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Other Species
Detection or identification of species from:
Biological Samples or Water Samples
Biological Samples
Send us a biological sample and we’ll tell you the species that it is from.
Sample types
Plant tissue, hair, droppings, carcass, fresh feather/eggshell or an unknown source.
Sample Collection
Send samples in any suitable sealed container or alternatively use our Forensic Ecology Kit for Biological Samples.
Our kits includes everything required to collect a sample and include delivery to you and return back to the lab.
Whether using our kits or not, please send samples with a completed biological sample collection form.
Analysis
As biological matter is predominantly one species, we can utilise genetic sequencing, therefore we can identify the majority of species.
- Standard- £90 per analysis 10 working days
- Fast Track- £120 per analysis 5 working days
Previous analyses
In the past, we have identified…
From faeces: bats, mice, otters, pine martens, stoats, all sorts of bird species and even brown bears!
From hair: badgers, dogs, cats, rabbits, hare, squirrels.
We have also worked on a number of wildlife crime and insurance claim cases analysing samples with origin unknown including the identification of cat vs. human urine deposits, fungi spores and black rat faeces.
Biological Samples
Plants
Many invasive and ecologically important plants can be difficult to identify, particularly at times of the year when they are not flowering. Our plant identification service uses molecular techniques including PCR and DNA sequencing to determine the origin of your plant material down to the species* or genus level. Important for insurance, mortgage providers, environmental agencies as well as ecologists in plant conservation.
(*note: due to hybridization in some flowering plants, or extremely high genetic similarity in some closely related species, it may not always possible to obtain a definitive species level identification).
- Sample type: leaf, flower, root, bud.
Common targets include Japanese knotweed, Giant hogweed, water primrose and Himalyan Balsam.
Read our whitepaper here.
Pine Marten
Pine Martens can be difficult to track in the wild, but using evidence of their presence such as droppings can be useful in determining the location of a population.
Otter
Using evidence left behind by otters we can identify their presence in an ecosystem using molecular methods. Send in your suspected otter samples today for a definitive determination of their identity.
Water Vole
Water voles can be difficult to survey using traditional methods, often requiring the use of invasive techniques. However, this species can also be detected using non-invasive sampling if droppings are present. (note: eDNA analysis of water samples is currently under development for water vole. Samples need to be biological samples, described above)
Squirrel
Our Forensic Ecology service can determine the presence of either red or grey squirrels from an ecological sample such as hair or droppings.
Water samples
Analysis of water samples from ponds, streams or rivers to identify presence/absence of your target species.
Sample Types
Water
Sample Collection
Order your forensic ecology kits for water samples which includes a crucial DNA spike and preservative. Each kit includes everything required to collect a water sample.
Please send samples with a completed water sample collection form.
For advice on collecting quality samples see our detailed instructions or get in touch.
Analysis
Analysis of a water sample to find presence or absence of your target species.
- £140 per analysis 10 working days
Smooth Newt
Utilise eDNA to detect smooth newt in a pond. Testing a pond for GCN? Why not look for smooth newt eDNA too using the same kit. This test can be added on to a GCN test for £30 exc vat, just write in the notes of the sample collection form and we'll analyse for both targets.
Marbled Crayfish
Developed in-house alongside researchers from the University of Derby, we are the first laboratory to analyse eDNA for the marbled crayfish. You can analyse for Marbled Crayfish as a stand alone test or as an add on test using our crayfish service. Read our whitepaper here.
Demon Shrimp
Working alongside researchers from the University of Derby, we have developed an eDNA assay aimed at the detection of the demon shrimp, an ecologically damaging invasive species which is quickly spreading across the UK.
Freshwater Pearl Mussel
This ecologically important species is now only found in a small selection of waterways in the UK. Our method has been validated through extensive research in collaboration with the University of Derby.
We can also detect the following species in water:
| American Bulfrog Lithobates catesbeianus | Pool frog Pelophylax lessonae |
| Red swamp crayfish Procambarus clarkii | Noble crayfish Astacus astacus |
| Spiny-cheek crayfish Orconectes limosus | Narrow-clawed crayfish Astacus leptodactylus |
| Chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans | Chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis |
| European eel Anguilla anguilla | Crucian carp Carassius carassius |
| Common carp Cyprinus carpio | Atlantic salmon Salmo salar |
| Brook Trout Salvelinus fontinalis | Rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss |
| Topmouth gudgeon Pseudorasbora parva | Ruffe Gymnocephalus cernua |
| Burbot Lota lota | Sea lamprey Petromyzon marinus |
| Brown/sea Trout Salmo trutta | Arctic charr Salvelinus alpinus |
| New Zealand mud snail Potamopyrgus antipodarum | Zebra mussel Dreissena polymorpha |
| Quagga mussel Dreissena bugensis | Asian clam Corbicula fluminea |
Species not listed?
The species listed above are the routine targets we look for, however there are hundreds more species we can detect. Get in contact to see if the assay for your target species has already been developed, and if it has we’ll be able to detect it for you.
Note: For non routine targets we may need to buy the primers specifically for you, this may take a few days and may incur the cost price of the primers depending on the number of analyses required.
Assay not yet developed?
If an assay hasn’t already been developed, appoint our experts to design one for you using our Assay Design Service.