Non-invasive genetic analyses enable monitoring and understanding of population dynamics without disturbing wild animals. We present a non-invasive genetic method to identify and characterize the brown bear populations of Cantabrian and Pyrenean (of Slovenian origin). We selected an efficient 61-SNP panel to genotype more than 2,000 non-invasive samples from both populations. Results showed successful genotyping of 1,639 bear...

Capercaillie populations are experiencing worrying decline in several European countries, better knowledge of the factors affecting their reproductive success is therefore much needed. Chronic stress is a major cause of infertility in wild animals used in ex situ conservation programmes. In birds, the main hormonal stress response is an increase in corticosterone (CORT) secretion. Prolactin (PRL) is also involved, but its role...