Preserving avian blood and DNA sampled in the wild: A survey of personal experiences

• Published in: Ecology and evolution 2022-08, Vol.12 (8), p.e9232-n/a
• Main Authors: Di Lecce, Irene, Sudyka, Joanna, Westneat, David F., Szulkin, Marta
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biological materials; Biology; Birds; Blood; blood sampling; Conservation Ecology; Data analysis; Deoxyribonucleic acid; DNA; DNA methylation; Ecology; Evolutionary Ecology; Laboratories; long‐term storage; molecular ecology; Quantitative genetics; Sampling; Storage; Surveys; Wild animals
• ISSN: 2045-7758; 2045-7758
• DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9232

Collecting and storing biological material from wild animals in a way that does not deteriorate DNA quality for subsequent analyses is instrumental for research in ecology and evolution. Our aims were to gather reports on the effectiveness of methods commonly used by researchers for the field collection and long‐term storage of blood samples and DNA extracts from wild birds. Personal experiences were collected with an online survey targeted specifically at researchers sampling wild birds. Many researchers experienced problems with blood sample storage but not with DNA extract storage. Storage issues generated problems with obtaining adequate DNA quality and sufficient DNA quantity for the targeted molecular analyses but were not related to season of blood sampling, access to equipment, transporting samples, temperature, and method of blood storage. Final DNA quality and quantity were also not affected by storage time before DNA extraction or the methods used to extract DNA. We discuss practical aspects of field collection and storage and provide some general recommendations, with a list of pros and cons of different preservation methods of avian blood samples and DNA extracts. The collection of biological material from wild animals plays a fundamental role in many disciplines within ecology and evolution and its storage under optimal conditions ensures its usefulness long after its collection. We report results from an online survey, in which we directly asked scientists to share their experiences in the collection and long‐term storage of blood samples and DNA extracts from wild birds. We show that different storage conditions can generate considerable variation in the quality of stored samples, with consequences for research outcomes.