Can Stable Isotopes and Radiocarbon Dating Provide a Forensic Solution for Curbing Illegal Harvesting of Threatened Cycads?

Retief, Kirsten; West, Adam G.; Pfab, M.F.

doi:10.1111/1556-4029.12644

Cited by 20 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…There has been increased interest in incorporating stable isotope analyses into forensics (Rubenstein & Hobson, 2004;Bowen et al, 2005), with important applications to conservation, for example in examining the origins of elephant ivory, rhinoceros horn (van der Merwe et al, 1990;Vogel et al, 1990;Hall-Martin et al, 1993;Koch et al, 1995;Ehleringer et al, 2007) and illegally traded plant species or derivatives (Ehleringer et al, 1999(Ehleringer et al, , 2000(Ehleringer et al, , 2007Retief, West & Pfab, 2014). In addition, stable isotope analyses have been used to determine the origins of deceased humans (Beard & Johnson, 2000;Fraser, Meier-Augenstein & Kalin, 2006).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stable isotope analyses as a forensic tool to monitor illegally traded African grey parrots

Alexander

Downs

Butler

et al. 2018

Animal Conservation

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Stable isotope analyses are a powerful tool in understanding diets, defining trophic networks, inferring geographical origins of animals and in forensic tracing of the origins of deceased humans or illegally traded animal and plant material. African grey parrots Psittacus erithacus are one of the most traded animal species in the world, and the origin of confiscated illegal or deceased specimens are often unknown. We measured stable isotope values (d 13 C, d 15 N and d 2 H) in different African grey parrots (n = 32) and determined feather type (i.e. primary, tail, breast) standardization values for comparing individuals. d 13 C and d 2 H values differed between known wild (n = 42) and captive (n = 50) birds when standardized for feather type, but not for d 15 N. d 13 C and d 2 H values in feathers from a consignment of African grey parrots (n = 100), all of which were deceased, aligned significantly with that of known wild birds. We suggest that further analyses of feathers, across a range of spatial and temporal scales, will enhance stable isotope analyses as a valuable tool in monitoring and combatting the trade of African grey parrots. Furthermore, the use of stable isotope analyses may improve the monitoring of illegally traded bird species, and other wildlife, across the globe.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stable isotope analyses as a forensic tool to monitor illegally traded African grey parrots

Alexander

Downs

Butler

et al. 2018

Animal Conservation

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“…Although it is difficult to prove definitively whether an individual is sourced from the wild or from artificial propagation (Retief et al. ), there are often morphological indicators (e.g., plants collected from the wild tend to be much less symmetrical). The cacti traded on the international internet auction sites we investigated did not appear to be of wild origin (i.e., they were healthy looking plants with uniform spines).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Level of environmental threat posed by horticultural trade in Cactaceae

Novoa

Roux

Richardson

et al. 2017

Conservation Biology

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Ornamental horticulture has been identified as an important threat to plant biodiversity and is a major pathway for plant invasions worldwide. In this context, the family Cactaceae is particularly challenging because it is considered the fifth most threatened large taxonomic group in the world; several species are among the most widespread and damaging invasive species; and Cactaceae is one of the most popular horticultural plant groups. Based on the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna and the 11 largest online auction sites selling cacti, we documented the international cactus trade. To provide an in-depth look at the dynamics of the industry, we surveyed the businesses involved in the cactus trade in South Africa (a hotspot of cactus trade and invasions). We purchased seeds of every available species and used DNA barcoding to identify species to the genus level. Although <20% of this trade involved threatened species and <3% involved known invasive species, many species were identified by a common name. However, only 0.02% of the globally traded cacti were collected from wild populations. Despite a large commercial network, all South African imports (of which 15% and 1.5% were of species listed as threatened and invasive, respectively) came from the same source. With DNA barcoding, we identified 24% of the species to genus level. Based on our results, we believe that if trade restrictions are placed on the small proportion of cacti that are invasive and there is no major increase in harvesting of native populations, then the commercial trade in cactus poses a negligible environmental threat. However, there are currently no effective methods for easily identifying which cacti are traded, and both the illicit harvesting of cacti from the wild and the informal trade in invasive taxa pose on-going conservation challenges.

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“…Encephalartos, comprised of 68 species and subspecies, is endemic to Africa, with South Africa (SA) being a diversity hotspot, with 37 species. Of these, approximately 70% are threatened with extinction (Retief et al 2014). Due to risk associated with international trade in wild-collected specimens, all SA Encephalartos spp.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exposing the illegal trade in cycad species (Cycadophyta:Encephalartos) at two traditional medicine markets in South Africa using DNA barcoding

Williamson

Maurin

Shiba

et al. 2016

Genome

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Species in the cycad genus Encephalartos are listed in CITES Appendix I and as Threatened or Protected Species in terms of South Africa's National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (NEM:BA) of 2004. Despite regulations, illegal plant harvesting for medicinal trade has continued in South Africa and resulted in declines in cycad populations and even complete loss of sub-populations. Encephalartos is traded at traditional medicine markets in South Africa in the form of bark strips and stem sections; thus, determining the species traded presents a major challenge due to a lack of characteristic plant parts. Here, a case study is presented on the use of DNA barcoding to identify cycads sold at the Faraday and Warwick traditional medicine markets in Johannesburg and Durban, respectively. Market samples were sequenced for the core DNA barcodes (rbcLa and matK) as well as two additional regions: nrITS and trnH-psbA. The barcoding database for cycads at the University of Johannesburg was utilized to assign query samples to known species. Three approaches were followed: tree-based, similarity-based, and character-based (BRONX) methods. Market samples identified were Encephalartos ferox (Near Threatened), Encephalartos lebomboensis (Endangered), Encephalartos natalensis (Near Threatened), Encephalartos senticosus (Vulnerable), and Encephalartos villosus (Least Concern). Results from this study are crucial for making appropriate assessments and decisions on how to manage these markets.Key words: cycads, core barcoding regions, muthi, nrITS, trnH-psbA. Résumé

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Can Stable Isotopes and Radiocarbon Dating Provide a Forensic Solution for Curbing Illegal Harvesting of Threatened Cycads?

Cited by 20 publications

References 36 publications

Stable isotope analyses as a forensic tool to monitor illegally traded African grey parrots

Stable isotope analyses as a forensic tool to monitor illegally traded African grey parrots

Level of environmental threat posed by horticultural trade in Cactaceae

Exposing the illegal trade in cycad species (Cycadophyta:Encephalartos) at two traditional medicine markets in South Africa using DNA barcoding

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