Identification of Neotropical felid faeces using RCP-PCR

Abstract

Faeces similarity among sympatric felid species has generally hampered their use in distributional, demographic and die- tary studies. Here, we present a new and simple approach based on a set of species-specific primers, for the unambiguous identification of faeces from sympatric neotropical felids (i.e. puma, jaguar, jaguarundi and ocelot ⁄ margay). This method, referred to as rapid classificatory protocol-PCR (RCP-PCR), consists of a single-tube multiplex PCR yielding species-spe- cific banding patterns on agarose gel. The method was optimized with samples of known origin (14 blood and 15 fresh fae- ces) and validated in faecal samples of unknown origin (n = 138), for some of which (n = 40) we also obtained species identification based on mtDNA sequencing. This approach proved reliable and provides high identification success rates from faeces. Its simplicity and cost effectiveness should facilitate its application for routine surveys of presence and abun- dance of these species.