Genetic identification of Iberian rodent species using both mitochondrial and nuclear loci: application to non-invasive sampling

Species identification through non-invasive sampling is increasingly used in animal conservation genetics, given that it obviates the need to handle free-living individuals. Non-invasive sampling is particularly valuable for elusive and small species such as rodents. Although rodents are not usually assumed to be the most obvious target for conservation, of the 21 species or near-species present in Iberia, three are considered endangered and declining while several others are poorly studied. Here we develop a genetic tool for identifying all rodent species in Iberia by non-invasive genetic sampling. To achieve this purpose we selected one mitochondrial gene (cytochrome b – cyt-b) and one nuclear gene (interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein – IRBP), which we first sequenced using tissue samples. Both genes allow for the phylogenetic distinction of all species except the sibling species Microtus lusitanicus and M. duodecimcostatus. Overall, cyt-b showed higher resolution than IRBP, r...