rebecca johnson - opening plenary

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

Founded 1827

Current site 1857

The Australian Museum –

our 1st museum

• Systematics and

Biodiversity Research

• Conservation

genetics

• Population genetics

• Phylogenetics

• Wildlife Forensics

Wildlife Forensic Science at the

Australian Museum - Sydney

Wildlife forensic science –

What is it?

• Wildlife crime (flora, fauna)

• Management decisions

• Society for Wildlife Forensic Science-Sept 2009

• Non-human forensic work in Australia is

not handled by law enforcement

authorities

Vouchered specimens

from the AM collection

Photos © Australian Museum

An excellent source of

validated reference

material

>18 million specimens

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

• Standardized practices –

combined with good taxonomy

• Validated gene regions -

Probability:

False –ve / False +ve

True –ve / True +ve

• High node support value ->

likelihood species match

10

CRollandi

Pbankanens

Pvaiuli

Pbrachiali

99

Aleucogast

Aaureus

Prepom5a

Prepom5b

96

92

99

100

58

Ccyanea

Pomacentri

Pcoelestis

78

100

unknown

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

• Removal of fins at sea and

torso discarded (can be alive)

• Indiscriminate taking of

species, size, gender and age

‘Shark-finning’

WPY 2010: “Desecration in Paradise” by Thomas Haider, Austria

• Typically white cartilaginous

• Most expensive part of the animal

Shark fin product

Case Study: Fish tissue identification

Following DNA analysis:

1. Spinner Sharks (x2 Near threatened)

2. Dusky Whalers (x2 Vulnerable)

3. Tiger Shark (x1 Near threatened)

4. Blue Sharks (x9 Vulnerable)

5. 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

Photo © Australian Customs Service 2006

Identification of

eggs smuggled

into Australia

Eggs were irradiated due to

high quarantine risk

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

• Australian Museum: Cassie Vockler, Amanda Hay,

Mark McGrouther

• Australian Customs Service: Jeff Vandamme, Mick

O’Malley

• NSW Fisheries: Brendan Sinnett, Peter Chan

Acknowledgements:

Thank you

www.australianmuseum.com.au

rebecca.johnson@austmus.gov.au