With these techniques, it isnt essential to physically record bears, which can be demanding and unsafe for both bears and human beings, and is a source of concern to some local Indigenous communities. “People are concerned about the well-being of the individual polar bear and the health and safety of individuals who might gather the bear later on. The concentrations of DNA obtained from tracks sampled in the wild were very low, it was possible to obtain nuclear DNA from 87.5% of wild polar bear tracks and 59.1% of wild lynx tracks.” We hope this technique will be taken up by the polar bear research study community, with the involvement of hunters, volunteers, and Indigenous communities, as a new method to collect info on polar bears,” stated Lancaster.
Scientists have actually developed an innovative approach for polar bear conservation by evaluating DNA from their footprints in the snow. This non-invasive method, which is also applicable to other snow-dwelling animals like lynxes and snow leopards, uses a safer and more effective way to collect necessary data for wildlife conservation.Scientists have actually found a way of capturing DNA from snow tracks– an appealing non-invasive approach of keeping track of elusive animals like polar bears.Polar bears are icons of the Arctic, elusive and vulnerable. Detailed monitoring of their populations is important for their conservation– but due to the fact that polar bears are so challenging to find, we are missing out on vital information about population size and how well-connected those populations are. Scientists have actually now established a brand-new tool to help: DNA analysis using skin cells shed in the bears footprints in the snow.” It is particularly tough, costly, and lengthy to discover polar bears in the Arctic, let alone count them and comprehend how they are handling environment change,” said Dr. Melanie Lancaster of the World Wide Fund for Nature Global Arctic Programme, senior author of the study in Frontiers in Conservation Science.Innovative Forensic Techniques in ConservationThe researchers were motivated by forensic strategies that can be applied to small, abject DNA samples. With these methods, it isnt needed to physically capture bears, which can be demanding and harmful for both people and bears, and is a source of issue to some local Indigenous communities. Rather, scientists can look at sources of DNA shed in passing– environmental DNA.Polar bear in Utqiagvik, Alaska. Credit: Elisabeth Kruger, World Wildlife Fund” Many Inuit express issue about intrusive research techniques,” stated Elisabeth Kruger of the World Wildlife F und, an author of the short article. “People are worried about the welfare of the individual polar bear and the health and safety of people who might collect the bear later. This is among the reasons we are so ecstatic about new techniques like this– the individual collecting the sample never ever requires to even be or see seen by the polar bear.” Environmental DNA: A Non-Invasive ToolA common form of environmental DNA is deposited when animals defecate. The DNA quality is not always good enough for the individual-level analysis required for conservation. Additionally, for territorial animals like the 2 other types the researchers evaluated– lynxes and snow leopards– tasting feces could impact the animals habits. So the researchers turned to skin cells in snowy footprints.” The tracks typically contain fresh cells, and the DNA is intact due to the fact that of the cold storage temperature. DNA that has passed the gut is a lot more abject and therefore more challenging to deal with,” stated Dr Micaela Hellström of MIX Research Sweden AB, lead author.Tracking and Sampling in the WildThe researchers gathered snow from private tracks made by Alaskan polar bears and Swedish Eurasian lynxes in the wild and in captivity. They likewise collected snow from tracks made by a captive snow leopard. Additional materials like hair, saliva, and mucus were sampled, validating that the tracks provided accurate genotypes.24 wild polar bear tracks and 44 wild lynx tracks were sampled. The researchers melted and filtered the snow to gather ecological DNA, then performed microsatellite analysis. Although the concentrations of DNA recovered from tracks sampled in the wild were extremely low, it was possible to obtain nuclear DNA from 87.5% of wild polar bear tracks and 59.1% of wild lynx tracks. 13 of the wild polar bear samples might be genotyped, determining 12 different people.11% of the lynx tracks might be genotyped, however when the researchers only looked at the tracks tested by trained workers, this rose considerably. They had the ability to retrieve nuclear DNA from 76% of samples collected by experienced workers, and to genotype 24% of those sampled.A Paws-Off ApproachThis method has big potential to inform conservation of these animals, to better understand their populations and habits, and to handle conflict with people through precise identification of animals. Non-invasive tasting has a lower success rate, ease of collection means that it can substantially expand sample sizes.” We hope this approach will be used up by the polar bear research neighborhood, with the participation of hunters, volunteers, and Indigenous communities, as a brand-new method to collect info on polar bears,” said Lancaster. “We also hope the method will be expanded to other animals residing in snowy environments– we have actually shown it works for lynx and snow leopards as a start.” Reference: “Capturing environmental DNA in snow tracks of polar bear, Eurasian lynx and snow leopard towards specific recognition” by Micaela Hellström, Elisabeth Kruger, Johan Näslund, Mia Bisther, Anna Edlund, Patrick Hernvall, Viktor Birgersson, Rafael Augusto and Melanie L. Lancaster, 11 October 2023, Frontiers in Conservation Science.DOI: 10.3389/ fcosc.2023.1250996.
