Scientists say barcoding of DNA samples has seen the estimated number of animal and plant species on the planet double over the last 10 years. New research puts the estimated number of multi-cellular species on the planet at 20 million. The 7th International Barcode of Life (IBOL) conference took place in the Kruger National Park in November. This is the first time that the conference was hosted on African soil. Scientists from 73 countries gathered to exchange research and practical skills, in partnership with the Department of Environmental Affairs and the University of Johannesburg.
DNA is a molecule that carries the genetic instructions used in the growth, development, functioning and reproduction of all known living organisms. DNA sequencing has a number of uses in conservation, ecosystem monitoring, forensics and the control of agricultural pests and invasive species. With DNA technology expanding it has allowed scientists to expand their knowledge of biodiversity which basically means a deeper understanding of different kinds of life.
Watch the video report from the Kruger National Park below.
Dr. Kristy Deiner, a Postdoctoral Fellow from Cornell University, explains that where there is high biodiversity, there tends to be a greater deal of interaction between and within species.
“We as humanity are in that network and we rely on all those interactions. We don’t think about them in terms of them controlling us, we think about them as benefits, as ecosystems services, as food, we think about them as water – it’s how we live so we don’t really understand that those things are connected to us in the same way as all other animals are.”
“By studying the world at large, not only our own interest, we can learn from nature and how those interactions are not only important for our species but also in turn how those connections are important for biodiversity. If we don’t understand those things and we see biodiversity collapse, we’re seeing our network of interactions collapse and our species is now in trouble.”
The highlight of the conference was the international launch of LAB-IN-A-BOX, a portable lab that can be used to extract and identify DNA samples in the field to help identify trafficked fauna and flora and intercept alien species before they cross the border.
The Dean of Science from University of Johannesburg, Debra Meyer says DNA sequencing has a number of uses in conservation, ecosystem monitoring, forensics and the control of agricultural pests and invasive species.
“It can even have an impact on crime. If you have the DNA sequence you will know where a specific species came from and can then prevent people from stealing and carrying species across the border. So there are many applications. The most important one is what concerns the entire planet or what should concern the entire planet and that is the survival of the planet. So this particular project is interested in getting all the genetic information so that we know what is where and how it overlaps with different countries – but most importantly how you preserve it.”
The Department of Environmental Affair’s (DEA) Francis Craige says they have already found practical applications for this technology.
“We received information that that tiger bones may have been trafficked from South Africa to Hong Kong and of course because tigers are on CITES and a particular appendix you are not allowed to move that kind of species across international borders. But we weren’t 100% sure if it was lion or tiger bones. So we allowed the consignment to board the flight, quickly took a sample and sent it to the laboratory. We needed to make sure by the time the consignment arrived in Hong Kong that we knew whether the bones were lion or tiger. Overnight the lab did the test for us and we could very quickly determine that it was a legal consignment.”
Scientists say barcoding of DNA samples has seen the estimated number of animal and plant species on the planet double over the last 10-years. This emerged at the 7th International Barcode of Life Conference at the Kruger National Park. Delegates from more than seventy countries are attending the event.
Scientific director for the Barcode of Life project or IBOL, Paul Herbert, says scientists have for the past 250-years managed to identify 1.9 million species. New research puts the estimated number of multi-cellular species on the planet at 20 million. Herbert explains that DNA barcoding has a wide range of applications and allows you to do more than just tell species apart.
“It allows you to better diagnose food substitution and herbal medicine composition. So we’re seeing an increased pick up by diverse sectors of society. I can’t think that anyone goes through life and doesn’t interact with the organisms around them so I think this is a mission we can all share.”
Herbert says the IBOL project is an initiative worth being part of.
“The scientific community has the large responsibility to lead the effort but citizen scientists are important like we see here in South Africa, school kids in Canada, members of the public in San Diego – as we look around the world there is definitely interest in contributing as a citizen scientist. Government agencies also have the responsibility to help curate biodiversity in nations around the world – the people who oversee national parks and then, of course, regulatory agencies that are involved.”
With a Life Scanner sampling kit and a free-to-download iPhone app, anyone can be part of the IBOL project. They can collect their own specimens and using the App and track the sample progress right through to identification.
Jacques du Toit is an Environmental Management Inspector and Deputy Director of EMI Capacity Development and Support at the Department of Environmental Affairs. Together with a team they help bring perpetrators of conservation crime to book.
“You need to be able to prove and identify a species beyond a reasonable doubt and through the work of the DNA barcoding and sequencing you are pretty much convinced of what species you’re dealing with and hence it’s easier to conduct and enforce compliance in that manner.”
“Before this technology it was a challenge, especially where you deal with derivatives, skins or bare meat, dried meat, powder forms or oils from plants. It was near to impossible in many instances to know beyond a reasonable doubt exactly which species you’re dealing with and obviously in the absence of knowing which species you cannot link your legislation to it and we would very heavily on visual identification and experts to help us.”
They have had a number of successful prosecutions to date, specifically relating to the trade in endangered cycads and antelope. They’re hopeful of further successful prosecutions through their collaborative work with the department and scientists from the University of Johannesburg and around the globe to fight the criminal activity that threatens South Africa’s biodiversity.
