《Nestling and Adult Birds》.pdfVIP

Peer Reviewed Use of Buccal Swabs for Sampling DNA from Nestling and Adult Birds COLLEEN M. HANDEL,1 United States Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center, Anchorage, AK 99503, USA LISA M. PAJOT, United States Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center, Anchorage, AK 99503, USA, and Alaska Pacific University, Department of Environmental Science, Anchorage, AK 99508, USA SANDRA L. TALBOT, United States Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center, Anchorage, AK 99503, USA GEORGE K. SAGE, United States Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center, Anchorage, AK 99503, USA Abstract We evaluated the feasibility and efficiency of using swabs to collect buccal epithelial cells from small (2- to 13-g) birds as a source of DNA for genetic studies. We used commercially available buccal swab kits to collect samples from 42 adult and 39 nestling (4- to 8-day-old) black-capped chickadees (Poecile atricapillus) and from 6 4-day-old nestling boreal chickadees ( P. hudsonica). We compared DNA from buccal epithelial samples to that from blood samples from the same individuals. We extracted sufficient quantities of DNA for analysis from all buccal samples, and samples remained viable even after being stored in original plastic sampling tubes at room temperature for up to 18 months. Yields were equivalent whether extracted using the proprietary quick- extraction solution provided with buccal swab kits or using a salt-extraction process with inexpensive reagents. Yields of DNA from buccal samples were consistently lower than those from blood samples, but quantities were sufficient for all analyses. Assignment of sex, based on DNA extracted from paired buccal and blood samples, was identical for all 87 birds. We found no difference in the genotypes obtained from buccal