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Abstract All species of big cats, including tigers, cheetahs, leopards, lions, snow leopards, and jaguars, are protected under the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). This is due in large part to population declines resulting from anthropogenic factors, especially poaching and the unregulated and illegal trade in pelts, bones, teeth and other products that are derived from these iconic species. To enhance and scale up monitoring for big cat products in this trade, we created a rapid multiplex qPCR test that can identify and differentiate DNA from tiger (Panthera tigris), cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus), leopard (Panthera pardus), lion (Panthera leo), snow leopard (Panthera uncia), and jaguar (Panthera onca) in wildlife products using melt curve analysis to identify each species by its unique melt peak temperature. Our results showed high PCR efficiency (> 90%), sensitivity (detection limit of 5 copies of DNA per PCR reaction) and specificity (no cross amplification between each of the 6 big cat species). When paired with a rapid (

Invertebrate-derived eDNA (iDNA) is an emerging tool for taxonomic and spatial biodiversity monitoring. Here, the authors use metabarcoding of leech-derived iDNA to estimate vertebrate occupancy over an entire protected area, the Ailaoshan Nature Reserve, China.

We demonstrate that simple, non-invasive environmental DNA (eDNA) methods can detect transgenes of genetically modified (GM) animals from terrestrial and aquatic sources in invertebrate and vertebrate systems. We detected transgenic fragments between 82-234 bp through targeted PCR amplification of environmental DNA extracted from food media of GM fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster), feces, urine, and saliva of GM laboratory mice (Mus musculus), and aquarium water of GM tetra fish (Gymnocorymbus ternetzi). With rapidly growing accessibility of genome-editing technologies such as CRISPR, the prevalence and diversity of GM animals will increase dramatically. GM animals have already been released into the wild with more releases planned in the future. eDNA methods have the potential to address the critical need for sensitive, accurate, and cost-effective detection and monitoring of GM animals and their transgenes in nature.

Noninvasive genetic sampling enables biomonitoring without the need to directly observe or disturb target organisms. This paper describes a novel and promising source of noninvasive spider and insect DNA from spider webs. Using black widow spiders (Latrodectus spp.) fed with house crickets (Acheta domesticus), we successfully extracted, amplified, and sequenced mitochondrial DNA from spider web samples that identified both spider and prey to species. Detectability of spider DNA did not differ between assays with amplicon sizes from 135 to 497 base pairs. Spider and prey DNA remained detectable at least 88 days after living organisms were no longer present on the web. Spider web DNA as a proof-of-concept may open doors to other practical applications in conservation research, pest management, biogeography studies, and biodiversity assessments.