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Din Dipita A, Missoup AD, Aguillon S, Lecompte E, Momboua BR, Chaber AL, Abernethy K, Njiokou F, Tindo M, Ntie S, Gaubert P. Genetic tracing of the illegal trade of the white-bellied pangolin (Phataginus tricuspis) in western Central Africa. Sci Rep 2024; 14:13131. [PMID: 38849460 PMCID: PMC11161582 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-63666-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024] Open
Abstract
The white-bellied pangolin is subject to intense trafficking, feeding both local and international trade networks. In order to assess its population genetics and trace its domestic trade, we genotyped 562 pangolins from local to large bushmeat markets in western central Africa. We show that the two lineages described from the study region (WCA and Gab) were overlapping in ranges, with limited introgression in southern Cameroon. There was a lack of genetic differentiation across WCA and a significant signature of isolation-by-distance possibly due to unsuspected dispersal capacities involving a Wahlund effect. We detected a c. 74.1-82.5% decline in the effective population size of WCA during the Middle Holocene. Private allele frequency tracing approach indicated up to 600 km sourcing distance by large urban markets from Cameroon, including Equatorial Guinea. The 20 species-specific microsatellite loci provided individual-level genotyping resolution and should be considered as valuable resources for future forensic applications. Because admixture was detected between lineages, we recommend a multi-locus approach for tracing the pangolin trade. The Yaoundé market was the main hub of the trade in the region, and thus should receive specific monitoring to mitigate pangolins' domestic trafficking. Our study also highlighted the weak implementation of CITES regulations at European borders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alain Din Dipita
- Zoology Unit, Laboratory of Biology and Physiology of Animal Organisms, Faculty of Science, University of Douala, 24157, Douala, Cameroon.
- Centre de Recherche sur la Biodiversité et l'Environnement (CRBE), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, IRD, Toulouse INP, Université Toulouse 3 - Paul Sabatier (UT3), Toulouse, Bâtiment 4R1, 118 route de Narbonne, 31062 Toulouse Cedex 9, France.
| | - Alain Didier Missoup
- Zoology Unit, Laboratory of Biology and Physiology of Animal Organisms, Faculty of Science, University of Douala, 24157, Douala, Cameroon.
| | - Samantha Aguillon
- Centre de Recherche sur la Biodiversité et l'Environnement (CRBE), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, IRD, Toulouse INP, Université Toulouse 3 - Paul Sabatier (UT3), Toulouse, Bâtiment 4R1, 118 route de Narbonne, 31062 Toulouse Cedex 9, France
| | - Emilie Lecompte
- Centre de Recherche sur la Biodiversité et l'Environnement (CRBE), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, IRD, Toulouse INP, Université Toulouse 3 - Paul Sabatier (UT3), Toulouse, Bâtiment 4R1, 118 route de Narbonne, 31062 Toulouse Cedex 9, France
| | - Brice Roxan Momboua
- Agence Nationale des Parcs Nationaux, Libreville, Gabon
- Département de Biologie, Faculté des Sciences, Université des Sciences et Techniques de Masuku, Franceville, Gabon
| | - Anne-Lise Chaber
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide SA, Australia
| | - Katharine Abernethy
- African Forest Ecology Group, Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, UK
- Institut de Recherche en Ecologie Tropicale, Libreville, Gabon
| | - Flobert Njiokou
- Laboratoire de Parasitologie et Ecologie, Faculté des Sciences, Universite de Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, 812, Cameroon
| | - Maurice Tindo
- Zoology Unit, Laboratory of Biology and Physiology of Animal Organisms, Faculty of Science, University of Douala, 24157, Douala, Cameroon
| | - Stephan Ntie
- Laboratoire de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (LABMC), Département de Biologie, Université des Sciences et Techniques de Masuku, Franceville, Gabon
| | - Philippe Gaubert
- Centre de Recherche sur la Biodiversité et l'Environnement (CRBE), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, IRD, Toulouse INP, Université Toulouse 3 - Paul Sabatier (UT3), Toulouse, Bâtiment 4R1, 118 route de Narbonne, 31062 Toulouse Cedex 9, France.
- Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental (CIIMAR), Universidade do Porto, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Av. General Norton de Matos, s/n, 4450-208, Porto, Portugal.
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Gu T, Hu J, Yu L. Evolution and conservation genetics of pangolins. Integr Zool 2024; 19:426-441. [PMID: 38146613 DOI: 10.1111/1749-4877.12796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2023]
Abstract
Pangolins (Pholidota, Manidae) are classified as an evolutionarily distinct and globally endangered mammal due to their unique morphology (nail-like scales and a myrmecophagous diet) and being the victim of heavy poaching and worldwide trafficking. As such, pangolins serve as a textbook example for studying the special phenotypic evolutionary adaptations and conservation genetics of an endangered species. Recent years have demonstrated significant advancements in the fields of molecular genetics and genomics, which have translated to a series of important research achievements and breakthroughs concerning the evolution and conservation genetics of pangolins. This review comprehensively presents the hitherto advances in phylogeny, adaptive evolution, conservation genetics, and conservation genomics that are related to pangolins, which will provide an ample understanding of their diversity, molecular adaptation mechanisms, and evolutionary potentials. In addition, we highlight the priority of investigating species/population diversity among pangolins and suggest several avenues of research that are highly relevant for future pangolin conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tongtong Gu
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resource in Yunnan, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
| | - Jingyang Hu
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resource in Yunnan, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
| | - Li Yu
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resource in Yunnan, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
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Heighton SP, Allio R, Murienne J, Salmona J, Meng H, Scornavacca C, Bastos ADS, Njiokou F, Pietersen DW, Tilak MK, Luo SJ, Delsuc F, Gaubert P. Pangolin Genomes Offer Key Insights and Resources for the World's Most Trafficked Wild Mammals. Mol Biol Evol 2023; 40:msad190. [PMID: 37794645 PMCID: PMC10551234 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msad190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Pangolins form a group of scaly mammals that are trafficked at record numbers for their meat and purported medicinal properties. Despite their conservation concern, knowledge of their evolution is limited by a paucity of genomic data. We aim to produce exhaustive genomic resources that include 3,238 orthologous genes and whole-genome polymorphisms to assess the evolution of all eight extant pangolin species. Robust orthologous gene-based phylogenies recovered the monophyly of the three genera and highlighted the existence of an undescribed species closely related to Southeast Asian pangolins. Signatures of middle Miocene admixture between an extinct, possibly European, lineage and the ancestor of Southeast Asian pangolins, provide new insights into the early evolutionary history of the group. Demographic trajectories and genome-wide heterozygosity estimates revealed contrasts between continental versus island populations and species lineages, suggesting that conservation planning should consider intraspecific patterns. With the expected loss of genomic diversity from recent, extensive trafficking not yet realized in pangolins, we recommend that populations be genetically surveyed to anticipate any deleterious impact of the illegal trade. Finally, we produce a complete set of genomic resources that will be integral for future conservation management and forensic endeavors for pangolins, including tracing their illegal trade. These comprise the completion of whole-genomes for pangolins through the hybrid assembly of the first reference genome for the giant pangolin (Smutsia gigantea) and new draft genomes (∼43x-77x) for four additional species, as well as a database of orthologous genes with over 3.4 million polymorphic sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean P Heighton
- Laboratoire Evolution et Diversité Biologique (EDB)— IRD-UPS-CNRS, Université Toulouse III, Toulouse, France
| | - Rémi Allio
- Institut des Sciences de l'Évolution de Montpellier (ISEM), Université de Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - Jérôme Murienne
- Laboratoire Evolution et Diversité Biologique (EDB)— IRD-UPS-CNRS, Université Toulouse III, Toulouse, France
| | - Jordi Salmona
- Laboratoire Evolution et Diversité Biologique (EDB)— IRD-UPS-CNRS, Université Toulouse III, Toulouse, France
| | - Hao Meng
- The State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research of Life Sciences, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Céline Scornavacca
- Institut des Sciences de l'Évolution de Montpellier (ISEM), Université de Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - Armanda D S Bastos
- Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology & Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Flobert Njiokou
- Laboratoire de Parasitologie et Ecologie, Faculté des Sciences, Université de Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Darren W Pietersen
- Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology & Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Marie-Ka Tilak
- Institut des Sciences de l'Évolution de Montpellier (ISEM), Université de Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - Shu-Jin Luo
- The State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research of Life Sciences, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Frédéric Delsuc
- Institut des Sciences de l'Évolution de Montpellier (ISEM), Université de Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - Philippe Gaubert
- Laboratoire Evolution et Diversité Biologique (EDB)— IRD-UPS-CNRS, Université Toulouse III, Toulouse, France
- CIIMAR/CIMAR, Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental, Universidade 16 do Porto, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Porto, Portugal
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Omifolaji JK, Hughes AC, Ibrahim AS, Zhou J, Zhang S, Ikyaagba ET, Luan X. Dissecting the illegal pangolin trade in China: An insight from seizures data reports. NATURE CONSERVATION 2022. [DOI: 10.3897/natureconservation.45.57962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Wildlife trafficking poses a major threat to global biodiversity. Species such as pangolins are particularly vulnerable and trade continues almost unabated despite numerous interventions aimed at eradicating illegal wildlife trade. Despite restrictions on the pangolin trade, thousands of pangolins continue to be intercepted annually. We focused on China because of the recent delisting of pangolins from the Chinese pharmacopeia, and their removal from healthcare insurance, despite deeply ingrained traditions of having pangolins for ethno-medicinal use. We collated pangolin interception data from public online media seizure reports to characterize the pangolin trade within China, and found that a total of 326 independent seizures equivalent to 143,130 pangolins (31,676 individuals and 222,908 kg of scale) were reported in 26 provinces. Pangolin domestic seizures are greatest in the southern cities of Dehong, Fangchenggang, and Guangzhou. Also, we found 17 countries within the global pangolins range which were the major source of the pangolin shipments to China. The number of arrests and convictions was much lower than the number of pangolin incidents reported. Our results show a significant increase in the volume of scales and number of live pangolin seizures after amended endangered species law came into effect in 2018, and recorded the highest number of individual pangolin interceptions. China has shown increasing wildlife seizures over time, owing partly to emergent trends in the international wildlife trade as well as increasing global demand for ethnomedicine. The future eradication of illegal wildlife trade in China is dependent not only on stringent border control and offender prosecution but also the; removal of other threatened species from the pharmacopeia and healthcare insurance which includes wildlife derivatives. Furthermore, our work highlights importance of current policy intervention to combat the pangolin trade within China, and the need for further interventions both within China and in export countries.
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Hu J, Roos C, Lv X, Kuang W, Yu L. Molecular Genetics Supports a Potential Fifth Asian Pangolin Species (Mammalia, Pholidota, Manis). Zoolog Sci 2021; 37:538-543. [PMID: 33269869 DOI: 10.2108/zs200084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2020] [Accepted: 08/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Recently, two mitochondrial haplotypes, H4 and H8, of Manis sp. were found in two seizures in Hong Kong that do not correspond to Manis javanica, Manis pentadactyla or Manis crassicaudata of Asian pangolin species or any African pangolin species. It was proposed that both haplotypes derived from Manis culionensis, an unknown lineage of M. javanica, or a thus far unidentified Asian pangolin species (Manis sp.). To further investigate these three hypotheses, we used two mitochondrial genes of all eight known extant pangolin species and conducted phylogenetic tree reconstructions, divergence time estimation, and species delimitation analyses. All analyses consistently confirmed that these two haplotypes of Manis sp. constitute a distinct lineage, potentially representing a fifth Asian pangolin species, which originated around the Late Miocene to Early Pliocene (6.95 [4.64-9.85] million years ago). Our study provides genetic support for a potential fifth Asian pangolin species and helps to better understand species diversity of Asian pangolins, which is urgently needed for effective conservation work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingyang Hu
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, 650091, Kunming, China
| | - Christian Roos
- Gene Bank of Primates and Primate Genetics Laboratory, German Primate Center, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Kellnerweg 4, D-37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Xue Lv
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, 650091, Kunming, China
| | - Weimin Kuang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, 650091, Kunming, China
| | - Li Yu
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, 650091, Kunming, China,
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Aguillon S, Din Dipita A, Lecompte E, Missoup AD, Tindo M, Gaubert P. Development and characterization of 20 polymorphic microsatellite markers for the white-bellied pangolin Phataginus tricuspis (Mammalia, Pholidota). Mol Biol Rep 2020; 47:4827-4833. [PMID: 32419053 PMCID: PMC7230135 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-020-05511-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2020] [Accepted: 05/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Pangolins, or scaly anteaters, have recently been flagshiped as one of the most illegally traded mammals, and as a corollary, as potential intermediate hosts at the origin of the COVID-19 pandemic. In order to improve the traceability of their trade, we developed 20 polymorphic microsatellite loci for the white-bellied pangolin (Phataginus tricuspis), the species most frequently found on African bushmeat markets. We genotyped 24 white-bellied pangolins from the Douala market, Cameroon, originating from the Ebo forest c. 75 km north-east of Douala. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 4 to 12 (mean = 6.95), and mean observed and expected heterozygosities were 0.592 (0.208-0.875) and 0.671 (0.469-0.836), respectively. Genetic diversity was higher than that cross-estimated from microsatellite loci developed for other species of pangolins. Two loci deviated from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and two loci showed linkage disequilibrium. Genetic variance (PCoA) was increased with the addition of 13 pangolins of unknown origin, possibly suggesting that the Douala market is fed from differentiated source populations of white-bellied pangolins. Each of the 37 individuals had a unique multilocus genotype. The unbiased probability of identity (uPI) and the probability of identity among siblings (PIsibs) were both very low (uPI = 8.443 e-21; PIsibs = 1.011 e-07). Only five microsatellite loci were needed to reach the conservative value of PIsibs < 0.01, overall indicating a powerful discriminating power of our combined loci. These 20 newly developed microsatellite loci might prove useful in tracing the local-to-global trade of the white-bellied pangolin, and will hopefully contribute to the DNA-assisted implementation of future conservation strategies at reasonable costs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha Aguillon
- Laboratoire Evolution et Diversité Biologique (EDB), CNRS/UPS/IRD, Université Toulouse III Paul Sabatier - Bâtiment 4R1, 118 route de Narbonne, 31062, Toulouse Cedex 9, France
| | - Alain Din Dipita
- Unité de Zoologie, Laboratoire de Biologie et Physiologie des Organismes Animaux, Faculté des Sciences, Université de Douala, BP 24157, Douala, Cameroon
| | - Emilie Lecompte
- Laboratoire Evolution et Diversité Biologique (EDB), CNRS/UPS/IRD, Université Toulouse III Paul Sabatier - Bâtiment 4R1, 118 route de Narbonne, 31062, Toulouse Cedex 9, France
| | - Alain Didier Missoup
- Unité de Zoologie, Laboratoire de Biologie et Physiologie des Organismes Animaux, Faculté des Sciences, Université de Douala, BP 24157, Douala, Cameroon
| | - Maurice Tindo
- Unité de Zoologie, Laboratoire de Biologie et Physiologie des Organismes Animaux, Faculté des Sciences, Université de Douala, BP 24157, Douala, Cameroon
| | - Philippe Gaubert
- Laboratoire Evolution et Diversité Biologique (EDB), CNRS/UPS/IRD, Université Toulouse III Paul Sabatier - Bâtiment 4R1, 118 route de Narbonne, 31062, Toulouse Cedex 9, France.
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7
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Gaubert P, Antunes A, Meng H, Miao L, Peigné S, Justy F, Njiokou F, Dufour S, Danquah E, Alahakoon J, Verheyen E, Stanley WT, O’Brien SJ, Johnson WE, Luo SJ. The Complete Phylogeny of Pangolins: Scaling Up Resources for the Molecular Tracing of the Most Trafficked Mammals on Earth. J Hered 2017; 109:347-359. [DOI: 10.1093/jhered/esx097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2017] [Accepted: 11/02/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Philippe Gaubert
- Institut des Sciences de l’Evolution de Montpellier (ISEM)—UM-CNRS-IRD-EPHE, Université, France
- CIIMAR/CIMAR, Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental, Universidade do Porto, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Portugal
| | - Agostinho Antunes
- CIIMAR/CIMAR, Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental, Universidade do Porto, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Portugal
- Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Portugal
| | - Hao Meng
- School of Life Sciences, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, China
| | - Lin Miao
- School of Life Sciences, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, China
| | - Stéphane Peigné
- Centre de recherche sur la paléobiodiversité et les paléoenvironnements (CR2P)—UMR 7207 MNHN/CNRS/UPMC, Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle—CP38, France
| | - Fabienne Justy
- Institut des Sciences de l’Evolution de Montpellier (ISEM)—UM-CNRS-IRD-EPHE, Université, France
| | - Flobert Njiokou
- Laboratoire de Parasitologie et Ecologie, Université de Yaoundé I, Faculté des Sciences, Cameroon
| | | | - Emmanuel Danquah
- Department of Wildlife and Range Management, Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana
| | | | - Erik Verheyen
- OD Taxonomy and Phylogeny, Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Belgium
- Evolutionary Ecology Group, University of Antwerp, Belgium
| | | | - Stephen J O’Brien
- Theodosius Dobzhansky Center for Genome Bioinformatics, St. Petersburg State University, Russia
- Oceanographic Center, Dania Beach, FL
- Nova Southeastern University, Ft Lauderdale, FL
| | - Warren E Johnson
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park, Front Royal, VA
| | - Shu-Jin Luo
- School of Life Sciences, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, China
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8
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Gaubert P, Njiokou F, Ngua G, Afiademanyo K, Dufour S, Malekani J, Bi SG, Tougard C, Olayemi A, Danquah E, Djagoun CAMS, Kaleme P, Mololo CN, Stanley W, Luo SJ, Antunes A. Phylogeography of the heavily poached African common pangolin (Pholidota, Manis tricuspis) reveals six cryptic lineages as traceable signatures of Pleistocene diversification. Mol Ecol 2016; 25:5975-5993. [PMID: 27862533 DOI: 10.1111/mec.13886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2015] [Revised: 09/24/2016] [Accepted: 09/27/2016] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Knowledge on faunal diversification in African rainforests remains scarce. We used phylogeography to assess (i) the role of Pleistocene climatic oscillations in the diversification of the African common pangolin (Manis tricuspis) and (ii) the utility of our multilocus approach for taxonomic delineation and trade tracing of this heavily poached species. We sequenced 101 individuals for two mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), two nuclear DNA and one Y-borne gene fragments (totalizing 2602 bp). We used a time-calibrated, Bayesian inference phylogenetic framework and conducted character-based, genetic and phylogenetic delineation of species hypotheses within African common pangolins. We identified six geographic lineages partitioned into western Africa, Ghana, the Dahomey Gap, western central Africa, Gabon and central Africa, all diverging during the Middle to Late Pleistocene. MtDNA (cytochrome b + control region) was the sole locus to provide diagnostic characters for each of the six lineages. Tree-based Bayesian delimitation methods using single- and multilocus approaches gave high support for 'species' level recognition of the six African common pangolin lineages. Although the diversification of African common pangolins occurred during Pleistocene cyclical glaciations, causative correlation with traditional rainforest refugia and riverine barriers in Africa was not straightforward. We conclude on the existence of six cryptic lineages within African common pangolins, which might be of major relevance for future conservation strategies. The high discriminative power of the mtDNA markers used in this study should allow an efficient molecular tracing of the regional origin of African common pangolin seizures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philippe Gaubert
- Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution de Montpellier (ISEM) - UM-CNRS-IRD-EPHE-CIRAD, Université de Montpellier, Place Eugène Bataillon - CC 64, 34095, Montpellier Cedex 05, France.,CIMAR/CIIMAR, Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental, Universidade do Porto, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Av. General Norton de Matos, s/n, 4450-208, Porto, Portugal
| | - Flobert Njiokou
- Laboratoire de Parasitologie et Ecologie, Faculté des Sciences, Université de Yaoundé I, BP 812, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Gabriel Ngua
- Amigos de la Naturaleza y del Desarrollo de Guinea Ecuatorial (ANDEGE), Barrio Ukomba, S/N, Bata, Equatorial Guinea
| | - Komlan Afiademanyo
- Département de Zoologie et de Biologie Animale, Université de Lomé, BP 1515, Lomé, Togo
| | | | - Jean Malekani
- Department of Biology, University of Kinshasa, PO Box 218, Kinshasa XI, Democratic Republic of Congo
| | - Sery Gonedelé Bi
- Laboratoire de Génétique, Université Félix Houphouët Boigny d'Abidjan-Cocody, 22 BP 582, Abidjan 22, Côte d'Ivoire
| | - Christelle Tougard
- Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution de Montpellier (ISEM) - UM-CNRS-IRD-EPHE-CIRAD, Université de Montpellier, Place Eugène Bataillon - CC 64, 34095, Montpellier Cedex 05, France
| | - Ayodeji Olayemi
- Natural History Museum, Obafemi Awolowo University, HO 220005, Ile-Ife, Nigeria
| | - Emmanuel Danquah
- Department of Wildlife and Range Management, Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, University Post Office, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Chabi A M S Djagoun
- Laboratory of Applied Ecology, Faculty of Agronomic Sciences, University of Abomey-Calavi, 01 BP 526 LEA-FSA, Cotonou, Benin
| | - Prince Kaleme
- Laboratoire de Mammalogie, Département de Biologie, Centre de Recherches en Sciences Naturelles (CRSN) - Lwiro, DS (Dépêche Spéciale) Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo.,Department of Zoology, University of Johannesburg, PO Box 524, Auckland Park 2006, South Africa
| | - Casimir Nebesse Mololo
- Université de Kisangani, Faculté des Sciences, B.P. 2012, Kisangani, Democratic Republic of Congo
| | - William Stanley
- Science and Education, Field Museum of Natural History, 1400 South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL, 60605, USA
| | - Shu-Jin Luo
- School of Life Sciences, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Agostinho Antunes
- CIMAR/CIIMAR, Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental, Universidade do Porto, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Av. General Norton de Matos, s/n, 4450-208, Porto, Portugal.,Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, 4169-007, Porto, Portugal
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9
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Mwale M, Dalton DL, Jansen R, De Bruyn M, Pietersen D, Mokgokong PS, Kotzé A. Forensic application of DNA barcoding for identification of illegally traded African pangolin scales. Genome 2016; 60:272-284. [PMID: 28177847 DOI: 10.1139/gen-2016-0144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The escalating growth in illegal wildlife trade and anthropogenic habitat changes threaten the survival of pangolin species worldwide. All eight extant species have experienced drastic population size reductions globally with a high extinction risk in Asia. Consequently, forensic services have become critical for law enforcement, with a need for standardised and validated genetic methods for reliable identifications. The seizure of three tonnes of pangolin scales, believed to have originated from Africa, by Hong Kong Customs Authorities provided an opportunity for the application of DNA barcoding in identifying scales. Three mitochondrial DNA gene regions (COI, Cyt b, and D-loop) were amplified for a subsample of the confiscated material and compared with taxonomically verified references. All four African species were recovered as monophyletic with high interspecific uncorrected p-distance estimates (0.048-0.188) among genes. However, only three of four African species (Phataginus tricuspis, Phataginus tetradactyla, and Smutsia gigantea, originating from West and Central Africa) and one of four Asian species (Manis javanica from Southeast Asia) were identified among scales. Although the assignment of unknown scales to specific species was reliable, additional genetic tools and representative reference material are required to determine geographic origins of confiscated pangolin specimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica Mwale
- a National Zoological Gardens of South Africa (NZG), P.O. Box 754, Pretoria 0001, South Africa
| | - Desire L Dalton
- a National Zoological Gardens of South Africa (NZG), P.O. Box 754, Pretoria 0001, South Africa.,b Genetics Department, University of the Free State (UFS), P.O. Box 339, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa
| | - Raymond Jansen
- c Department of Environmental, Water and Earth Sciences, Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), P/Bag X680, Pretoria 0001, South Africa.,d African Pangolin Working Group (APWG)
| | - Marli De Bruyn
- a National Zoological Gardens of South Africa (NZG), P.O. Box 754, Pretoria 0001, South Africa.,b Genetics Department, University of the Free State (UFS), P.O. Box 339, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa
| | | | - Prudent S Mokgokong
- a National Zoological Gardens of South Africa (NZG), P.O. Box 754, Pretoria 0001, South Africa
| | - Antoinette Kotzé
- a National Zoological Gardens of South Africa (NZG), P.O. Box 754, Pretoria 0001, South Africa.,b Genetics Department, University of the Free State (UFS), P.O. Box 339, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa.,d African Pangolin Working Group (APWG)
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Luczon AU, Ong PS, Quilang JP, Fontanilla IKC. Determining species identity from confiscated pangolin remains using DNA barcoding. Mitochondrial DNA B Resour 2016; 1:763-766. [PMID: 33473620 PMCID: PMC7800584 DOI: 10.1080/23802359.2016.1238752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2016] [Accepted: 09/16/2016] [Indexed: 10/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Illegal wildlife trade is one of the key threats to biodiversity. A requisite in combating illegal wildlife trade is through effective and efficient identification of confiscated wildlife or wildlife remains. This can be done through DNA barcoding. In this study, DNA barcoding was employed on several cases of poaching in the Philippines involving 85 unidentified pangolin remains. Of these, 73 specimens confiscated from Palawan were identified as the Palawan endemic Manis culionensis, but no deep divergences were observed, suggesting that the samples originated from a single locality. The other 12 individuals, which were part of a large haul of pangolin carcasses recovered from a foreign fishing vessel that ran aground in Tubattaha Reefs, Philippines, were identified as the Malayan Pangolin, M. javanica. They split into two groups with 3.3% mean genetic distance, suggesting at least two geographic origins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrian U. Luczon
- Institute of Biology, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines
| | - Perry S. Ong
- Institute of Biology, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines
| | - Jonas P. Quilang
- Institute of Biology, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines
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11
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Molecular tracing of confiscated pangolin scales for conservation and illegal trade monitoring in Southeast Asia. Glob Ecol Conserv 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2015.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
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