CRACKING THE CODE

The report details a successful pilot study to extract high-quality mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) from hawksbill turtle carapace samples, enabling the tracing of illegal tortoiseshell products back to their source populations. By comparing DNA from market products in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands against a nesting baseline, the study demonstrated that most products likely originated from the Solomon Islands stock. The authors emphasize the need for a comprehensive regional genetic database (the 'Shell Bank') to reduce the number of 'orphan' haplotypes and improve the accuracy of forensic investigations into the illegal wildlife trade.

• The study successfully developed a reliable protocol for extracting and sequencing mtDNA from hawksbill turtle carapace, achieving high-quality sequences of more than 770 base-pairs for 20 turtle products.
• Validation tests using live turtles from the Howick Group foraging ground showed that DNA sequences obtained from shell samples were identical to those from soft tissue samples of the same individual, confirming the method's accuracy.
• Analysis of tortoiseshell products collected from markets in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands suggests they most likely originated from the Solomon Islands genetic stock rather than from Southeast Asia or Australia.
• A significant portion of the market samples (33%) resulted in 'orphan' haplotypes, which are genetic signatures not yet identified in any known nesting population, highlighting a critical gap in the current regional baseline dataset.
• New sampling at Milman Island (Queensland) and the Arnavon Islands (Solomon Islands) confirmed that these two rookeries are significantly differentiated and represent demographically independent stocks.
• The report identifies a need to better define the geographical boundaries of genetic stocks, noting that the 'Solomon Islands' stock likely extends across the broader Bismarck-Solomon sea region rather than being limited to a single nesting beach.

APA

Jensen, M., LaCasella, E., Dutton, P., & Hof, C. M. (2019). CRACKING THE CODE. WWF International. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/1635/wwf_a4_dna_report_digital_9082019_embargoed_copy.pdf

Chicago

Jensen, Michael, Erin LaCasella, Peter Dutton, and Christine Madden Hof. CRACKING THE CODE. WWF International, 2019. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/1635/wwf_a4_dna_report_digital_9082019_embargoed_copy.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Jensen |first1=Michael |last2=LaCasella |first2=Erin |last3=Dutton |first3=Peter |last4=Hof |first4=Christine Madden |title=CRACKING THE CODE |publisher=WWF International |date=August 2019 |url=https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/1635/wwf_a4_dna_report_digital_9082019_embargoed_copy.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{jensen2019cracking, author = {Jensen, Michael and LaCasella, Erin and Dutton, Peter and Hof, Christine Madden}, title = {{CRACKING THE CODE}}, institution = {WWF International}, year = {2019}, month = aug, url = {https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/1635/wwf_a4_dna_report_digital_9082019_embargoed_copy.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }