Evaluation of methods for molecular sex-typing of three heron species from differentDNA sources

Authors

LIDIJA BEGOVIC
IVAN MIHIC
TOMISLAV POSPIHALJ
TIBOR MIKUSKA
SELMA MLINARIC
ALMA MIKUSKA

DOI

10.3906/zoo-1602-47

Abstract

Genetic markers are a useful tool for bird population monitoring, especially when combined with ringing data, and particularly so in vulnerable species. This study compared the effectiveness of two DNA extraction methods: a standard protocol and a commercially available kit. The molecular sex-typing was performed using PCR-based methods with a 2550F/2718R set of primers in three species of herons: Great Egret, Purple Heron, and Grey Heron. Genomic DNA was isolated from feathers, eggshells, and eggshell swabs from 26 individuals. Overall, better DNA yields and purity were obtained by using the standard protocol isolation method. The highest DNA yield was obtained from the pin feathers compared to the contour feathers and eggshells, both of which had lower yields. Eggshell swabs indicated possible contamination with parental/sibling DNA. Our evaluation demonstrates that the optimization of laboratory procedures is beneficial, particularly when different types of noninvasive tissue samples are available.

Keywords

Ardeidae, CHD, sex determination, polymerase chain reaction

First Page

593

Last Page

598

Recommended Citation

BEGOVIC, LIDIJA; MIHIC, IVAN; POSPIHALJ, TOMISLAV; MIKUSKA, TIBOR; MLINARIC, SELMA; and MIKUSKA, ALMA (2017) "Evaluation of methods for molecular sex-typing of three heron species from differentDNA sources," Turkish Journal of Zoology: Vol. 41: No. 4, Article 1. https://doi.org/10.3906/zoo-1602-47
Available at: https://journals.tubitak.gov.tr/zoology/vol41/iss4/1