How Behavior of Nontarget Species Affects Perceived Accuracy of Scat Detection Dog Surveys
Abstract Detection dogs, specially trained domestic dogs (Canis familiaris), have become a valuable, noninvasive, conservation tool because they remove the dependence of attracting species to a particular location. Further, detection dogs locate samples independent of appearance, composition, or vis...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2018-09-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-32244-1 |
| _version_ | 1818346960057270272 |
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| author | Karen E. DeMatteo Linsey W. Blake Julie K. Young Barbara Davenport |
| author_facet | Karen E. DeMatteo Linsey W. Blake Julie K. Young Barbara Davenport |
| author_sort | Karen E. DeMatteo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Detection dogs, specially trained domestic dogs (Canis familiaris), have become a valuable, noninvasive, conservation tool because they remove the dependence of attracting species to a particular location. Further, detection dogs locate samples independent of appearance, composition, or visibility allowing researchers to collect large sets of unbiased samples that can be used in complex ecological queries. One question not fully addressed is why samples from nontarget species are inadvertently collected during detection dog surveys. While a common explanation has been incomplete handler or dog training, our study aimed to explore alternative explanations. Our trials demonstrate that a scat’s genetic profile can be altered by interactions of nontarget species with target scat via urine-marking, coprophagy, and moving scats with their mouths, all pathways to contamination by nontarget species’ DNA. Because detection dogs are trained to locate odor independent of masking, the collection of samples with a mixed olfactory profile (target and nontarget) is possible. These scats will likely have characteristics of target species’ scats and are therefore only discovered faulty once genetic results indicate a nontarget species. While the collection of nontarget scats will not impact research conclusions so long as samples are DNA tested, we suggest ways to minimize their collection and associated costs. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T17:26:34Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-14e296f486164d859b64f46c674fb64e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T17:26:34Z |
| publishDate | 2018-09-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-14e296f486164d859b64f46c674fb64e2022-12-21T23:37:11ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222018-09-018111110.1038/s41598-018-32244-1How Behavior of Nontarget Species Affects Perceived Accuracy of Scat Detection Dog SurveysKaren E. DeMatteo0Linsey W. Blake1Julie K. Young2Barbara Davenport3Washington University in St. Louis, Department of Biology & Environmental StudiesNebraska Game and Parks Commission, Wildlife Division–Research, Analysis & Inventory SectionU.S. Department of Agriculture, National Wildlife Research Center, Predator Research Facility and Department of Wildland Resources, Utah State UniversityPackLeader Dog Training LLC, Gig HarborAbstract Detection dogs, specially trained domestic dogs (Canis familiaris), have become a valuable, noninvasive, conservation tool because they remove the dependence of attracting species to a particular location. Further, detection dogs locate samples independent of appearance, composition, or visibility allowing researchers to collect large sets of unbiased samples that can be used in complex ecological queries. One question not fully addressed is why samples from nontarget species are inadvertently collected during detection dog surveys. While a common explanation has been incomplete handler or dog training, our study aimed to explore alternative explanations. Our trials demonstrate that a scat’s genetic profile can be altered by interactions of nontarget species with target scat via urine-marking, coprophagy, and moving scats with their mouths, all pathways to contamination by nontarget species’ DNA. Because detection dogs are trained to locate odor independent of masking, the collection of samples with a mixed olfactory profile (target and nontarget) is possible. These scats will likely have characteristics of target species’ scats and are therefore only discovered faulty once genetic results indicate a nontarget species. While the collection of nontarget scats will not impact research conclusions so long as samples are DNA tested, we suggest ways to minimize their collection and associated costs.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-32244-1Detection DogsTarget ScatCoprophagyDomestic DogsUrinary Markers |
| spellingShingle | Karen E. DeMatteo Linsey W. Blake Julie K. Young Barbara Davenport How Behavior of Nontarget Species Affects Perceived Accuracy of Scat Detection Dog Surveys Scientific Reports Detection Dogs Target Scat Coprophagy Domestic Dogs Urinary Markers |
| title | How Behavior of Nontarget Species Affects Perceived Accuracy of Scat Detection Dog Surveys |
| title_full | How Behavior of Nontarget Species Affects Perceived Accuracy of Scat Detection Dog Surveys |
| title_fullStr | How Behavior of Nontarget Species Affects Perceived Accuracy of Scat Detection Dog Surveys |
| title_full_unstemmed | How Behavior of Nontarget Species Affects Perceived Accuracy of Scat Detection Dog Surveys |
| title_short | How Behavior of Nontarget Species Affects Perceived Accuracy of Scat Detection Dog Surveys |
| title_sort | how behavior of nontarget species affects perceived accuracy of scat detection dog surveys |
| topic | Detection Dogs Target Scat Coprophagy Domestic Dogs Urinary Markers |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-32244-1 |
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