title: Sperm contamination in archived and contemporary herring samples.
abstract: Studies using archived scales and otoliths to examine ancient fish populations have become increasingly common, despite many methodological challenges in ancient DNA research. Here, we describe a case of DNA contamination in both modern and historical samples of Pacific herring (Clupea pallasii), where the source of the contamination is likely from milt spillage during collection. We describe a series of experiments to remove contamination using pre-extraction wash treatments. Though contamination was easily removed from contemporary fin clippings, no method was successful at removing contamination from historical scales. We discuss the implications of our findings to the genetic analysis of archived samples.
authors.affiliation: School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, University of Washington, Box 355020, Seattle, WA 98195, USA, Fish Management Division, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, PO Box 1100, La Conner, WA 98257, USA.
authors.forename: Danielle
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: McAllister
authors.forename: Kurt
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Stick
authors.forename: Lorenz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hauser