Factors affecting success of PCR amplification of microsatellite loci from otter faeces

Abstract

Abstract We investigated the effect of multiple variables on the amplification success rate of microsatellite DNA extracted from faeces of wild Eurasian otters. The success rate was affected by (i) type of sample, with higher success rates in anal jelly samples than faeces, and (ii) temperature, with a negative effect of increased temperature at time of collection. To increase the effectiveness of microsatellite genotyping of otter faeces, we recommend collecting samples in cold months and early in the morning, preferably in a frozen state, and the collection of anal jelly samples, or the jelly part from faeces, whenever possible.