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Buccal swabs as a reliable source of DNA for sexing young and adult Common Swifts (Apus apus)

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Abstract

We investigated the reliability of buccal swabs for molecular sex determination in very young nestlings (0–14 days old) and adults of the Common Swift (Apus apus) compared to the results from blood samples of the same individuals. Sex determination based on buccal swabs matched the result of sex determination based on blood samples in 46 out of 47 nestlings (98 %) and in all 10 adults (100 %). Therefore, we consider that buccal swab sampling is a reliable noninvasive method to obtain DNA for sex determination in swifts. We recommend buccal swabbing as an alternative to blood sampling in future genetic studies in birds.

Zusammenfassung

Speichelproben als zuverlässige DNS-Quelle für molekulare Geschlechtsbestimmung bei jungen und adulten Mauerseglern ( Apus apus )

Wir untersuchten die Zuverlässigkeit der molekulargenetischen Geschlechtsbestimmung anhand von Speichelproben bei sehr jungen Nestlingen ( bis 14 Tage alt) und Altvögeln des Mauerseglers (Apus apus) im Vergleich zu Blutproben derselben Individuen. Die Geschlechtsbestimmung mit Hilfe von Speichelproben stimmte bei 46 von 47 Nestlingen (98 %) und bei allen 10 Altvögeln (100 %) mit den Ergebnissen der Geschlechtsbestimmung anhand von Blutproben überein. Daher sehen wir die Entnahme von Speichelproben als eine zuverlässige, nicht-invasive Methode an, DNS zur Geschlechtsbestimmung bei Mauerseglern zu gewinnen, und empfehlen den Einsatz von Speichelproben bei zukünftigen genetischen Untersuchungen an Vögeln.

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Fig. 1a–b

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Sebastian Steinfartz and Elke Hippauf (support during laboratory work; University of Bielefeld), Iris Adam, Mariam Honarmand, and Constance Scharff (mini sample kit; Freie Universität Berlin), Josef Knoblauch and Matthias Klein (discoverer of the swift colony), Wolfgang Hoffmann (for permission to work in the bridge; Straßen NRW), and Rainer Grebe (electricity supply; Lister- und Lennekraftwerke GmbH). Blood samples and buccal swabs from Common Swifts were taken under a licence from the Landesamt für Natur, Umwelt und Verbraucherschutz NRW (Aktenzeichen: 9.93.2.10.41.07.095). The study was funded by the Ethologische Gesellschaft e.V. (Marburg/Lahn) and by research funding from the University of Siegen.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Group on Ecology and Behavioral Biology, Section of Biology and Didactics, Department of Chemistry and Biology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Siegen, Adolf-Reichwein-Straße 2, 57068, Siegen, Germany

    Arndt H. J. Wellbrock, Christina Bauch & Klaudia Witte

  2. Pelkovenstraße 65, 80992, Munich, Germany

    Jan Rozman

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  1. Arndt H. J. Wellbrock
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  2. Christina Bauch
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  3. Jan Rozman
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  4. Klaudia Witte
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Correspondence to Arndt H. J. Wellbrock.

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Communicated by M. Wink.

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Wellbrock, A.H.J., Bauch, C., Rozman, J. et al. Buccal swabs as a reliable source of DNA for sexing young and adult Common Swifts (Apus apus). J Ornithol 153, 991–994 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-012-0843-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-012-0843-1

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