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Table 2 Results from molecular identification of greater sage-grouse nest and carcass predators using both mitochondrial and microsatellite DNAs

From: Molecular forensics in avian conservation: a DNA-based approach for identifying mammalian predators of ground-nesting birds and eggs

Nest (N) or carcass (C) ID

# Eggs

# Successful sequences

# msat genotypes

Sequence ID from BLAST

STRUCTURE assignment

Molecular ID

Field cues

Camera traps

CB

CR

Set A

Set B

N1

7

2

   

99 % cow

 

Cow

Bird or Bobcat

Indeterminate

N2

3

1

   

98 % coyote

 

Coyote

Cow

Cow

N3

4

2

   

99 % coyote

 

Coyote

Coyote

Coyote

N4

7

1

2

4

1

99 % coyote

97 % coyote

Coyote

Coyote

Coyote

N5

7

1

3

1

 

99 % coyote

97 % coyote

Coyote

Coyote

Coyote

N6

1

      

Indeterminate

Indeterminate

Raven

N7

3

3

 

1

1

99 % coyote/99 % wolf (WI)

38 % coyote/37 % wolf (WY)/17 % wolf (WI)

Wild canid

Raven or coyote

Indeterminate

N8

8

8

1

1

 

99 % coyote/99 % wolf (WI)

98 % coyote

Coyote

Magpie or coyote

Coyote

N9

1

 

1

  

99 % dog

 

Dog

Raven or snake

Indeterminate

N10

1

1

   

97 % striped skunk

 

Striped skunk

Indeterminate

Striped skunk or badger

N11

8

 

3

1

 

100 % dog/99 % deer mouse

92 % coyote

Coyote/dog/deer mouse

Indeterminate

Indeterminate

N12

1

 

1

  

dog

 

Dog

Indeterminate

Weasel

N13

3

      

Indeterminate

Indeterminate

Indeterminate

N14

6

      

Indeterminate

Indeterminate

Indeterminate

       

Percent nests with molecular ID: 78.6 %

  

C1

NA

      

Indeterminate

Indeterminate

NA

C2

NA

Y

 

1

1

100 % coyote/100 % wolf (WI)

96 % coyote

Coyote

Coyote

NA

C3

NA

Y

 

1

1

98 % coyote/98 % wolf (WI)

76 % coyote/20 % dog

Canid

Indeterminate

NA

C4

NA

      

Indeterminate

Indeterminate

NA

C5

NA

Y

  

1

99 % coyote/99 % wolf (WI)

 

Wild canid

Indeterminate

NA

C6

NA

      

Indeterminate

Indeterminate

NA

C7

NA

      

Indeterminate

Indeterminate

NA

       

Percent carcasses with molecular ID: 42.9 %

  
  1. Listed in the table are ID for each depredated carcass or nest, the total number of eggs collected from each nest (# eggs), the number of eggs with successful predator ID using DNA sequences (# successful sequences; CB cytochrome b, CR control region), # of microsatellite genotypes used for species idenitifcation (# msat genotypes for set A and set B), species identification using genotypes and assigned in STRUCTURE (STRUCTURE assignment), identification of predator based on sequences, microsatellites, or both (molecular ID), predator identification in the field from nest remains (Field cue), and predator identification based on trails cameras placed on nest. The percent match was generated from BLAST. WY Wyoming and WI Wisconsin