title: Population size estimation in Yellowstone wolves with error-prone noninvasive microsatellite genotypes.
abstract: Determining population sizes can be difficult, but is essential for conservation. By counting distinct microsatellite genotypes, DNA from noninvasive samples (hair, faeces) allows estimation of population size. Problems arise because genotypes from noninvasive samples are error-prone, but genotyping errors can be reduced by multiple polymerase chain reaction (PCR). For faecal genotypes from wolves in Yellowstone National Park, error rates varied substantially among samples, often above the 'worst-case threshold' suggested by simulation. Consequently, a substantial proportion of multilocus genotypes held one or more errors, despite multiple PCR. These genotyping errors created several genotypes per individual and caused overestimation (up to 5.5-fold) of population size. We propose a 'matching approach' to eliminate this overestimation bias.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA. screel@montana.edu
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Creel
authors.forename: Goran
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Spong
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Sands
authors.forename: Jay
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rotella
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zeigle
authors.forename: Lawrence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Joe
authors.forename: Kerry M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: Douglas
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats / Q000235:genetics*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011156:Population Density; D012107:Research Design; D019596:Wolves / Q000235:genetics*; D014959:Wyoming