A simple genetic method to distinguish mule deer and bighorn sheep fecal pellets and its application to detecting bighorn sheep colonization events in California
Bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) habitat frequently is geographically discontinuous and the metapopulation model fits this species well. Consequently, extinction-colonization dynamics are important and need to be monitored. Much of the conservation history of bighorn sheep, however, was based on a th...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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California Department of Fish and Wildlife
2023-12-01
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| Series: | California Fish and Wildlife Journal |
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| Online Access: | https://journal.wildlife.ca.gov/2023/12/29/a-simple-genetic-method-to-distinguish-mule-deer-and-bighorn-sheep-fecal-pellets-and-its-application-to-detecting-bighorn-sheep-colonization-events-in-california/ |
| _version_ | 1797365953717075968 |
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| author | John Wehausen |
| author_facet | John Wehausen |
| author_sort | John Wehausen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) habitat frequently is geographically discontinuous and the metapopulation model fits this species well. Consequently, extinction-colonization dynamics are important and need to be monitored. Much of the conservation history of bighorn sheep, however, was based on a theory that natural colonization is not part of the biology of this species. That theory is not supported by a growing body of evidence that natural colonization of vacant habitat does occur in this species. Here I present a simple PCR test that distinguishes bighorn sheep fecal pellets from those of mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) as a useful tool in documenting bighorn sheep occupancy where mule deer are present. I include examples from California of applications of this method to investigate potential colonization events. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T16:57:18Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-dec40e05a19345eb8ff7d98618c61921 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2689-419X 2689-4203 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T16:57:18Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | California Department of Fish and Wildlife |
| record_format | Article |
| series | California Fish and Wildlife Journal |
| spelling | doaj.art-dec40e05a19345eb8ff7d98618c619212024-01-04T22:52:23ZengCalifornia Department of Fish and WildlifeCalifornia Fish and Wildlife Journal2689-419X2689-42032023-12-01109410.51492/cfwj.109.18A simple genetic method to distinguish mule deer and bighorn sheep fecal pellets and its application to detecting bighorn sheep colonization events in CaliforniaJohn Wehausen0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2926-9682University of California, White Mountain Research CenterBighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) habitat frequently is geographically discontinuous and the metapopulation model fits this species well. Consequently, extinction-colonization dynamics are important and need to be monitored. Much of the conservation history of bighorn sheep, however, was based on a theory that natural colonization is not part of the biology of this species. That theory is not supported by a growing body of evidence that natural colonization of vacant habitat does occur in this species. Here I present a simple PCR test that distinguishes bighorn sheep fecal pellets from those of mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) as a useful tool in documenting bighorn sheep occupancy where mule deer are present. I include examples from California of applications of this method to investigate potential colonization events.https://journal.wildlife.ca.gov/2023/12/29/a-simple-genetic-method-to-distinguish-mule-deer-and-bighorn-sheep-fecal-pellets-and-its-application-to-detecting-bighorn-sheep-colonization-events-in-california/colonizationdesert bighorn sheepdna extractionextinctionfecal dnametapopulationmule deerodocoileus hemionusovis canadensispcrsierra nevada bighorn sheep |
| spellingShingle | John Wehausen A simple genetic method to distinguish mule deer and bighorn sheep fecal pellets and its application to detecting bighorn sheep colonization events in California California Fish and Wildlife Journal colonization desert bighorn sheep dna extraction extinction fecal dna metapopulation mule deer odocoileus hemionus ovis canadensis pcr sierra nevada bighorn sheep |
| title | A simple genetic method to distinguish mule deer and bighorn sheep fecal pellets and its application to detecting bighorn sheep colonization events in California |
| title_full | A simple genetic method to distinguish mule deer and bighorn sheep fecal pellets and its application to detecting bighorn sheep colonization events in California |
| title_fullStr | A simple genetic method to distinguish mule deer and bighorn sheep fecal pellets and its application to detecting bighorn sheep colonization events in California |
| title_full_unstemmed | A simple genetic method to distinguish mule deer and bighorn sheep fecal pellets and its application to detecting bighorn sheep colonization events in California |
| title_short | A simple genetic method to distinguish mule deer and bighorn sheep fecal pellets and its application to detecting bighorn sheep colonization events in California |
| title_sort | simple genetic method to distinguish mule deer and bighorn sheep fecal pellets and its application to detecting bighorn sheep colonization events in california |
| topic | colonization desert bighorn sheep dna extraction extinction fecal dna metapopulation mule deer odocoileus hemionus ovis canadensis pcr sierra nevada bighorn sheep |
| url | https://journal.wildlife.ca.gov/2023/12/29/a-simple-genetic-method-to-distinguish-mule-deer-and-bighorn-sheep-fecal-pellets-and-its-application-to-detecting-bighorn-sheep-colonization-events-in-california/ |
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