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Population size estimation in Yellowstone wolves with error‐prone noninvasive microsatellite genotypes
Author(s) -
Creel Scott,
Spong Goran,
Sands Jennifer L.,
Rotella Jay,
Zeigle Janet,
Joe Lawrence,
Murphy Kerry M.,
Smith Douglas
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
molecular ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.619
H-Index - 225
eISSN - 1365-294X
pISSN - 0962-1083
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-294x.2003.01868.x
Subject(s) - biology , genotyping , microsatellite , genotype , population , population size , effective population size , polymerase chain reaction , evolutionary biology , genetics , statistics , genetic variation , allele , demography , mathematics , sociology , gene
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.