title: Forensic analysis of black coral (Order Antipatharia).
abstract: Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), discriminate analysis, X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF), and stereoscopic microscopy were used to separate black coral forensic evidence items from similarly appearing items manufactured from plastics, bovid keratin, and mangrove wood. In addition, novel observations were made of bromine and iodine relationships in black coral that have not been previously reported.
authors.affiliation: U.S. National Fish & Wildlife Forensics Laboratory, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, 1490 East Main Street, Ashland, OR 97520-1310, USA. Ed_Espinoza@fws.gov
authors.forename: Edgard O
authors.initials: EO
authors.lastname: Espinoza
authors.forename: Michael D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Scanlan
authors.forename: Pamela J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: McClure
authors.forename: Barry W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Baker
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D037421:Anthozoa / Q000737:chemistry*; D001966:Bromine / Q000032:analysis; D002364:Caseins; D003132:Commerce / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D016002:Discriminant Analysis; D005607:Fraud / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D007455:Iodine / Q000032:analysis; D007633:Keratins; D008853:Microscopy; D010969:Plastics; D013052:Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
chemical_list: D002364:Caseins; D010969:Plastics; D007633:Keratins; D007455:Iodine; D001966:Bromine