Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41531907›Full record

ArticleEcology and evolution2026

A Method for Preparing Morphologically Preserved Wildlife Fecal Specimens for Long-Term Ecological Studies.

Jiahao Zhang, Dongling Zhang, Xinrui Xu, Yunqiao Zhang, Qiang Dai

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Ecology and evolution, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Jiahao ZhangChengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences Chengdu China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0005-6231-0041
Dongling ZhangYingjing Conservation and Management Station of Giant Panda National Park Ya'an Sichuan China.
Xinrui XuCrop Research Institute of Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Crop Germplasm Innovation and Genetic Improvement Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province Chengdu China.
Yunqiao ZhangChengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences Chengdu China.
Qiang DaiChengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences Chengdu China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Wildlife feces are a valuable noninvasive resource in ecological and conservation research. However, traditional preservation methods are unable to maintain morphological integrity while simultaneously preserving the biological and chemical composition of fecal samples. This study introduces a novel method for the preparation of fecal specimens through a multistep infiltrated process using sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, sodium benzoate, clotrimazole, ethanol, pyrethroid emulsion, and polyvinylpyrrolidone solution. The entire procedure takes approximately 7 days to complete one batch of specimens. The specimens produced using this method exhibited high mechanical strength, ensuring durability and resistance to handling damage. Over an 18-month storage period, the preserved specimens retained their external morphology and showed no signs of mold or insect damage. DNA integrity was well maintained, with a 100% success rate in DNA extraction, and species identification based on preserved specimens was identical to that obtained from the corresponding pre-preservation feces. Furthermore, heavy metals such as chromium, arsenic, and lead were successfully detected in fecal samples from different species. By allowing long-term preservation of fecal samples, this method converts feces from a transient diagnostic tool into a durable resource for monitoring biodiversity. It can broaden the spatial and temporal applicability of fecal samples and strengthen their role in ecological research and biodiversity conservation.

Indexed as

fecal specimen preparationlong‐term storagenoninvasive samplingwildlife monitoring

Identifiers

PMID41531907
PMCPMC12793066

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.