Verification of sex from harvested sea otters using DNA testing
We used molecular genetic methods to determine the sex of 138 sea otters (Enhydra lutris) harvested from 3 regions of Alaska from 1994 to 1997, to assess the accuracy of post‐harvest field‐sexing. We also tested each of a series of factors associated with errors in field‐sexing of sea otters, including male or female bias, age‐class bias, regional bias, and bias associated with hunt characteristics. Blind control results indicated that sex was determined with 100% accuracy using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification using primers that co‐amplify the zinc finger‐Y‐X gene, located on both the mammalian Y‐ and X‐chromosomes, and Testes Determining Factor (TDF), located on the mammalian Y‐chromosome. DNA‐based sexing revealed that 12.3% of the harvested sea otters were incorrectly sexed in the field, with most errors (13 of 17) occurring as males incorrectly reported as females. Thus, female harvest was overestimated. Using logistic regression analysis, we detected no statistical association of incorrect determination of sex in the field with age class, hunt region, or hunt type. The error in field‐sexing appears to be random, at least with respect to the variables evaluated in this study.
Citation Information
Publication Year | 2005 |
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Title | Verification of sex from harvested sea otters using DNA testing |
DOI | 10.2193/0091-7648(2005)33[1027:VOSFHS]2.0.CO;2 |
Authors | Kim T. Scribner, Ben A. Green, Carol Gorbics, James L. Bodkin |
Publication Type | Article |
Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
Series Title | Wildlife Society Bulletin |
Index ID | 70028257 |
Record Source | USGS Publications Warehouse |
USGS Organization | Alaska Science Center |