Quick detection of a rare species: Forensic swabs of survey tubes for hazel dormouse <i>Muscardinus avellanarius</i> urine

Effective conservation decisions rely on accurate survey data, but methods can be resource-intensive and risk false negative results. Presence of the threatened hazel dormouse (England, UK) is typically confirmed by looking for its nest in tubes, over a 6-month period. As an alternative, environmental DNA (eDNA) surveys have proven benefits efficiency accuracy other taxa, generally extraction amplification from water, soil or sediment, which are not yet dependable samples rare terrestrial mammals like dormouse. At known occupancy site, paper-lined tubes were used to capture sample. Like species rodent, excretes urine freely, this was highlighted ultraviolet torch, swabbed paper, extracted eDNA amplified quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Hazel presence way three out 50 within 8 days. Detection conventional occurred day 63 when found single tube. We calculate that left behind increased here at least 12-fold. Synthesis applications. In study we demonstrate clean substrate placed apparatus significantly hasten detection species. This method has potential broaden application vertebrates, including large spatiotemporal scales. Beyond presence/absence, non-invasive sample could also offer insights into sex ratio, abundance, behaviour population genetics.