TaqMan assays for species identification of the red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) and the grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis)

• DOI: 10.1007/s12686-012-9602-0
• Publication Date: 2012-01-16T11:17:24Z
• Authors: Denise B. O’Meara; Peter D. Turner; Lee Coffey; Catherine O’Reilly
• Keywords: Sciurus carolinensis; Sciurus; Ground squirrel; TaqMan; Identification

We have developed TaqMan based assays for species-specific identification of two species of squirrel found in the British Isles, the native red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) and the introduced north American grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis). These assays correctly identified tissue and hair samples of both species and there was no cross-species amplification. This is a useful method for non-invasive surveys to help conserve the red squirrel and manage the spread of the grey squirrel in the UK and Ireland.