Data From: Using an Ultraviolet Light Test to Improve Sagebrush Identification and Predict Forage Quality for Wildlife

Sagebrush identification can be improved by using a relatively easy ultraviolet (UV) light test on specimens. Sagebrush produces a variety of water-soluble polyphenols called coumarins, which fluoresce a blue color under UV light and can help differentiate species, subspecies, and hybrids. We tested 16 different sagebrush taxa (including species and subspecies) from herbarium specimens and found 3 taxa (low sagebrush, Artemisia arbuscula; Wyoming sagebrush, A. tridentata wyomingensis; and basin sagebrush, A. t. tridentata) that were often misidentified. We show that the UV light test can greatly improve identification of these species. Moreover, given that the UV+ chemicals that discriminate taxa are also considered an indirect biomarker of sagebrush palatability for some herbivores, the UV light test can be used to predict forage quality for threatened species like sage-grouse (Centrocercus spp.) and pygmy rabbits (Brachylagus idahoensis). Collecting voucher specimens of sagebrush at wildlife study sites and comparing their UV intensity to historical herbarium specimens could help identify both current and changing availability of palatable sagebrush for wildlife. We found that even herbarium specimens >80 years old still fluoresce under UV light.

通过对标本实施操作相对简便的紫外线（UV）光检测，可有效提升山艾树的物种鉴定精度。山艾树可合成多种名为香豆素（coumarins）的水溶性多酚类物质，该类物质在紫外线照射下会发出蓝色荧光，可用于区分山艾树的物种、亚种及杂交种。本研究对采自标本馆的16个山艾树分类群（taxa，涵盖物种与亚种）开展检测，发现其中3个类群常被误鉴：矮山艾树（Artemisia arbuscula）、怀俄明山艾树（A. tridentata wyomingensis）以及盆地山艾树（A. t. tridentata）。研究证实，该紫外线检测法可大幅提升上述类群的鉴定准确率。此外，由于可区分分类群的紫外线响应性化学物质，同时被视作山艾树对部分草食动物适口性的间接生物标志物，因此该紫外线检测法可用于预测艾草松鸡（Centrocercus spp.）与侏兔（Brachylagus idahoensis）等受威胁野生动物的饲料品质。在野生动物研究区域采集山艾树的凭证标本（voucher specimens），并将其紫外荧光强度与历史馆藏标本进行比对，有助于探明当前及动态变化的可供野生动物食用的适口山艾树资源分布情况。本研究还发现，即便是馆藏时长超过80年的标本馆标本，在紫外线照射下仍可发出荧光。