We sequenced Western Capercaillie feathers and faeces collected in Tyresta National Park, Sweden

We sequenced Western Capercaillie feathers and faeces collected in Tyresta National Park, Sweden. We conducted a genomic analysis of 273 non-invasively collected samples from a local population of Western Capercaillie in Tyresta National Park, Sweden. Despite varying sample quality, feather samples yielded the best genomic data. Sex was accurately determined using read mapping ratios. Measures of inbreeding based on runs of homozygosity indicated generally low levels of inbreeding. Both autosomal and mitochondrial data revealed no population substructure, and multiple mitochondrial haplotypes were present. Kinship analyses confirmed individual identities across resampled individuals. Dietary analysis of fecal samples highlighted a diverse range of dietary components, demonstrating the potential of non-invasive sampling for comprehensive ecological and genetic studies.