Diet, disease, and animal health
Did you know that it’s now possible to determine whether an animal was raised in captivity or the wild – from just a tiny piece of tissue? Or that the chemical composition of a hair sample can tell you not just what an animal ate during a given year, month, or even day, but how relatively important it was to the animal’s diet? And that same hair sample could yield critical insights into mineral deficiencies? Or that DNA can tell us how old an animal is, both chronologically and biologically? The staff at CWS are experienced with all of these methods and more. We’ve even helped develop some of them.
Molecular forensic techniques
The use of chemical analysis in wildlife forensics holds tremendous promise for determining the origins of animals confiscated by law enforcement. Analysis of tissues, such as the claw tips of turtles, can be used to distinguish between wild-caught and captive-bred animals based on differences in the chemical compositions that reflect their diets and environments. CWS is leading the way with these techniques to help combat the sinister trade in wild species.
Dietary analyses
The days of sifting through scat samples are behind us. Today, molecular techniques including meta-barcoding, stable isotopes, and fatty acid analyses can provide greater and more accurate insights into the diets of wild animals than ever before. Staff at CWS have experience with these methods, from sampling design to the lab to interpreting the sometimes incredibly complex results. We can help with your research, whichever flavor it may be.
