Genotyping herbivore feces facilitating their further analyses

We examined the utility of a DNA extraction protocol that proved to be useful for sex determination from feces for non-invasive genotyping of red deer (Cervus elaphus) and European hare (Lepus europaeus) feces. The exceptional feature of this method is that it leaves the genotyped feces intact for further analyses. This may be important for studies combining genetic with other fecal examinations where the amount of fecal material is limited. Allele patterns from matched blood and fecal DNA extracts were identical in only 80% of repeated fecal polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplifications. Repetitions may increase reliability of results but also increase time and money expended for genotyping. Before using microsatellites in feces, advantages and disadvantages of various DNA extrac- tion protocols and of the use of feces as sample material should be evaluated.