Estimating identification uncertainties in CITES ‘look-alike’ species
Achieving sustainability in international wildlife trade encompasses a series of challenges, such as identification uncertainty for taxonomically complex groups. Although CITES has developed a ‘look-alike’ policy to collectively manage trade in morphologically similar species and thus facilitate enf...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2019-04-01
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| Series: | Global Ecology and Conservation |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989419301015 |
| _version_ | 1819071387899265024 |
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| author | Sara Alfino David L. Roberts |
| author_facet | Sara Alfino David L. Roberts |
| author_sort | Sara Alfino |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Achieving sustainability in international wildlife trade encompasses a series of challenges, such as identification uncertainty for taxonomically complex groups. Although CITES has developed a ‘look-alike’ policy to collectively manage trade in morphologically similar species and thus facilitate enforcement, its effective application with regards to the export quota system is questionable. We used a multidisciplinary approach to provide an understating of the trade in a taxonomically complex genus of Malagasy chameleons. An online systematic survey of trade was undertaken to identify which species of Calumma have been the subject of trade. A match-mismatch experiment was employed to calculate identification error rates among species in the genus. Results suggest that the online market for Calumma is thriving, including species with long-standing zero quotas. Identification error rates varied widely, reaching high levels of error for some species pairs here identified as ‘look-alike’ species. Findings suggest manual identification technique has varying reliability, potentially resulting in misidentification by stakeholders within the trade. Such errors have negative consequences for both chameleon conservation and the long-term socio-economic development of Madagascar. An understanding of the patterns of identification error can help tailor future management and policy plans. Keywords: Accuracy, Calumma, Chameleon, Enforcement, Madagascar, Wildlife trade |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T17:21:02Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-10aaeae9330f45fba8938ae98aa4c8f8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2351-9894 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T17:21:02Z |
| publishDate | 2019-04-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Global Ecology and Conservation |
| spelling | doaj.art-10aaeae9330f45fba8938ae98aa4c8f82022-12-21T18:56:10ZengElsevierGlobal Ecology and Conservation2351-98942019-04-0118Estimating identification uncertainties in CITES ‘look-alike’ speciesSara Alfino0David L. Roberts1Corresponding author. Durrell Institute of Conservation & Ecology, School of Anthropology and Conservation, Marlowe Building, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent, CT2 7NR, United Kingdom.; Durrell Institute of Conservation & Ecology, School of Anthropology & Conservation, Marlowe Building, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent, CT2 7NR, United KingdomDurrell Institute of Conservation & Ecology, School of Anthropology & Conservation, Marlowe Building, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent, CT2 7NR, United KingdomAchieving sustainability in international wildlife trade encompasses a series of challenges, such as identification uncertainty for taxonomically complex groups. Although CITES has developed a ‘look-alike’ policy to collectively manage trade in morphologically similar species and thus facilitate enforcement, its effective application with regards to the export quota system is questionable. We used a multidisciplinary approach to provide an understating of the trade in a taxonomically complex genus of Malagasy chameleons. An online systematic survey of trade was undertaken to identify which species of Calumma have been the subject of trade. A match-mismatch experiment was employed to calculate identification error rates among species in the genus. Results suggest that the online market for Calumma is thriving, including species with long-standing zero quotas. Identification error rates varied widely, reaching high levels of error for some species pairs here identified as ‘look-alike’ species. Findings suggest manual identification technique has varying reliability, potentially resulting in misidentification by stakeholders within the trade. Such errors have negative consequences for both chameleon conservation and the long-term socio-economic development of Madagascar. An understanding of the patterns of identification error can help tailor future management and policy plans. Keywords: Accuracy, Calumma, Chameleon, Enforcement, Madagascar, Wildlife tradehttp://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989419301015 |
| spellingShingle | Sara Alfino David L. Roberts Estimating identification uncertainties in CITES ‘look-alike’ species Global Ecology and Conservation |
| title | Estimating identification uncertainties in CITES ‘look-alike’ species |
| title_full | Estimating identification uncertainties in CITES ‘look-alike’ species |
| title_fullStr | Estimating identification uncertainties in CITES ‘look-alike’ species |
| title_full_unstemmed | Estimating identification uncertainties in CITES ‘look-alike’ species |
| title_short | Estimating identification uncertainties in CITES ‘look-alike’ species |
| title_sort | estimating identification uncertainties in cites look alike species |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989419301015 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT saraalfino estimatingidentificationuncertaintiesinciteslookalikespecies AT davidlroberts estimatingidentificationuncertaintiesinciteslookalikespecies |