Egg forensics: An appraisal of DNA sequencing to assist in species identification of illegally smuggled eggs
Psittaciformes (parrots and cockatoos) are charismatic birds, their plumage and capacity for learningmake them highly sought after pets. The illegal trade in parrots and cockatoos poses a serious threat tothe viability of native populations; in addition, species transported to non-endemic areas may...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Journal Article |
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Elsevier BV
2012
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/29611 |
| _version_ | 1848752850994200576 |
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| author | Coghlan, Megan White, Nicole Parkinson, L. Haile, James Spencer, P.B. Bunce, Michael |
| author_facet | Coghlan, Megan White, Nicole Parkinson, L. Haile, James Spencer, P.B. Bunce, Michael |
| author_sort | Coghlan, Megan |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Psittaciformes (parrots and cockatoos) are charismatic birds, their plumage and capacity for learningmake them highly sought after pets. The illegal trade in parrots and cockatoos poses a serious threat tothe viability of native populations; in addition, species transported to non-endemic areas may potentially vector disease and genetically ‘pollute’ local native avifauna. To reduce the logistical difficulties associated with trafficking live birds, smugglers often transport eggs. This creates a problem for authorities in elucidating accurate species identification without the laborious task of incubation and hand rearing until a morphological identification can be made. Here, we use 99 avian eggs seized from carriers coming into and within Australia, as a result of suspected illegal trade. We investigate and evaluate the use of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) to accurately identify eggs to family, genus or species level. However, Identification of a species based on percentage mtDNA similarities is difficult without good representations of the inter- and intra-levels of species variation. Based on the available reference database, we were able to identify 52% of the eggs to species level. Of those, 10 species from eight genera were detected, all of which belong to the parrot (Psittacidae) and cockatoo (Cacatuidae) families. Of the remaining 48%, a further 36% of eggs were identified to genus level, and 12% identified to family level using our assignment criteria. Clearly the lack of validated DNA reference sequences is hindering our ability to accurately assign a species identity, and accordingly, we advocate that more attention needs to be paid to establishing validated, multi locus mtDNA reference databases for exotic birds that can both assist in genetic identifications and withstand legal scrutiny. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T08:15:11Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-29611 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T08:15:11Z |
| publishDate | 2012 |
| publisher | Elsevier BV |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-296112018-03-29T09:08:25Z Egg forensics: An appraisal of DNA sequencing to assist in species identification of illegally smuggled eggs Coghlan, Megan White, Nicole Parkinson, L. Haile, James Spencer, P.B. Bunce, Michael Parrots Mitochondrial DNA Cockatoos Wildlife forensics Illegal bird trade Species identification Psittaciformes (parrots and cockatoos) are charismatic birds, their plumage and capacity for learningmake them highly sought after pets. The illegal trade in parrots and cockatoos poses a serious threat tothe viability of native populations; in addition, species transported to non-endemic areas may potentially vector disease and genetically ‘pollute’ local native avifauna. To reduce the logistical difficulties associated with trafficking live birds, smugglers often transport eggs. This creates a problem for authorities in elucidating accurate species identification without the laborious task of incubation and hand rearing until a morphological identification can be made. Here, we use 99 avian eggs seized from carriers coming into and within Australia, as a result of suspected illegal trade. We investigate and evaluate the use of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) to accurately identify eggs to family, genus or species level. However, Identification of a species based on percentage mtDNA similarities is difficult without good representations of the inter- and intra-levels of species variation. Based on the available reference database, we were able to identify 52% of the eggs to species level. Of those, 10 species from eight genera were detected, all of which belong to the parrot (Psittacidae) and cockatoo (Cacatuidae) families. Of the remaining 48%, a further 36% of eggs were identified to genus level, and 12% identified to family level using our assignment criteria. Clearly the lack of validated DNA reference sequences is hindering our ability to accurately assign a species identity, and accordingly, we advocate that more attention needs to be paid to establishing validated, multi locus mtDNA reference databases for exotic birds that can both assist in genetic identifications and withstand legal scrutiny. 2012 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/29611 10.1016/j.fsigen.2011.06.006 Elsevier BV restricted |
| spellingShingle | Parrots Mitochondrial DNA Cockatoos Wildlife forensics Illegal bird trade Species identification Coghlan, Megan White, Nicole Parkinson, L. Haile, James Spencer, P.B. Bunce, Michael Egg forensics: An appraisal of DNA sequencing to assist in species identification of illegally smuggled eggs |
| title | Egg forensics: An appraisal of DNA sequencing to assist in species identification of illegally smuggled eggs |
| title_full | Egg forensics: An appraisal of DNA sequencing to assist in species identification of illegally smuggled eggs |
| title_fullStr | Egg forensics: An appraisal of DNA sequencing to assist in species identification of illegally smuggled eggs |
| title_full_unstemmed | Egg forensics: An appraisal of DNA sequencing to assist in species identification of illegally smuggled eggs |
| title_short | Egg forensics: An appraisal of DNA sequencing to assist in species identification of illegally smuggled eggs |
| title_sort | egg forensics: an appraisal of dna sequencing to assist in species identification of illegally smuggled eggs |
| topic | Parrots Mitochondrial DNA Cockatoos Wildlife forensics Illegal bird trade Species identification |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/29611 |