Barcoding for Species Conservation

DNA barcoding is being used as the research tool for refining the understanding of biological diversity and is a system for assigning biological samples to their species of origin. Species identification is relevant to a number of significant conservation issues including enforcement of national and international wildlife regulations (such as CITES, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) monitoring illegal trafficking in animal products, inferring presence of a species from droppings or unidentifiable remains, management of captive populations, and repatriation of confiscated animals.

Illegal hunting and commercial exploitation of wildlife resources has led, in numerous countries, to a decline in wildlife populations. The urgency of this matter is now before the public eye with the depiction of the bushmeat crisis in Africa. Illegal commercial hunting for the bushmeat trade is judged to be the most significant threat to the survival of great apes in Africa. Many species of hoofed mammals are also severely impacted by the bushmeat crisis. Barcode data could be very valuable if used for preliminary identification of contraband and can provide a means for identifying bushmeat products and monitoring bushmeat commerce. The Frozen Zoo® makes the Zoological Society of San Diego a valuable contributor and an ideal organization to help guide and coordinate international collaborations in DNA barcoding for conservation, for example, bushmeat in Africa, or turtles in Asia and Mesoamerica.

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Collaboration Seeks to Reduce Illegal Bushmeat Trade through Use of Barcodes