Non-invasive genetics for cryptic species

Endangered, rare, and cryptic species are incredibly difficult to study, so in many cases very basic natural history is unknown. Thankfully, these species defecate, are hairy, or in some way leave DNA behind. I've made several major efforts to use genetics to learn about these types of species, from southern hairy-nosed wombats to bats, and my team can now detect nearly any kind of DNA from any species' feces. For mammals, we're identifying species, diet, and disease with feces (see our Species from Feces Initiative). We've developed and applied an eDNA assay for detecting an endangered jumping mouse from plants in riparian areas, and have detected an endangered nectivorous bat from saliva left behind on agave flowers. We've learned many things about wombats from hair left behind at burrow entrances: that females are the dispersing sex, that males hang out with relatives, that substrate matters, and that individuals of this long-lived species can be detected across at least 18 years (pubs).