FWS Conservation Genetics Labs FWS Genetics Capabilities
Transcript of FWS Conservation Genetics Labs FWS Genetics Capabilities
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 [email protected] 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?