GENETIC METHODS IMPROVE ACCURACY OF GENDER DETERMINATION IN BEAVERS

Authors

Christen Lenney Williams, United States Department of Agriculture, Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center
Stewart W. Breck, USDA/APHIS/WS National Wildlife Research CenterFollow
Bruce W. Baker, United States Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center

Date of this Version

December 2004

Comments

Published by Journal of Mammalogy, 85(6):1145–1148, 2004.

Abstract

Gender identification of sexually monomorphic mammals can be difficult. We used analysis of zinc-finger protein (Zfx and Zfy) DNA regions to determine gender of 96 beavers (Castor canadensis) from 3 areas and used these results to verify gender determined in the field. Gender was correctly determined for 86 (89.6%) beavers. Incorrect assignments were not attributed to errors in any one age or sex class. Although methods that can be used in the field (such as morphological methods) can provide reasonably accurate gender assignments in beavers, the genetic method might be preferred in certain situations.