The Dugong dugon (dugong) and Chelonia mydas (green sea turtle) are economically and culturally significant marine mega-herbivores whose populations are declining globally. Capture of these animals for study is challenging and stressful for the animals. Ecological questions can be answered using faeces, which can be collected floating on the water’s surface. However, green turtle and dugong faeces are visually indistinguishable. Specific PCR primer pairs were developed based on the mitochondrial control region of each species. We were able to determine species of origin using DNA extracted, amplified and sequenced from faeces. This provides a valuable tool for non-invasive taxonomic identification to assist the conservation of these vulnerable and endangered species.

该儒艮dugon（儒艮）和绿海龟（绿海龟）在经济和文化上显著海洋大型食草动物，其人口正在全球范围内不断下降。捕获这些动物进行研究对动物来说是充满挑战和压力的。粪便可以回答生态问题，粪便可以漂浮在水面上收集。但是，绿海龟和儒艮的粪便在视觉上是无法区分的。基于每种物种的线粒体控制区开发了特异性PCR引物对。我们能够使用从粪便中提取，扩增和测序的DNA来确定起源物种。这为非侵入性生物分类鉴定提供了宝贵的工具，以帮助保护这些脆弱和濒危物种。