Title: Non-invasive age estimation based on fecal DNA using methylation-sensitive high-resolution melting for Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins.
Runnning title: Non-invasive age estimation using fecal DNA
Authors: Genfu Yagi1, Huiyuan Qi2, Kana Arai2, Yuki F. Kita3, Kazunobu Kogi4, Tadamichi Morisaka1*, Motoi Yoshioka1, Miho Inoue-Murayama2*
Corresponding authors: Tadamichi Morisaka (chaka@bio.mie-u.ac.jp), Miho Inoue-Murayama (mailto:murayama.miho.5n@kyoto-u.ac.jp)
Affiliations: 1Graduate School of Bioresources, Mie University, Tsu, Mie 514-8507, Japan.
2Wildlife Research Center, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Kyoto 606-8203, Japan.
3Department of Marine Biology and Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Tokai University, Sapporo, Hokkaido 005-8601, Japan.
4 Mikurashima Tourism Association, Mikurajima, Tokyo 100-1301, Japan.
Keywords: DNA methylation, epigenetics, aging, Mikura Island, ecology, demography