Can DNA Barcoding help stop the budgie smugglers? The future of

Can DNA Barcoding help stop the budgie
smugglers? The future of barcoding as a
crime fighting tool in wildlife forensics
Rebecca N. Johnson, Andrew King, Robert Mason
Australian Museum Genetics Laboratory
iBOL November 28th 2011
rebecca.johnson@austmus.gov.au
Case Study: The Case of the
Budgie Smuggler!!
But budgies
aren’t listed on
CITES?!
Photo © Australian Museum
The Australian Museum –
our 1st museum
Founded 1827
Current site 1857
Wildlife Forensic Science at the
Australian Museum - Sydney
• Systematics and
Biodiversity Research
• Conservation
genetics
• Population genetics
• Phylogenetics
• Wildlife Forensics
Wildlife forensic science –
What is it?
• Wildlife crime (flora, fauna)
• Management decisions
• Society for Wildlife Forensic ScienceSept 2009
• Non-human forensic work in Australia is
not handled by law enforcement
authorities
Vouchered specimens
from the AM collection
An excellent source of
validated reference
material
>18 million specimens
Photos © Australian Museum
Morphological Wildlife forensic
science
DNA-based Species Identification
- CITES species
- Quarantine
Photo © Australian Museum
The utility of DNA Barcoding for
Wildlife Forensic Science
• Voucher specimens, sequence
quality, assessment of variation
(intraspecific/interspecific)
• Standardized practices, protocols,
gene regions
The utility of DNA Barcoding for
Wildlife Forensic Science
CRollandi
•
Pbankanens
58
Standardized practices –
Pvaiuli
combined with good taxonomy
Pbrachiali
unknown
•
Aleucogast
Probability:
99
100
99
Validated gene regions False –ve / False +ve
Aaureus
True –ve / True +ve
92
Prepom5a
96
Prepom5b
Ccyanea
100
Pomacentri
78
Pcoelestis
10
•
High node support value ->
likelihood species match
The utility of DNA Barcoding for
Wildlife Forensic Science
• Voucher specimens, sequence
quality, assessment of variation
(intraspecific/interspecific)
• Standardized practices, protocols,
gene regions
• WF Science – a young discipline
Case Study: Fish tissue identification
2006 a Single case from NSW waters:
• 87 shark fins = MNI 22 sharks
• DNA analysis required for species ID
Australian Legislation – shark fins
http://www.dpiw.tas.gov.au/inter.nsf/WebPages/ALIR-4YB2L3?open#SharkFinRemoval
‘Shark-finning’
• Removal of fins at sea and
torso discarded (can be alive)
• Indiscriminate taking of
species, size, gender and age
WPY 2010: “Desecration in Paradise” by Thomas Haider, Austria
Shark fin product
• Typically white cartilaginous
• Most expensive part of the animal
Case Study: Fish tissue identification
Following DNA analysis:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Spinner Sharks (x2 Near threatened)
Dusky Whalers (x2 Vulnerable)
Tiger Shark (x1 Near threatened)
Blue Sharks (x9 Vulnerable)
Shortfin Makos (x8 Near threatened)
© Rob Harcourt
© Rob Harcourt
Case Study: Fish tissue identification
Single case from NSW waters:
• Guilty pleas
• Charges: Contravene condition of fishing
concession (Fisheries Management Act Cth
1991)
• Conviction recorded
• Fines of AUD$23,100
Case Study: R v Della Zuana
Identification of
eggs smuggled
into Australia
Eggs were irradiated due to
high quarantine risk
Photo © Australian Customs Service 2006
Photos © AFP
R v Della Zuana - DNA analysis:
1. DNA obtained despite
irradiation
2. Eggs found to be from 6
different parrot species and
one species of cockatoo:
• 21 eggs from family
Psittacidae (6 spp.)
•
Assorted Macaw’s and African grey
Parrots
• 2 eggs from family
Cacatuidae (1 sp)
•
Salmon-crested Cockatoo (CITES I)
© Parrots of the World 2nd Ed
R v Della Zuana - Result
• The accused pleaded guilty to charges
of illegal importation (brought under the
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation
Act, Cth 1999) for
import and trade in CITES
listed endangered species.
• The accused was sentenced to 2 years
in jail and $10,000 fine.
• He was deported upon release.
Can DNA Barcoding help stop the
budgie smugglers?
• A maturing discipline
• Standardised practises
• New techniques
• Deterrent - Cruel, costly, endangers
species’ survival, threatens biodiversity
Acknowledgements:
• Australian Museum: Cassie Vockler, Amanda Hay,
Mark McGrouther
• Australian Customs Service: Jeff Vandamme, Mick
O’Malley
•
NSW Fisheries: Brendan Sinnett, Peter Chan
rebecca.johnson@austmus.gov.au
Thank you
www.australianmuseum.com.au