in Whatcom County, Washington, U. S. A., in an area contiguous with the index Canadian location. A gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus) that had hunted and …

Optimization Of Scat Detection Methods For A Social Ungulate, The Wild Pig, And Experimental Evaluation Of Factors Affecting Detection Of Scat, David A. Keiter, Fred L. Cunningham, Olin E. Rhodes Jr., Brian J. Irwin, James C. Beasley

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Collection of scat samples is common in wildlife research, particularly for genetic capturemark- recapture applications. Due to high degradation rates of genetic material in scat, large numbers of samples must be collected to generate robust estimates. Optimization of sampling approaches to account for taxa-specific patterns of scat deposition is, therefore, necessary to ensure sufficient sample collection. While scat collection methods have been widely studied in carnivores, research to maximize scat collection and noninvasive sampling efficiency for social ungulates is lacking. Further, environmental factors or scat morphology may influence detection of scat by observers. We contrasted performance of novel radial search …

Outbreak Of H7n8 Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza In Commercial Turkeys With Spontaneous Mutation To Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, Mary Lea Killian, Mia Kim Torchetti, Nichole Hines, Sam Yingst, Thomas J. Deliberto, Dong-Hun Lee

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) subtype H7N8 was detected in commercial turkeys in January 2016. Control zone surveillance discovered a progenitor low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) virus in surrounding turkey flocks. Data analysis supports a single LPAI virus introduction followed by spontaneous mutation to HPAI on a single premises.

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Viruses And Generation Of Novel Reassortants, United States, 2014–2015, Dong-Hun Lee, Justin Bahl, Mia Kim Torchetti, Mary Lea Killian, Hon S. Ip, Thomas J. Deliberto, David E. Swayne

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Asian highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N8) viruses spread into North America in 2014 during autumn bird migration. Complete genome sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of 32 H5 viruses identified novel H5N1, H5N2, and H5N8 viruses that emerged in late 2014 through reassortment with North American low-pathogenicity avian influenza viruses.

A Noninvasive Method To Detect Mexican Wolves And Estimate Abundance, Antoinette J. Piaggio, Chip.A. Cariappa, Dyan J. Straughan, Melissa Neubaum, Margaret Dwire, Paul R. Krausman, Warren B. Ballard, David L. Bergman, Stewart W. Breck

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Monitoring wolf abundance is important for recovery efforts of Mexican wolves (Canis lupus baileyi) in the Blue Range Wolf Recovery Area in Arizona and New Mexico, USA. Although radiotelemetry has been a reliable method, collaring and tracking wolves in an expanding population will be prohibitively expensive and alternative methods to estimate abundance will become necessary. We applied 10 canid microsatellite loci to 235 Mexican wolf samples, 48 coyote (C. latrans) samples, and 14 domestic dog (C. lupus familiaris) samples to identify alleles that provide reliable separation of these species. We then evaluated an approach …

Integrating Early Detection With Dna Barcoding: Species Identification Of A Nonnative Monitor Lizard (Squamata: Varanidae) Carcass In Mississippi, U.S.A., Robert N. Reed, Matthew W. Hopken, David Steensen, Bryan G. Falk, Antoinette J. Piaggio

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Early detection of invasive species is critical to increasing the probability of successful management. At the primary stage of an invasion, invasive species are easier to control as the population is likely represented by just a few individuals. Detection of these first few individuals can be challenging, particularly if they are cryptic or otherwise characterized by low detectability. The engagement of members of the public may be critical to early detection as there are far more citizens on the landscape than trained biologists. However, it can be difficult to assess the credibility of public reporting, especially when a diagnostic digital …

No Filters, No Fridges: A Method For Preservation Of Water Samples For Edna Analysis, Kelly E. Williams, Kathryn P. Huyvaert, Antoinette J. Piaggio

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Background: Advancements in the detection of environmental DNA (eDNA) for detecting species of interest will likely allow for expanded use of these techniques in the field. One obstacle that continues to hinder applications in the field is the requirement of a cold chain of storage for water samples containing eDNA. While eDNA has been successfully preserved using Longmire’s lysis buffer applied to filters, it has yet to be tried with freshwater samples collected for eDNA detection of an invasive species. We tested the utility of Longmire’s solution (100 mM Tris, 100 mM EDTA, 10 mM NaCl, 0.5 % SDS, 0.2 …