Supporting data for “Threats and Conservation of the Critically Endangered Helmeted Hornbill (Rhinoplax vigil)”

This genetic and morphological data was generated from Critically Endangered helmeted hornbill casques, which were seized by the Agricultural Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) of Hong Kong SAR. The casques from this bird are illegally poached and illegally traded, and developing genetic and morphological protocols to identify them can aid conservation and enforcement efforts. <b>Chapter 1: </b>DNA samples taken from six <i>R. vigil </i>casques to test which extraction method (Q1), sampling method (Q2), and sampling location (Q3) resulted in the best quantity (DNA concentration ng/μL and quality DNA). DNA fasta sequences were generated for <i>R. vigil</i> and positive control <i>Rhyticeros undulatus</i> hornbills. Samples extracted using phenol-chloroform methods and using Qiagen DNeasy Blood and Tissue kit and an 800-bp of cytochrome B was amplified. <b>Chapter 2: </b>DNA concentrations and purities between replicate<i> Rhyticeros undulatus</i> hornbill faecal samples were extracted using phenol-chloroform and Qiagen stool kit methods and compared between storage media. A260/A280 and A260/A230 ratios which fall under target ranges optimal ranges of purity values are in bold. DNA concentrations (ng/µL) and purities (nm) (means and +/- standard deviations) and sequencing success (%) were also generated across faecal samples from <i>R. plicatus</i>, <i>B. bucinator</i>, <i>B. brevis</i>, <i>R. undulatus, </i>and<i> B. bicornis</i> extracted using the QIA method across storage times: day, week, month, and storage media. A260/A280 and A260/A230 ratios (showing DNA purity) which fall under target ranges optimal ranges of purity values are in bold. <b>Chapter 3. </b>Morphometrics were recorded for hornbill casques to the nearest 0.1 mm using digital callipers: weights (g), the top of casque to join at top of beak (A), the top of casque to bottom of beak (B), the width of beak-casque join (C), and the casque width between ridges (taken underneath ridge, D). Adults and juveniles were identified, and so were their sexes.

本数据集的遗传与形态学数据采集自香港特别行政区渔农自然护理署（Agricultural Fisheries and Conservation Department, AFCD）查获的极危盔犀鸟盔突。盔犀鸟盔突因非法盗猎与非法贸易面临严重生存威胁，建立其遗传与形态学鉴定方法可有效助力保护工作与执法行动。
**第一章：** 本研究从6枚盔犀鸟（*R. vigil*）的盔突中采集DNA样本，旨在筛选可获得最优DNA产量（DNA浓度ng/μL）与质量的提取方法（Q1）、采样方法（Q2）及采样位点（Q3）。研究生成了盔犀鸟（*R. vigil*）与阳性对照波纹犀鸟（*Rhyticeros undulatus*）的DNA FASTA序列。实验采用酚-氯仿法及Qiagen DNeasy血液与组织试剂盒完成样本提取，并成功扩增了800 bp的细胞色素B基因片段。
**第二章：** 本研究采用酚-氯仿法与Qiagen粪便试剂盒，对重复采集的波纹犀鸟（*Rhyticeros undulatus*）粪便样本进行DNA提取，并比较不同保存介质对提取效果的影响。符合目标最优纯度范围的A260/A280与A260/A230比值已以加粗格式标注。此外，针对皱盔犀鸟（*R. plicatus*）、棕犀鸟（*B. bucinator*）、短冠犀鸟（*B. brevis*）、波纹犀鸟（*R. undulatus*）以及双角犀鸟（*B. bicornis*）的粪便样本，采用Qiagen试剂盒提取法（QIA法）在不同保存时长（当日、1周、1个月）及保存介质下进行DNA提取，统计了DNA浓度（ng/μL）、纯度（nm，均值±标准差）及测序成功率（%）。符合目标最优纯度范围的A260/A280与A260/A230比值（用于表征DNA纯度）已以加粗格式标注。
**第三章：** 本研究使用数字游标卡尺对犀鸟盔突进行形态测量，测量精度可达0.1 mm，测量指标包括：重量（g）、盔突顶端至喙部顶端的距离（A）、盔突顶端至喙部底端的距离（B）、喙-盔突连接处的宽度（C），以及脊突下方两脊间的盔突宽度（D）。研究同时对样本进行了成体与幼体的分类，并完成了性别鉴定。