FWS Conservation Genetics Labs

FWS Genetics Capabilities

• Provide sampling guidance, genetic data generation, and interpretation of genetic data for management, conservation and policy issues.

• Address a variety of issues, such as management of hatchery broodstocks, characterization of population structure, and identification of management and conservation units.

• Establishing a Conservation Genetics Community of Practice

An interactive forum to facilitate the exchange of information and technologies to strengthen the use and understanding of the conservation genetics within the FWS.

http://www.fws.gov/ConservationGeneticsCOP

Wildlife Forensics:

Wildlife Science Meets the

Law

Mary Burnham-Curtis, NFWFL, Genetics SectionMary_Curtis@fws.gov2008 Applied Conservation Genetics Course-NCTC

Science:

the area of human endeavor which tries to

organize and understand the

connections among natural phenomena.

Forensic Science

The application of natural

science to matters of law

Biology

Chemistry

Physics

“The real purpose of the scientific method is

to make sure Nature hasn’t misled you into

thinking you know something you don’t

actually know.”From Zen and the Art of Motorcycle

Maintenance

The Scientific Method

•Observation

•Conjecture

•Hypothesis

•Testing

•TheoryNatural

Law

Dimensions of Forensic Science

Identification Individualization

- Classification scheme

- Class characteristics

- Categorize

- Uniqueness

- Common origin

- Individual characteristics

Reconstruction

The “FORENSIC TRIANGLE”

“Most interesting, ma’am – you’ve identified the defendant as the one you saw running from the scene. I take it, then, that you’re unaware that my client is a walking stick?”

What regulates the admissibility of scientific evidence in the courtroom?

• Judge is the “gatekeeper”

• Frye standard : scientific soundness and general acceptance Frye v. United States, 54 App. D.C. 46, 293 Fed. 1013, 1923

• Daubert criteria : scientific validity and reliability (peer review and publication) Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals Inc., 509 U.S. 579, 113 S. Ct. 2786, 125 L.Ed. 2d 469, 1993

• EXPERT witness vs. LAY witness

• Accreditation (ASCLD-LAB)

• Chain of Custody and proper evidence handling

ASCLD Accredited since 2002The only accredited full-

service Wildlife Crime Lab

in the US

Laboratory DirectorKen Goddard

Asst. Lab DirectorEd Espinoza

Administrative BranchDarrell Hegdahl

Technical Support BranchBrian Horne

Forensic BranchEd Espinoza

QA / QC

Admin Support

Accreditation

Hazardous Materials

Safety

Facilities Maintenance

Genetics

Chemistry

Morphology

Pathology

Criminalistics

Ballistics & Firearms

Fingerprints

Digital Forensics

Computer Services

IT Security

Audio/Video and

Courtroom Presentation

Lab Organization

Genetics Team

Dr. Steve FainSenior Forensic ScientistResearch

Dr. Mary Burnham CurtisSenior Forensic ScientistTeam Leader

Brian HamlinForensic Scientist

Bob HoeschForensic Scientist

Dyan StraughanForensic Scientist

Doina VoinForensic SpecialistStandards/QAQC

Jim Le MayForensic Scientist

45%

11%57% 72%

65%

11%0 %

Lab Capabilities

• Genetics

• Morphology

• Chemistry

• Ballistics

• Digital Forensics

• Pathology

• Fingerprints

Lab Capabilities

Morphology Mammals

Reptiles

Birds

Ivory

Chemistry

• Gall bladder ID

• Asian medicinals

• Species ID – MALDI/TOF

• Fiber analysis

• Poison identification

Pathology

• Cause of death

• Necropsy

• Evaluation of animal carcasses for :

• Poisoning• Gunshot / arrow• Pollution • Electrocution• Trap wounds• Other non-natural trauma.

Digital Forensics

• Computer siezure

• Software analysis

• Audio media analysis

• Video analysis

• Courtroom display

Fingerprinting and Ballistics

• Latent Prints

• Friction ridge analysis

• Ballistics

Genetics

• Species ID

• Gender determination

Genetics • Individual matching

• Population assignment

Female

Egg 1

Egg 2

DNA in Forensic Science

• DNA identification is an exclusionary test

•if genetic profiles are the same, the suspect cannot be excluded

• Robust population databases provide the basis for statistical evaluation of the Probability of Identity (PID)

• DNA evidence is only useful if properly collected and documented – evidence handling and chain of custody are most common challenges in court

DNA in Forensic Science• Animal tissues

• Blood or tissue • skin, hoof, talon, hair• bone or horn

• Processed meats• sausages or cooked meats • caviar and fish filets • salted hides

• Crafted items• feathers in ornamental items• carved tusks or ivory• leathers• ivory or rare wood inlays

Wildlife trade on the Internet

Scope of the TradeIn the past year, USFWS has worked on

Internet-related cases involving:

• Tiger and leopard skins and skin products from the UK;

• Rhino horn from the UK;

• Elephant ivory products from Europe and Asia;

• Bird feather trade from Europe and South America;

• Live animals

Scale of the Trade

Arowanas for

Sale on a popular

Fish trade

Website

Species ID: Bushmeat

•“Bushmeat” = wildlife harvested for food• most often from Africa

•Many species are endemic to forests of Africa

• Recent studies have detected significant negative impacts of poaching in National Parks

• Poaching from neighboring countries• Impact seen most significantly on abundance of populations and loss of biodiversity in areas that border the parks.

Species ID: “Bushmeat”

Species ID: Bushmeat

Bushmeat Species Identified

• Anas

• Asia Water Buffalo

• Cane Rat

• Badger

• Bay Duiker

• Burmese Python

• Cow

• Deer

• Goat

• Hartebeest

• Hystrix

• Mangabey

• Maxwell’s Duiker

• Nutria

• Pig/Wild Boar

• Rat

• Reticulated Python

• Serow

• Sheep

• Cichlids

• Nile Perch

• Barracuda

• Arowana

• Blue Catfish

• Bagrid Catfish

• Atlantic Cod

Sturgeon and the Caviar Trade

Management and Enforcement Issues:

• Declining stocks

• Overexploitation

• Illegal exploitation

Conservation Issues:

• Threatened and Endangered species

• Loss of native species

• Loss of community structure and function

• Escapement from aquaculture

Sturgeon and the Caviar Trade

Sturgeon and the Caviar Trade

Acipenser transmontanus

Sacramento River

Columbia River

Sturgeon and the Caviar Trade

Individual Matching: The Santa Barbara Eagles

Sometime in 2001, two eagles were stolen from their cage in the Santa Barbara Zoo…

Without proper permits, it is illegal to possess the feathers or body parts of eagles and other migratory birds……but that does not diminish their value on the black market.

Individual Matching: The Santa Barbara Eagles

?

Individual Matching: The Santa Barbara Eagles

Feather 8

Feather 18

Feather 28

Feather 10

Feather 4

Feather 5

Feather 12

Future Challenges

• Multilocus typing of individual caviar eggs (single cell typing)

• Daubert-Frye hearings on STR testing for large mammals

• Detection of hybrids, i.e. sturgeon species in caviar trade

• SNP locus development for species identification

• DNA barcoding?