DNA barcoding identifies cryptic animal tool materials

• Published in: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS Vol. 118; no. 29; pp. 1 - 3
• Main Authors: Steele, Matthew P., Neaves, Linda E., Klump, Barbara C., St Clair, James J. H., Fernandes, Joana R. S. M., Hequet, Vanessa, Shaw, Phil, Hollingsworth, Peter M., Rutz, Christian
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States National Academy of Sciences 20.07.2021
• Series: Brief Report
• Subjects: Animals; Biodiversity; Biodiversity and Ecology; Biological Sciences; Botanics; BRIEF REPORTS; Cameras; Crows; Deoxyribonucleic acid; DNA; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic; DNA, Plant - genetics; Ecology, environment; Ecosystems; Environmental Sciences; Fieldwork; Gene sequencing; Life Sciences; Materials selection; Nesting Behavior - physiology; Phylogeny; Plant species; Plant Structures - anatomy & histology; Plant Structures - classification; Plant Structures - genetics; Population studies; Raw materials; Systematics, Phylogenetics and taxonomy; Tool Use Behavior - physiology; Vegetal Biology; nest building; New Caledonian crow; animal construction behavior; DNA barcoding; tool use; Nest building; New Caledonian; Tool use; Crow; Animal construction behavior

Some animals fashion tools or constructions out of plant materials to aid foraging, reproduction, self-maintenance, or protection. Their choice of raw materials can affect the structure and properties of the resulting artifacts, with considerable fitness consequences. Documenting animals’ material p...