Low genotyping error rates in wild ungulate faeces sampled in winter

We show that Alpine ibex (Capra ibex) and Corsican mouflon (Ovis musimon) faeces yield useful DNA for microsatellite analysis, however, we detected higher genotyping error rates for spring faeces than for winter faeces. We quantified the genotyping error rate by repeatedly genotyping four microsatellites. Respectively, 99 and 95% of mouflon and ibex genotyping repetitions provided a correct genotype using winter samples, whereas spring samples provided only 52 and 59% correct genotypes. Thus, before starting a noninvasive study, we recommend that researchers conduct a pilot study to quantify genotyping error rates for each season, population and species to be studied.