Summary Information
Coyote Scat Surveys in Chihuahuan Desert Grassland and Shrubland Sites, Spring, Summer and Fall at the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge, New Mexico (2008-2009)
Creator: Individual: Virginia Seamster Organization: SEV LTER Email: virginia.seamster@gmail.com System ID: 14900
Associated Party: Individual: Virginia Seamster Organization: SEV LTER Email: virginia.seamster@gmail.com System ID: 14900 Role: data manager
Associated Party: Individual: Virginia Seamster Organization: SEV LTER Email: virginia.seamster@gmail.com System ID: 14900 Role: field crew
Associated Party: Individual: Virginia Seamster Organization: SEV LTER Email: virginia.seamster@gmail.com System ID: 14900 Role: labcrew
Publication Date:	2015
Language:	english
Abstract: This data set contains information regarding carnivore scat surveys that were performed at sites in grama grassland and both creosote and mesquite shrubland habitats at the Sevilleta NWR. A total of nine surveys were carried out along road-based transects, each of which is a mile long, during one season in 2008 (June-July) and three seasons in 2009: spring (April-May), summer (July-August), and fall (October-November). There were 10 transects in grassland areas and 10 in shrubland areas in 2008. All 20 transects, as well as two additional transects in grassland areas, were surveyed in 2009. For more information on the structure of the vegetation surrounding these road based transects, see the "Vegetation surveys in grassland and shrubland sites that are associated with coyote scat surveys at the Sevilleta NWR, 2008-2009" data set. Scat samples were identified in the field and collected for genetic and stable carbon isotope analysis. Field recorded variables include: scat freshness, maximum diameter, length, and GPS coordinates, as well as the field-based species identification for the sample. Information on the lab based species and individual identification results are also presented.This data was collected in order to obtain information on the size and feeding ecology of the coyote populations in grassland vs. shrubland habitats in three seasons (spring, summer and fall) and two years (2008 and 2009) at the Sevilleta NWR. A mark recapture analysis can be performed on the data from 2009 since two surveys were carried out for each scat transect in each of the three seasons and coyote scats were run through a genetic analysis to determine individual identity of the coyotes. A rough assessment of coyote habitat use can also be performed using the individual identity and coyote scat location information. Future isotope analysis will indicate whether the base of the food chain is C4 (grass) vs. C3 (shrubs) plants in grassland vs. shrubland habitats in each of the three seasons (spring (pre-monsoon), summer (monsoon) and fall (post monsoon)) and in each of two years (2008 and 2009).
Keywords: Keyword: populations Keyword Thesaurus: Core Areas
Keywords: Keyword: species Keyword: measurements Keyword: seasonality Keyword: transects Keyword: global positioning system Keyword: surveys Keyword: roads Keyword: deserts Keyword: grasslands Keyword: vertebrates Keyword: mammals Keyword: vegetation Keyword Thesaurus: LTER Controlled Vocabulary
Additional Information:  Additional Information on the personnel associated with the Data Collection / Data Processing  Other field crew members:Jon Erz and Teresa Seamster
Intellectual Rights: Data Policies This dataset is released to the public and may be freely downloaded. Please keep the designated Contact person informed of any plans to use the dataset. Consultation or collaboration with the original investigators is strongly encouraged. Publications and data products that make use of the dataset must include proper acknowledgement of the Sevilleta LTER. Datasets must be cited as in the example below. Muldavin, E. 2004. Sevilleta LTER Fertilizer NPP Study Dataset. Albuquerque, NM: Sevilleta Long Term Ecological Research Site Database: SEV155. (Date of download) A copy of any publications using these data must be supplied to the Sevilleta LTER Information Manager.
Distribution: Online: URL: http://sev.lternet.edu/node/2903
Coverage: Geographic Goverage: Geographic Description: Location: There are 9 road based carnivore scat transects on McKenzie Flats. The first transect (A) begins 1.1 miles and the second transect (B) begins 3.1 miles from the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge entrance at Black Butte. Both of these transects are located along Five Points Rd, which forms the northwestern leg of the diamond of roads on McKenzie flats. The mileages for all other transects on McKenzie Flats were measured from the sign for Five Points (i.e. intersection of 5 roads) and are along the southern (McKensie South Rd.) and eastern (Test Well Rd and McKensie North Rd) legs of the McKenzie flats diamond. The mileages for the beginning points of the 7 other transects are as follows: transect C, 0.1 miles; transect E, 2.1 miles; transect F, 5.3 miles; transect G, 7.3 miles; transect H, 9.3 miles; transect I, 11.3 miles; transect J, 13.3 miles.Bounding Box:North Coordinate:  34.395South Coordinate:  34.286East Coordinate:  -106.619West Coordinate:  -106.704Landform: McKenzie Flats is a broad, nearly flat grassland plain between the Los Pinos Mountains and the east side of the Rio Grande. This plain encompasses the Deep Well and Blue Grama Core sites. Deep Well is located on the western side of McKenzie Flats while Blue Grama Core is on the eastern side, near the Los Pinos mountains. , Geology: Deep (20,000 ft) alluvial and eolian deposits. Caliche layer varies between 10 cm to 1 m in depth. , Soils: Berino Series, Turney Series and Sedillo-Clovis association. Berino Series: the soils in the Berino series are classified as fine-loamy, mixed, thermic Typic Haplargids. These form well drained, moderately permeable soils formed in alluvial and eolian material. They are on bajadas, plains, and broad fan terraces. Turney Series: the soils in the Turney series are classified as fine-loamy, mixed, thermic Typic Calciorthids. These deep, well-drained, moderately permeable soils formed in alluvial and eolian material. They are on bajadas and plains., Hydrology: In general, surface water is present only during heavy rainfall events (particularly summer thunderstorms). McKenzie Flats is considered a "run-on" plain for watersheds of the Los Pinos Mountains. No major arroyos are present in this area, although Palo Duro Canyon borders the southern part of the McKenzie Flats study area., Vegetation: Chihuahuan Desert Grassland, dominated by black and blue grama (Bouteloua eriopoda and Bouteloua gracilis). Plains-Mesa Grassland, dominated by blue and black grama (Bouteloua gracilis and Bouteloua eriopoda) and galleta grass (Hilaria jamesii). Desert Chihuahuan Desert Scrub, which is dominated by creosote (Larrea tridentata), at the southern end., Climate: There are meteorological stations located at the Deep Well and Blue Grama Core sites, which provide information on climate on McKenzie Flats. For further climate details and data, consult the "Sevilleta meteorological" data set(SEV001), History: McKenzie Flats was one of the primary livestock grazing areas of what is now the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) and was grazed by cattle from the late 1930's up until 1973. The ranch headquarters buildings and corrals were located on McKenzie Flats. This study area was part of the piece of land that was turned into the Sevilleta NWR in December, 1973., Bounding Coordinates: West Bounding Coordinates: -106.704 East Bounding Coordinates: -106.704 North Bounding Coordinates: 34.395 South Bounding Coordinates: 34.395 Bounding Altitude: Altitude Minimum: 1635 Altitude Maximum: 1635 Altitude Units: meter Geographic Goverage: Geographic Description: Location: There are 2 road based carnivore scat transects near Five Points. The beginning point for the first transect (D) is located 7.1 miles from the gate at Black Butte and is along Contreas rd, which leads west from the sign at Five Points. The second one (K) begins 2.0 miles south of the sign for Five Points (i.e. intersection of 5 roads) on Palo Duro Rd Bounding Box: North Coordinate: 34.337 South Coordinate: 34.289 East Coordinate: -106.72 West Coordinate: -106.735 Landform: Five Points is located on the southwestern edge of McKenzie Flats and is in the transition zone from grama grassland to creosote shrubland. Five Points is a little north of a valley, which has a large arroyo running through it., Geology: Very shallow and thick caliche layer., Soils: Turney Loam: the soils in the Turney series are classified as fine-loamy, mixed, thermic Typic Calciorthids. These deep, well-drained, moderately permeable soils formed in alluvial and eolian material. They are on bajadas and plains. The Turney loam grades into a Nickel-Caliza type of soil in the desert scrubland. The Nickel-Caliza is characterized as a very gravely, sandy loam., Hydrology: In general, surface water is present only during heavy rainfall events (particularly summer thunderstorms). No major arroyos are present in this area, although Palo Duro Canyon borders the southern part of the Five Points study area. , Vegetation: Transition from Desert Grassland to Chihuahuan Desert Scrub, which is dominated by creosote (Larrea tridentata)., Climate: There is a meteorological station at Five Points. For further climate details and data, consult the "Sevilleta meteorological" data set (SEV001), History: This study area was part of the piece of land that was turned into the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge in December, 1973. It was grazed by cattle until 1973. , Bounding Coordinates: West Bounding Coordinates: -106.735 East Bounding Coordinates: -106.735 North Bounding Coordinates: 34.337 South Bounding Coordinates: 34.337 Bounding Altitude: Altitude Minimum: 1615 Altitude Maximum: 1615 Altitude Units: meter Geographic Goverage: Geographic Description: Location: There are 2 road based carnivore scat transects near Bronco Well. The first transect (U) begins 2.0 miles from the end of the pavement on ATT road. The second transect (V) begins 2.5 miles from the end of the pavement on Jack Well road. These transects were only surveyed in 2009. Bounding Box: North Coordinate: 34.409 South Coordinate: 34.368 East Coordinate: -106.896 West Coordinate: -106.912 Soils: Turney Loam: the soils in the Turney series are classified as fine-loamy, mixed, thermic Typic Calciorthids. These deep, well-drained, moderately permeable soils formed in alluvial and eolian material. They are on bajadas and plains., Hydrology: In general, surface water is present only during heavy rainfall events (particularly summer thunderstorms)., Vegetation: The vegetation is generally classified as Colorado Plateau Grassland. The area is dominated by Burro Grass (Scleropogon brevifolius) and four-wing saltbush (Atriplex canescens). , Climate: There is a meteorological station at Bronco Well. For further climate details and data, consult the "Sevilleta meteorological" data set., History: This study area was part of the piece of land that was turned into the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge in December, 1973.Furthermore, the area includes an old and still functioning windmill and was badly disturbed during the ranching days. Thus far, recovery from pre-refuge land use practices is limited., Bounding Coordinates: West Bounding Coordinates: -106.912 East Bounding Coordinates: -106.912 North Bounding Coordinates: 34.409 South Bounding Coordinates: 34.409 Bounding Altitude: Altitude Minimum: 1796 Altitude Maximum: 1796 Altitude Units: meter Geographic Goverage: Geographic Description: Location: There are 3 road based carnivore scat transects near Rio Salado. The mileages for the starting points for these three transects were measured from the beginning of Esquival road and are as follows: transect R, 0 miles; transect S, 2.0 miles; transect T, 4.0 miles. Transect R is located on Esquival Rd.; transects S and T are located on Powerline Rd. North Coordinate: 34.294 South Coordinate: 34.246 East Coordinate: -106.899 West Coordinate: -106.927Landform: Rio Salado study area is just south of the relatively large and sandy Rio Salado floodplain., Soils: Bluepoint loamy fine sand in the Plains-Mesa Sand Scrub area and Nickel-Caliza with very gravely, sandy loams in the areas dominated by Chihuahuan Desert Scrub., Hydrology: In general, surface water is present only during heavy rainfall events (particularly summer thunderstorms). Furthermore, the Rio Salado study area is south of the Rio Salado, which is an ephemeral tributary of the Rio Grande and has surface water flow during the monsoon season., Vegetation: Plains-Mesa Sand Scrub, dominated by honey mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa), and Chihuahuan Desert Scrub, which has both honey mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) and creosote (Larrea tridentata) shrubs in this area., Climate: There is a meteorological station at Rio Salado. For further climate details and data, consult the "Sevilleta meteorological" data set (SEV001), History: This study area was part of the piece of land that was turned into the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge in December, 1973. It was grazed by cattle until 1973. , Bounding Coordinates: West Bounding Coordinates: -106.899 East Bounding Coordinates: -106.899 North Bounding Coordinates: 34.294 South Bounding Coordinates: 34.294 Bounding Altitude: Altitude Minimum: 1474 Altitude Maximum: 1474 Altitude Units: meter Geographic Goverage: Geographic Description: Location: There are 6 road based carnivore scat transects near South Gate. The mileages for all of these transects were measured from the sign and intersection of 5 roads at Five Points and are as follows: transect L, 4.0 miles; transect M, 6.0 miles; transect N, 8.0 miles; transect O, 10.0 miles; transect P, 13.2 miles; transect Q, 15.2 miles. These transects are located south of Five Points and McKenzie Flats along the following roads: Palo Duro, Gibbs, South, Beacon Forks.North Coordinate: 34.279 South Coordinate: 34.218 East Coordinate: -106.731 West Coordinate: -106.797Landform: South Gate is at the very southern edge of the National Wildlife Refuge and is very flat with hills surrounding the area in all directions except to the northeast., Geology: Fine soil and no discernible caliche layer., Soils: Bucklebar sandy clay loam., Hydrology: In general, surface water is present only during heavy rainfall events (particularly summer thunderstorms). In addition, there is a major arroyo located south of South Gate study area., Vegetation: Vegetation is sparse and heavily impacted by cattle grazing with Burro grass (Scleropogon brevifolius) as the dominant grass., Climate: There is a meteorological station at South Gate. For further climate details and data, consult the "Sevilleta meteorological" data set (SEV001), History: This study area was part of the piece of land that was turned into the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge in December, 1973. The area was grazed by cattle until 1973. , Bounding Coordinates: West Bounding Coordinates: -106.731 East Bounding Coordinates: -106.731 North Bounding Coordinates: 34.279 South Bounding Coordinates: 34.279 Bounding Altitude: Altitude Minimum: 1570 Altitude Maximum: 1570 Altitude Units: meter Temporal Coverage: Date Range: Begin Date: Calendar Date: 2008-06-24 End Date: Calendar Date: 2009-11-06
Contact: Position Title: Information Manager Organization: LTER Network Office Physical Address: Delivery Address: UNM Biology Department, MSC03-2020 Delivery Address: 1 University of New Mexico City: Albuquerque Locality: NM Postal Code: 87131-0001 Phone: USA Phone: 505 277-2535 Phone: 505 277-2541 Email: tech-support@lternet.edu URL: http://www.lternet.edu
Contact: Individual: Information Manager Sevilleta LTER Organization: SEV LTER Physical Address: Delivery Address: 1 University of New Mexico City: Albuquerque Postal Code: 87131 Phone: (505) 277-2109 Phone: (505) 277.5355 Email: data-use@sevilleta.unm.edu
Publication Place:	Sevilleta LTER
Method Step: Description: Experimental Design: Carnivore scat surveys were carried out along roads located in grassland and shrubland habitats throughout the Sevilleta NWR. Surveys were done along 20 road based transects in 2008 and 22 transects in 2009. 10 transects were located in grassland areas and 10 in shrubland areas in 2008; there were 12 transects in grassland areas and 10 in shrubland areas in 2009. Instrumentation: Laboratory Procedures:  All scat samples were dried for 24 hours at 70 degrees Celsius and, in future, will be prepared and run through a stable carbon isotope analysis in a coupled element analyzer and mass spectrometer. Small subsamples of each scat will be run through a mitochondrial DNA species test. All samples identified as coyotes in this test will then be run through a microsatellite analysis, with 8 loci, to identify individuals.
Quality Control: Description: Data were recorded in the field and entered into a spreadsheet in Excel. Field recorded comments were removed since they did not add significantly to the value of the data and, in some cases, their importance or meaning would have been difficult to explain. No automated or quantitative data quality checks were performed.
Data Table: Entity Name: sev220_coyotescatsurvey_20150618.csv Entity Description: Data from the 2008-2009 coyote scat surveys by Virginia Seamster Object Name: sev220_coyotescatsurvey_20150618.csv Data Format: Text Format: Number of Header Lines: 1 Record Delimiter: \r\n Attribute Orientation: column Simple Delimited: Field Delimiter: , Distribution: Online: URL: https://pasta.lternet.edu/package/data/eml/knb-lter-sev/220/365385/be6a171923c62db99e38e73621b0f3a5 Coverage: Temporal Coverage: Calendar Date: 2015-06-18 Attribute List: Attribute Name: Month Attribute Label: Month Attribute Definition: Month in which scat sample was collected Storage Type: date Measurement Scale: Datetime: Format String: MM Attribute Name: Day Attribute Label: Day Attribute Definition: Day of the month on which the scat sample was collected Storage Type: date Measurement Scale: Datetime: Format String: DD Attribute Name: Year Attribute Label: Year Attribute Definition: Year in which the scat sample was collected. Storage Type: date Measurement Scale: Datetime: Format String: YYYY Attribute Name: Survey Attribute Label: Survey Attribute Definition: Number that indicates during which of nine surveys a scat sample was collected. Surveys 1-3 were carried out in summer 2008. Surveys 4 and 5 were carried out in spring (pre monsoon) season, 2009. Surveys 6 and 7 were carried out in summer (pre monsoon/monsoon) season, 2009. Surveys 8 and 9 were carried out in fall (post monsoon) season. Storage Type: string Measurement Scale: Nominal: Non Numeric Domain: Text Domain: Definition: Number that indicates during which of nine surveys a scat sample was collected. Surveys 1-3 were carried out in summer 2008. Surveys 4 and 5 were carried out in spring (pre monsoon) season, 2009. Surveys 6 and 7 were carried out in summer (pre monsoon/monsoon) season, 2009. Surveys 8 and 9 were carried out in fall (post monsoon) season. Attribute Name: Transect Attribute Label: Transect Attribute Definition: Scat transect identifier: Letter used to identify the road-based scat transect along which the scat sample was collected. It is important to note that the habitat on one side of transects A and B was burned in late summer 2009. This disturbance may have affected the number of coyote scats found in fall 2009 on these two transects. Storage Type: string Measurement Scale: Nominal: Non Numeric Domain: Text Domain: Definition: Scat transect identifier: Letter used to identify the road-based scat transect along which the scat sample was collected. It is important to note that the habitat on one side of transects A and B was burned in late summer 2009. This disturbance may have affected the number of coyote scats found in fall 2009 on these two transects. Attribute Name: Scat_# Attribute Label: Scat_# Attribute Definition: Number assigned to the scat sample that corresponds to the order in which samples were collected along a given transect on a given day (i.e. 1=first sample collected, etc). Storage Type: string Measurement Scale: Nominal: Non Numeric Domain: Text Domain: Definition: Number assigned to the scat sample that corresponds to the order in which samples were collected along a given transect on a given day (i.e. 1=first sample collected, etc). Attribute Name: Latitude Attribute Label: Latitude Attribute Definition: Latitude of the scat sample: Projection: WGS_1984_UTM_Zone 13N Storage Type: string Measurement Scale: Nominal: Non Numeric Domain: Text Domain: Definition: Latitude of the scat sample: Projection: WGS_1984_UTM_Zone 13N Attribute Name: Longitude Attribute Label: Longitude Attribute Definition: Longitude of the scat sample; Projection: WGS_1984_UTM_Zone_13N. Storage Type: string Measurement Scale: Nominal: Non Numeric Domain: Text Domain: Definition: Longitude of the scat sample; Projection: WGS_1984_UTM_Zone_13N. Attribute Name: Habitat_Type Attribute Label: Habitat_Type Attribute Definition: Broad habitat type (grassland or shrubland) in which the scat transect is located and the scat sample was collected. This designation was determined when the beginning and ending points for the scat transects were first marked. Storage Type: string Measurement Scale: Nominal: Non Numeric Domain: Enumerated Domain: Code Definition: Code: G Definition: Grassland;S Attribute Name: Freshness Attribute Label: Freshness Attribute Definition: Freshness of scat sample: A rough assessment of how fresh the scat sample is and therefore how recently the sample was deposited on the transect. The assumption is that samples that are still soft and have little to no color variation are very fresh and samples that are white (2008) or mostly white (2009) and possibly hardened are old. Samples that have some color variation and are hardened, but are not all white (2008) or mostly white (2009), are somewhere in between. Note that Freshness was added as a variable of interest after the beginning of the first survey. As a result, samples collected early on in the first scat survey were not evaluated for freshness and no information for this variable was recorded. Storage Type: string Measurement Scale: Nominal: Non Numeric Domain: Enumerated Domain: Code Definition: Code: 1 Definition: white (2008) or mostly white (2009) Code Definition: Code: 2 Definition: in between--sample has begun to change color and has hardened Code Definition: Code: 3 Definition: fresh, soft, little to no change in color Attribute Name: Diameter_1 Attribute Label: Diameter_1 Attribute Definition: First measurement of maximum diameter of the scat sample. An attempt was made to measure the longest piece of the sample at its widest point while avoiding flattened parts. Diameters were measured using calipers. Note about missing data: It was impossible to obtain an accurate measurement of either the diameter or the length of the sample. This was the case for samples that were flattened, degraded, amorphous (e.g. just a pile of berries), folded such that more than two measurements would have to be made to determine scat length, or there was some other reason that an accurate diameter or length measurement could not be made. Measurement Scale: Ratio: Unit: Standard Unit: centimeter Precision: 0.01 Numeric Domain: Number Type: real Attribute Name: Diameter_2 Attribute Label: Diameter_2 Attribute Definition: Second measurement of maximum diameter of the scat sample. An attempt was made to measure the longest piece of the sample at its widest point while avoiding flattened parts. The second measurement was made at a slightly different point along the scat than the point at which the first measurement was made. Diameters were measured using calipers. Note about missing data: It was impossible to obtain an accurate measurement of either the diameter or the length of the sample. This was the case for samples that were flattened, degraded, amorphous (e.g. just a pile of berries), folded such that more than two measurements would have to be made to determine scat length, or there was some other reason that an accurate diameter or length measurement could not be made. Measurement Scale: Ratio: Unit: Standard Unit: centimeter Precision: 0.01 Numeric Domain: Number Type: real Attribute Name: Length Attribute Label: Length Attribute Definition: Length of scat sample: Length of the longest, unflattened piece of a scat sample. If the scat sample was bent, then two measurements were taken and added together. Note about missing data: It was impossible to obtain an accurate measurement of either the diameter or the length of the sample. This was the case for samples that were flattened, degraded, amorphous (e.g. just a pile of berries), folded such that more than two measurements would have to be made to determine scat length, or there was some other reason that an accurate diameter or length measurement could not be made. Measurement Scale: Ratio: Unit: Standard Unit: centimeter Precision: 0.1 Numeric Domain: Number Type: real Attribute Name: Spp_ID_(field) Attribute Label: Spp_ID_(field) Attribute Definition: Field based identification of the species that deposited the scat sample Storage Type: string Measurement Scale: Nominal: Non Numeric Domain: Enumerated Domain: Code Definition: Code: coyote Definition: coyote Code Definition: Code: MC Definition: maybe coyote but length, diameter, or shape of the sample did not match what was expected for a coyote Code Definition: Code: NC Definition: not coyote Code Definition: Code: unk Definition: unknown, diameter and length measurements could not be taken because the sample was flattened, degraded, or amorphous Attribute Name: Lab_ID Attribute Label: Lab_ID Attribute Definition: Lab identification number. Note about missing data: No material was preserved in DET buffer in the field and so the sample could not be extracted for future genetic analysis. Storage Type: string Measurement Scale: Nominal: Non Numeric Domain: Text Domain: Definition: Lab identification number. Note about missing data: No material was preserved in DET buffer in the field and so the sample could not be extracted for future genetic analysis. Attribute Name: Spp_ID_(fragment analysis) Attribute Label: Spp_ID_(fragment analysis) Attribute Definition: Species identification determined via fragment analysis: Lab based identification of species by which the scat was deposited. Species identification performed via analysis of mitochondrial DNA. Storage Type: string Measurement Scale: Nominal: Non Numeric Domain: Enumerated Domain: Code Definition: Code: coyote Definition: coyote Code Definition: Code: MC Definition: maybe coyote, evaluation of mitochondrial DNA test results was uncertain Code Definition: Code: na Definition: sample was not run through mitochondrial DNA test Code Definition: Code: NC Definition: not coyote Code Definition: Code: unk Definition: sample failed the mitochondrial DNA test Attribute Name: Individual_ID Attribute Label: Individual_ID Attribute Definition: Number that indicates to which individual the scat was assigned based on microsatellite analysis. Missing data explanation: Sample was not run through microsatellite analysis because it was not identified as coyote or maybe coyote in the mitochondrial DNA species test, the sample failed the microsatellite analysis and was not assigned to a particular individual, or individual identification was uncertain. Storage Type: string Measurement Scale: Nominal: Non Numeric Domain: Text Domain: Definition: Number that indicates to which individual the scat was assigned based on microsatellite analysis. Missing data explanation: Sample was not run through microsatellite analysis because it was not identified as coyote or maybe coyote in the mitochondrial DNA species test, the sample failed the microsatellite analysis and was not assigned to a particular individual, or individual identification was uncertain.