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Faecal DNA typing as a tool for investigating territorial behaviour of badgers (Meles meles)

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Abstract

We use data from three social groups of badgers (Meles meles) to illustrate how faecal DNA genotyping could be used in scent-marking studies. Faecal samples collected from latrines were genotyped to determine the individual identity and sex of badgers engaging in territorial behaviour and the frequency with which those individuals defecated at particular latrines. The method is potentially applicable to other species of carnivores that use latrines to mark their territories.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Edmée Engel, Guy Colling and Laurent Schley for their support on the project. We thank four anonymous referees for their comments on earlier versions of the manuscript. Alain Frantz was supported by a Bourse de Formation-Recherche of the Luxembourg Government. Badgers were caught under licence, and the study complied with the Luxembourg law.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology and Environmental Science, University of Sussex, BN1 9QG, Brighton, UK

    Alain C. Frantz & Timothy J. Roper

  2. Musée National d'Histoire Naturelle, 25 rue Münster, 2160, Luxembourg, Luxembourg

    Alain C. Frantz

  3. 33, grand'rue, 3394, Roeser, Luxembourg

    Alain C. Frantz

  4. Institute of Immunology, Laboratoire National de Santé, P.O. Box 1102, 1011, Luxembourg, Luxembourg

    Fred Fack & Claude P. Muller

Authors
  1. Alain C. Frantz
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  2. Fred Fack
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  3. Claude P. Muller
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  4. Timothy J. Roper
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Correspondence to Alain C. Frantz.

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Frantz, A.C., Fack, F., Muller, C.P. et al. Faecal DNA typing as a tool for investigating territorial behaviour of badgers (Meles meles). Eur J Wildl Res 52, 138–141 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10344-005-0016-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10344-005-0016-0

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