title: Forensic timber identification: a case study of a CITES listed species, Gonystylus bancanus (Thymelaeaceae).
abstract: Illegal logging and smuggling of Gonystylus bancanus (Thymelaeaceae) poses a serious threat to this fragile valuable peat swamp timber species. Using G. bancanus as a case study, DNA markers were used to develop identification databases at the species, population and individual level. The species level database for Gonystylus comprised of an rDNA (ITS2) and two cpDNA (trnH-psbA and trnL) markers based on a 20 Gonystylus species database. When concatenated, taxonomic species recognition was achieved with a resolution of 90% (18 out of the 20 species). In addition, based on 17 natural populations of G. bancanus throughout West (Peninsular Malaysia) and East (Sabah and Sarawak) Malaysia, population and individual identification databases were developed using cpDNA and STR markers respectively. A haplotype distribution map for Malaysia was generated using six cpDNA markers, resulting in 12 unique multilocus haplotypes, from 24 informative intraspecific variable sites. These unique haplotypes suggest a clear genetic structuring of West and East regions. A simulation procedure based on the composition of the samples was used to test whether a suspected sample conformed to a given regional origin. Overall, the observed type I and II errors of the databases showed good concordance with the predicted 5% threshold which indicates that the databases were useful in revealing provenance and establishing conformity of samples from West and East Malaysia. Sixteen STRs were used to develop the DNA profiling databases for individual identification. Bayesian clustering analyses divided the 17 populations into two main genetic clusters, corresponding to the regions of West and East Malaysia. Population substructuring (K=2) was observed within each region. After removal of bias resulting from sampling effects and population subdivision, conservativeness tests showed that the West and East Malaysia databases were conservative. This suggests that both databases can be used independently for random match probability estimation within respective regions. The reliability of the databases was further determined by independent self-assignment tests based on the likelihood of each individual's multilocus genotype occurring in each identified population, genetic cluster and region with an average percentage of correctly assigned individuals of 54.80%, 99.60% and 100% respectively. Thus, after appropriate validation, the genetic identification databases developed for G. bancanus in this study could support forensic applications and help safeguard this valuable species into the future.
authors.affiliation: Genetics Laboratory, Forest Research Institute Malaysia, 52109 Kepong, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia. Electronic address: kevin@frim.gov.my.
authors.forename: Kevin Kit Siong
authors.initials: KKS
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.affiliation: Genetics Laboratory, Forest Research Institute Malaysia, 52109 Kepong, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia. Electronic address: leesl@frim.gov.my.
authors.forename: Soon Leong
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Genetics Laboratory, Forest Research Institute Malaysia, 52109 Kepong, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia. Electronic address: leehong@frim.gov.my.
authors.forename: Lee Hong
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Tnah
authors.affiliation: Genetics Laboratory, Forest Research Institute Malaysia, 52109 Kepong, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia. Electronic address: nurulfarhanah@frim.gov.my.
authors.forename: Zakaria
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Nurul-Farhanah
authors.affiliation: Genetics Laboratory, Forest Research Institute Malaysia, 52109 Kepong, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia. Electronic address: chinhong@frim.gov.my.
authors.forename: Chin Hong
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.affiliation: Genetics Laboratory, Forest Research Institute Malaysia, 52109 Kepong, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia. Electronic address: leechait@frim.gov.my.
authors.forename: Chai Ting
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Forestry Division, Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences, Ohwashi, Ibaraki 305-8686, Japan. Electronic address: ntani@affrc.go.jp.
authors.forename: Naoki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tani
authors.affiliation: Sarawak Forestry Corporation, Botanical Research Centre Semenggoh, KM20, Jalan Puncak Borneo, 93250 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. Electronic address: bibian@sarawakforestry.com.
authors.forename: Bibian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Diway
authors.affiliation: Malaysia Pepper Board, Lot 1115, Jalan Utama, Tanah Putih, 93916 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. Electronic address: laips@mpb.gov.my.
authors.forename: Pei Sing
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.affiliation: Forest Research Centre, KM 23, Labuk Road, Sepilok, 90715 Sandakan, Sabah, Malaysia. Electronic address: Eyen.Khoo@sabah.gov.my.
authors.forename: Eyen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Khoo
mesh_terms: D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D003415:Crime; D058893:DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic; D016172:DNA Fingerprinting; D030541:Databases, Genetic; D053803:Forensic Genetics; D005819:Genetic Markers; D006801:Humans; D008296:Malaysia; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats; D029645:Thymelaeaceae / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D005819:Genetic Markers
keywords: DNA barcoding; DNA profiling; Ramin; Random match probability; Short tandem repeats (STRs); Timber tracking