Wildlife Forensics Methods and Applications

by Huffman, Jane E.; Wallace, John R.

• ISBN13: 9780470662588
• ISBN10: 0470662581
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2011-12-30
• Publisher: Wiley

Summary

Wildlife Forensics: Methods and Applications provides an accessible and practical approach to the key areas involved in this developing subject. The book contains numerous global case studies throughout the text that take the reader from the field, to the lab analysis to the court room, giving a complete insight into the path of forensic evidence and demonstrating how current techniques can be applied to wildlife forensics.  With numerous global examples of various types of wildlife crimes, this is a useful reference for the application of forensic techniques to the field of wildlife crime. It covers a number of different areas in forensics, entomology, hair identification, use of DNA for individualization and species identification. The book also includes reference material pertaining to the field of wildlife forensics and demonstrates how other areas of forensic science integrate to support wildlife forensic investigations. The book contains approaches that wildlife forensic investigators and laboratory technicians can employ in investigations and effectively illustrates various methods through case studies. It provides the direction and practical advice required by legal and police professionals seeking to gain the evidence needed to prosecute wildlife crimes. The book brings together in one text various aspects of wildlife forensics, toxicology, entomology, serology hair identification, and DNA analysis. Case studies discussed in the book take the reader from the field, to the lab analysis to the court room and provide a complete overview of handling a case.   This title is an invaluable reference providing investigators, laboratory technicians and students in forensic science/conservation biology classes with practical guidance and best methods for criminal investigations applied to wildlife crime.

Author Biography

Dr. Jane Huffman, Ph.D. is the director of the Northeast Wildlife DNA Laboratory at East Stroudsburg University, where her work focuses on the application of genetic methods to wildlife law enforcement and conservation management. She runs wildlife DNA forensic training courses for conservation officers from New Jersey and Pennsylvania. She, along with her students, has undertaken a wide range of applied research projects including the development of DNA profiling systems for game species in PA and NJ and microscopic hair characterization. The laboratory provides species identification tests for illegally sold wild meat. She provides forensic analysis and expert witness testimony in PA wildlife crime prosecutions.
Dr. Huffman is also the graduate student coordinator for the Department of Biological Sciences at East Stroudsburg University.

Dr. John R. Wallace, Ph.D., D-ABFE, F-AAFS, is one of 15 board-certified forensic entomologists and a diplomate of the American Board of Forensic Entomology. Dr. Wallace is a Professor of Biology and focuses on teaching courses in Entomology, Aquatic Biology, Aquatic Entomology, Forensic Entomology, Forensic Science, and Ecology and Evolution. His research interests cover topics such as mosquito and disease ecology as well as mosquito and blackfly surveillance, and the role of aquatic organisms such as insects, algae and crayfish on decomposition within forensic science.
As a forensic entomologist, Dr. Wallace has participated in criminal investigations all over the country since 1995. He has taught forensic entomology courses at the University level and workshops at various universities to law enforcement throughout the United States, published more than 45 articles or book chapters in National/International journals. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Forensic Science and an active member since 2002. Dr. Wallace is a co-founder and past President of the North American Forensic Entomology Association (NAFEA) in 2005 as well as the editor-elect for the NAFEA newsletter.

Table of Contents

Developments in Forensic Science	p. xiii
About the Editors	p. xv
List of Contributors	p. xvii
Foreword	p. xxiii
Acknowledgements	p. xxv
Wildlife Ownership	p. 1
Introduction	p. 1
Ancient Rome and the Concept of Res Nullius	p. 2
Common Law England: The King’s Ownership	p. 3
The New World: Hunting for the Market	p. 5
Management: The Property Right of States	p. 8
Federal Law and the Regulatory State	p. 10
Globalization: Working toward Worldwide Conservation Practices	p. 11
Conclusion	p. 13
Cases Cited	p. 13
References	p. 13
Society for Wildlife Forensic Science	p. 15
Introduction	p. 15
Formation of the Society	p. 19
The Code of Ethics	p. 22
Membership of the Society	p. 24
Member Labs	p. 25
Proficiency Program	p. 25
Scientific Working Group for Wildlife Forensic Sciences (SWGWILD)	p. 29
Conclusion	p. 32
References	p. 33
The Application of Forensic Science to Wildlife Evidence	p. 35
Introduction	p. 35
Overview of Forensic Science	p. 37
Enforcement of Wildlife Protection Policy	p. 44
Development of Wildlife Forensic Laboratories	p. 45
Current Perceptions	p. 47
Conclusion	p. 48
Acknowledgements	p. 49
References	p. 49
Defining a Crime Scene and Physical Evidence Collection	p. 51
Introduction	p. 51
Definition of a Crime Scene	p. 51
Questions to Be Asked	p. 52
Scene Priority	p. 52
First Responding Officer	p. 53
Securing the Scene	p. 53
Chain of Custody	p. 55
Processing the Scene	p. 55
Initial Documentation	p. 56
Scene Documentation	p. 58
Remains in an Aquatic Environment	p. 60
Collection of Evidence	p. 61
Review of Scene Processing	p. 62
Final Inspection	p. 62
References	p. 63
Forensic Evidence Collection and Cultural Motives for Animal Harvesting	p. 65
Introduction	p. 65
Wild Animals as Pharmacopeias	p. 66
Trade in Wild Animals	p. 67
Recovering Evidence at Poaching Scenes	p. 68
Locating the Burial: Anomalies on the Surface	p. 71
Acknowledgements	p. 76
References	p. 76
Forensic Entomology and Wildlife	p. 81
Introduction	p. 81
Application of Forensic Entomology to Wildlife Crimes	p. 82
Arthropods Commonly Encountered	p. 86
Diptera	p. 88
Coleoptera	p. 95
Sampling	p. 98
Conclusion	p. 100
Appendix	p. 101
Acknowledgements	p. 102
References	p. 102
Wildlife Forensic Pathology and Toxicology in Wound Analysis and Pesticide Poisoning	p. 109
Introduction	p. 109
Wound Analysis	p. 109
Wildlife Poisoning by Insecticides	p. 121
Wildlife Poisoning by Rodenticides	p. 123
References	p. 125
The Use of Hair Morphology in the Identification of Mammals	p. 129
Introduction	p. 129
Types of Hair	p. 130
Hair Structure	p. 131
Techniques for Studying Hair Structure	p. 140
Conclusion	p. 142
References	p. 142
Plants and Wildlife Forensics	p. 145
Introduction	p. 145
Plants as Trace Evidence	p. 145
Poisonous Plants	p. 149
The Basics of Collecting and Preserving Botanical Evidence	p. 153
Finding a Forensic Botanist	p. 156
Conclusion	p. 156
Acknowledgements	p. 157
References	p. 157
Identification of Reptile Skin Products Using Scale Morphology	p. 161
Introduction	p. 161
International Trade in Reptile Skins	p. 162
Challenges to Species Identification of Reptile Skin Products	p. 166
Species and Products Represented in the Reptile Skin Trade	p. 168
Reptile Scale Morphology Basics and Current Limitations	p. 170
Identifying Features of Major Reptile Groups	p. 178
Conclusion	p. 194
Acknowledgements	p. 195
References	p. 195
Best Practices in Wildlife Forensic DNA	p. 201
Introduction	p. 201
The Need for Appropriate Standards	p. 203
Wildlife Forensic DNA Best Practices	p. 206
Standards and Guidelines for Wildlife Forensics	p. 206
Training	p. 208
Case File	p. 209
Laboratory Facility (QA)	p. 213
Validation	p. 214
Laboratory Protocols	p. 216
Data Analysis	p. 218
Interpretation Guidelines	p. 220
Vouchers/Reference Samples	p. 221
Species Identification	p. 224
Reporting	p. 224
Contents of the Case Report	p. 225
Review	p. 226
Court Testimony	p. 229
The Way Forward	p. 230
Note	p. 230
Acknowledgements	p. 230
References	p. 231
Statistics for Wildlife Forensic DNA	p. 237
Introduction	p. 237
The Central Problem	p. 238
Genetic Sampling	p. 241
Lineage Markers	p. 242
Relatedness	p. 245
Inbreeding	p. 247
Testing for Allele Independence	p. 248
Assignment testing	p. 250
Conclusion	p. 251
References	p. 252
Forensic DNA Analysis of Wildlife Evidence	p. 253
Introduction	p. 253
DNA Isolation and Handling	p. 254
Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)	p. 255
Sample Speciation	p. 256
Minisatellites (VNTRs)	p. 256
Mitochondrial Markers (mtDNA)	p. 257
Additional Genetic Speciation Methods	p. 259
Limitations of Genetic Speciation	p. 260
Sample Sexing	p. 261
Sample Individualization	p. 262
Sample Localization	p. 263
Validation of Wildlife Forensic Techniques	p. 264
Court Admissibility	p. 266
Conclusion	p. 266
Cases Cited	p. 266
References	p. 267
DNA Applications and Implementation	p. 271
Introduction	p. 271
History	p. 272
Questions and Techniques: Wildlife Crime Issues	p. 272
Species Identification	p. 273
Identification of Geographic Origin	p. 275
Individual Identification	p. 279
Exclusion	p. 280
Practical Applications	p. 282
Sample Types for DNA Analysis	p. 282
Laboratory Models: Individual Facilities	p. 283
Future Developments	p. 287
Summary	p. 288
References	p. 289
Conservation Genetics and Wildlife Forensics of Birds	p. 293
Introduction	p. 293
Avian Genetics	p. 295
Avian Taxonomy, Legislation and Conservation	p. 299
Avian Wildlife Forensics: A Range of Applications	p. 302
Conservation Genetics and Wildlife Forensics: Identification Using DNA	p. 307
Conclusion	p. 315
References	p. 317
Wildlife Forensics in Thailand: Utilization of Mitochondrial DNA Sequences	p. 327
Introduction	p. 327
DNA Extraction and Amplification	p. 327
DNA Sequencing	p. 328
Origin Identification	p. 328
Species and Subspecies Identification	p. 328
Results of the Investigations	p. 330
Conclusion	p. 338
Acknowledgements	p. 341
References	p. 341
The Future of Wildlife Forensic Science	p. 343
Introduction	p. 343
Technical Challenges	p. 344
Enhancing Wildlife Protection by Integrating Forensic Science and the Law	p. 350
The U.S. Endangered Species Act and the Limits of Science	p. 351
The Future of Forensic Scientists and the Laboratories in which They Work	p. 353
Conclusion	p. 355
Acknowledgments	p. 356
References	p. 356
Index	p. 359
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