In:
Journal of Forensic Sciences, Wiley, Vol. 59, No. 6 ( 2014-11), p. 1541-1551
Abstract:
Cycads in South Africa are facing an extinction crisis due to the illegal extraction of plants from the wild. Proving wild origin of suspect ex situ cycads to the satisfaction of a court of law is difficult, limiting law enforcement efforts. We investigated the feasibility of using multiple stable isotopes to identify specimens removed from the wild. Relocated and wild specimens from two species in the African genus Encephalartos (E. lebomboensis and E. arenarius) were sampled. 14 C analysis indicated that a ± 30‐year chronology could be reliably obtained from the cycads. For E. arenarius , pre‐relocation tissue was consistent with a wild origin, whereas tissue grown post‐relocation was isotopically distinct from the wild for 87 Sr/ 86 Sr and δ 15 N. For E. lebomboensis, δ 34 S, δ 18 O, and 87 Sr/ 86 Sr were different between relocated and control plants, consistent with the 〉 30 years since relocation. Our findings demonstrate the potential for a forensic isotope approach to identify illegal ex situ cycads.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
0022-1198
,
1556-4029
DOI:
10.1111/jfo.2014.59.issue-6
DOI:
10.1111/1556-4029.12644
Language:
English
Publisher:
Wiley
Publication Date:
2014
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2026357-0
SSG:
2,1
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