Genetic-based inventories of wildlife abundance

Abundance and density are key demographic parameters of wildlife populations used by field biologists to evaluate whether conservation goals have been reached. Genomic and genetic analyses can be used to assign individual identity to samples collected from animals without capturing or sighting them. Repeated detections of the same individual are confirmed using match probabilities, creating a dataset similar to traditional live-capture and recapture surveys, which have been the backbone of abundance estimation for many species. Because genetic-based inventories of individuals do not require the physical capture of individuals they often allow large sample sizes over extensive areas and are less hazardous for both animals and researchers. DNA can be obtained from numerous sources, including hair, feathers, faeces, urine and saliva. New DNA biomarkers broaden the range of information obtainable from samples to include age, stress level, and diet, which opens the door to addressing many complex challenges in wildlife management. In the future, genetic-based inventories may be the preferred tool for a single inventory or, they may underpin long-term population sampling and contribute to more integrated approaches for population analysis that address complex ecological questions or conservation decisions.