Abstract
The illegal trade of animals threatens the survival of wild populations, including birds, one of the most targeted groups. Brazilian native birds are protected by the current legislation, and their illegal trade is a crime that can be punished with imprisonment. However, in some cases, it is not easy to identify seized specimens, making the characterization of the crime difficult and so the punishment of the offenders. When morphological identification is compromised, genetic identification can be used to associate unknown samples to a reference sample by comparing sequences of mitochondrial genes. In this study I used a 650 bp region from the subunit I of cytochrome c oxidase gene (COI) associated with the Barcode of Life Database (BOLD) to identify five feathers seized by the Brazilian Federal Police in 2012. The DNA Laboratory of the Brazilian Federal Police was able to match four of the five feathers to the species Triclaria malachitacea, the Blue-bellied Parrot, a member of the family Psittacidae. The results support the idea that members of this group are preferred targets for the illegal trade of wild birds and proved that DNA barcoding is a valuable tool for forensic casework.
Highlights
The illegal trade of animals threatens the survival of wild populations, since the overexploitation to supply this activity can affect the ecosystems and cause extinctions[1]
Brazilian native birds are protected by the current legislation, and their illegal trade is a crime that can be punished with imprisonment
When the morphological identification is compromised, genetic identification can be used in order to associate unknown samples to a reference sample by comparing sequences of mitochondrial genes that differ between species[4]
Summary
The illegal trade of animals threatens the survival of wild populations, since the overexploitation to supply this activity can affect the ecosystems and cause extinctions[1]. This kind of illegal activity is widespread in many parts of the world, including Brazil[2], where is stimulated by the belief of impunity and the high profit rates achieved. Brazilian native birds are protected by the current legislation, and their illegal trade is a crime that can be punished with imprisonment. In some cases, it is not easy to morphologically identify seized specimens, making the characterization of the crime difficult and so the punishment of the offenders. When the morphological identification is compromised, genetic identification can be used in order to associate unknown samples to a reference sample by comparing sequences of mitochondrial genes that differ between species[4]
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