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Salleh MHM, Esa Y, Pau SSN. Conservation Genetics of the Critically Endangered Southern River Terrapin ( Batagur affinis) in Malaysia: Genetic Diversity and Novel Subspecies Distribution Ranges. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:520. [PMID: 37106721 PMCID: PMC10136168 DOI: 10.3390/biology12040520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2023] [Revised: 03/05/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023]
Abstract
A population genetics study was carried out on the Southern River terrapin (Batagur affinis) from four places in Peninsular Malaysia: Pasir Gajah, Kemaman (KE), Terengganu; Bukit Pinang (BP), Kedah; Bota Kanan (BK), Perak; and Bukit Paloh, Kuala Berang (KB), Terengganu. The goal of this study is to identify genetic differences in two subspecies of B. affinis in Malaysia. No previous reports were available on the genetic diversity, phylogenetic relationships and matrilineal hereditary structure of these terrapin populations in Malaysia. The sequencing identified 46 single nucleotide polymorphisms that defined six mitochondrial haplotypes in the Southern River terrapins. Tajima's D test and Fu's Fs neutrality tests were performed to evaluate the signatures of recent historical demographic events. Based on the tests, the B. affinis edwardmolli was newly subspecies identified in the west coast-northern region of Kedah state. In addition, the B. affinis edwardmolli in Bukit Paloh, Kuala Berang (KB), Terengganu (Population 4), was shown to have a single maternal lineage compared to other populations. Low genetic diversity, but significant genetic differences, were detected among the studied Southern River terrapin populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohd Hairul Mohd Salleh
- Department of Aquaculture, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia
- Royal Malaysian Customs Department, Persiaran Perdana, Presint 2, Putrajaya 62596, Putrajaya, Malaysia
| | - Yuzine Esa
- Department of Aquaculture, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia
- International Institute of Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Port Dickson 70150, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia
| | - Suriyanti-Su Nyun Pau
- Department of Earth Sciences and Environment, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi 43600, Selangor, Malaysia
- Marine Ecosystem Research Centre (EKOMAR), Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi 43600, Selangor, Malaysia
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2
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Delgado-Cano D, Mariño-Ramírez L, Hernández-Fernández J. Detection of high heteroplasmy in complete loggerhead and hawksbill sea turtles mitochondrial genomes using RNAseq. Mitochondrial DNA A DNA Mapp Seq Anal 2021; 32:106-114. [PMID: 33629889 DOI: 10.1080/24701394.2021.1885389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Sea turtle populations around the world face rapid decline due to the effect of anthropogenic and environmental factors. Among the affected populations are those of hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) and loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta), which is why a greater effort is currently being made in their monitoring and tracing. The intragenic degree of heteroplasmic mutations, commonly associated with diseases of variable symptoms, has not been analyzed in these species. In this study, heteroplasmy in the complete mitogenome (mtDNA) of three loggerhead turtles and one hawksbill turtle was identified from data obtained by RNAseq. Individuals Cc3, Ei1, Cc1 and Cc2 presented 0.3, 1.7, 1.8 and 7.1% of heteroplasmic mutations in all their mtDNA, respectively. The protein-coding genes that presented the highest percentage of heteroplasmy were ND4 and ND5 in individual Cc2 with 16 and 38.6%, respectively. Of the tRNA genes, only tRNATyr was heteroplasmic in the four individuals with 5.63% (Cc1), 25.35% (Ei1 and Cc2) and 49.3% (Cc3). In this study, we identified the critical sites of heteroplasmy in each individual and the genetic variability of their mitogenomes. The data obtained represents the baseline for future projects that evaluate the population status of these species.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Delgado-Cano
- Department of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Genetics, Molecular Biology and Bioinformatic Research Group -GENBIMOL, Jorge Tadeo Lozano University, Bogotá, South America
| | | | - Javier Hernández-Fernández
- Department of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Genetics, Molecular Biology and Bioinformatic Research Group -GENBIMOL, Jorge Tadeo Lozano University, Bogotá, South America
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3
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Bernacki LE, Kilpatrick CW. Structural Variation of the Turtle Mitochondrial Control Region. J Mol Evol 2020; 88:618-640. [PMID: 32808073 DOI: 10.1007/s00239-020-09962-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2019] [Accepted: 08/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The present study describes the most comprehensive comparison of turtle mtD-loop regions to date. The primary structure was compared from DNA sequences accessed from GenBank from 48 species in 13 families of extant turtles, and secondary structures of the mtD-loop region were inferred from thermal stabilities, using the program Mfold, for each superfamiliy of turtles. Both primary and secondary structures were found to be highly variable across the order. The Cryptodira showed conservation in the primary structure at conserved sequence blocks (CSBs), but the Pleurodira displayed limited conservation of primary structural characters, other than the coreTAS, a binding site for the helicase TWINKLE, which was highly conserved in the Central and Right Domains across the order. No secondary structure was associated with a TAS, but an AT-rich fold (secondary structure) near the 3' terminus of the mtD-loop region was detected in all turtle superfamilies. Mapping of character states of structural features of the mtD-loop region revealed that most character states were autapomorphies and inferred a number of homoplasies. The Left Domain of turtles, containing no highly conserved structural elements, likely does not serve a functional role; therefore, the Central Domain in turtles is likely equivalent to the Left Domain of mammals. The AT-rich secondary structural element near the 3' terminus of the mtD-loop region may be conserved across turtles because of a functional role, perhaps containing the Light Strand Promotor, or perhaps interacting with the TWINKLE-coreTAS complex in the Central and Right Domains to regulate mtDNA replication and transcription.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas E Bernacki
- Department of Sciences, Saint Joseph's College, Mercy Hall, Rm 122, 278 Whites Bridge Road, Standish, ME, 04084, USA.
- Department of Biology, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA.
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Seascape Genetics and the Spatial Ecology of Juvenile Green Turtles. Genes (Basel) 2020; 11:genes11030278. [PMID: 32150879 PMCID: PMC7140902 DOI: 10.3390/genes11030278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2020] [Revised: 02/19/2020] [Accepted: 02/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding how ocean currents impact the distribution and connectivity of marine species, provides vital information for the effective conservation management of migratory marine animals. Here, we used a combination of molecular genetics and ocean drift simulations to investigate the spatial ecology of juvenile green turtle (Chelonia mydas) developmental habitats, and assess the role of ocean currents in driving the dispersal of green turtle hatchlings. We analyzed mitochondrial (mt)DNA sequenced from 358 juvenile green turtles, and from eight developmental areas located throughout the Southwest Indian Ocean (SWIO). A mixed stock analysis (MSA) was applied to estimate the level of connectivity between developmental sites and published genetic data from 38 known genetic stocks. The MSA showed that the juvenile turtles at all sites originated almost exclusively from the three known SWIO stocks, with a clear shift in stock contributions between sites in the South and Central Areas. The results from the genetic analysis could largely be explained by regional current patterns, as shown by the results of passive numerical drift simulations linking breeding sites to developmental areas utilized by juvenile green turtles. Integrating genetic and oceanographic data helps researchers to better understand how marine species interact with ocean currents at different stages of their lifecycle, and provides the scientific basis for effective conservation management.
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Tikochinski Y, Carreras C, Tikochinski G, Vilaça ST. Population-specific signatures of intra-individual mitochondrial DNA heteroplasmy and their potential evolutionary advantages. Sci Rep 2020; 10:211. [PMID: 31937820 PMCID: PMC6959243 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-56918-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2019] [Accepted: 12/03/2019] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Heteroplasmy is the existence of more than one mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) variant within a cell. The evolutionary mechanisms of heteroplasmy are not fully understood, despite being a very common phenomenon. Here we combined heteroplasmy measurements using high throughput sequencing on green turtles (Chelonia mydas) with simulations to understand how heteroplasmy modulates population diversity across generations and under different demographic scenarios. We found heteroplasmy to be widespread in all individuals analysed, with consistent signal in individuals across time and tissue. Significant shifts in haplotype composition were found from mother to offspring, signalling the effect of the cellular bottleneck during oogenesis as included in the model. Our model of mtDNA inheritance indicated that heteroplasmy favoured the increase of population diversity through time and buffered against population bottlenecks, thus indicating the importance of this phenomenon in species with reduced population sizes and frequent population bottlenecks like marine turtles. Individuals with recent haplotypes showed higher levels of heteroplasmy than the individuals with ancient haplotypes, suggesting a potential advantage of maintaining established copies when new mutations arise. We recommend using heteroplasmy through high throughput sequencing in marine turtles, as well as other wildlife populations, for diversity assessment, population genetics, and mixed stock analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaron Tikochinski
- Faculty of Marine Sciences, Ruppin Academic Center, Michmoret, Israel
| | - Carlos Carreras
- Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics and IRBio, University of Barcelona, Diagonal 643, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Sibelle T Vilaça
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Department of Evolutionary Genetics, Berlin, Germany. .,Berlin Center for Genomics in Biodiversity Research (BeGenDiv), Berlin, Germany. .,Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
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van der Zee JP, Christianen MJA, Nava M, Velez-Zuazo X, Hao W, Bérubé M, van Lavieren H, Hiwat M, Berzins R, Chevalier J, Chevallier D, Lankester MC, Bjorndal KA, Bolten AB, Becking LE, Palsbøll PJ. Population recovery changes population composition at a major southern Caribbean juvenile developmental habitat for the green turtle, Chelonia mydas. Sci Rep 2019; 9:14392. [PMID: 31591419 PMCID: PMC6779738 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-50753-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2019] [Accepted: 09/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the population composition and dynamics of migratory megafauna at key developmental habitats is critical for conservation and management. The present study investigated whether differential recovery of Caribbean green turtle (Chelonia mydas) rookeries influenced population composition at a major juvenile feeding ground in the southern Caribbean (Lac Bay, Bonaire, Caribbean Netherlands) using genetic and demographic analyses. Genetic divergence indicated a strong temporal shift in population composition between 2006-2007 and 2015-2016 (ϕST = 0.101, P < 0.001). Juvenile recruitment (<75.0 cm straight carapace length; SCL) from the north-western Caribbean increased from 12% to 38% while recruitment from the eastern Caribbean region decreased from 46% to 20% between 2006-2007 and 2015-2016. Furthermore, the product of the population growth rate and adult female abundance was a significant predictor for population composition in 2015-2016. Our results may reflect early warning signals of declining reproductive output at eastern Caribbean rookeries, potential displacement effects of smaller rookeries by larger rookeries, and advocate for genetic monitoring as a useful method for monitoring trends in juvenile megafauna. Furthermore, these findings underline the need for adequate conservation of juvenile developmental habitats and a deeper understanding of the interactions between megafaunal population dynamics in different habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jurjan P van der Zee
- Marine Evolution and Conservation, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Nijenborg 7, 9747 AG, Groningen, The Netherlands. .,Wageningen Marine Research, Ankerpark 27, 1781 AG, Den Helder, The Netherlands.
| | - Marjolijn J A Christianen
- Marine Evolution and Conservation, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Nijenborg 7, 9747 AG, Groningen, The Netherlands.,Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management Group, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Mabel Nava
- Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire, P.O. Box 492, Kaya Korona 53, Kralendijk, Bonaire, The Netherlands
| | - Ximena Velez-Zuazo
- Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire, P.O. Box 492, Kaya Korona 53, Kralendijk, Bonaire, The Netherlands.,Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Wensi Hao
- Marine Evolution and Conservation, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Nijenborg 7, 9747 AG, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Martine Bérubé
- Marine Evolution and Conservation, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Nijenborg 7, 9747 AG, Groningen, The Netherlands.,Center for Coastal Studies, 5 Holway Avenue, Provincetown, MA, 02657, USA
| | | | - Michael Hiwat
- WWF Guianas, Henck Arronstraat 63, Paramaribo, Suriname
| | - Rachel Berzins
- ONCFS Guyane, Campus Agronomique, BP316, 97379, Kourou, French Guiana
| | - Johan Chevalier
- RNN Amana, Réserve Naturelle de l'Amana, Maison de la Réserve, 270 Avenue 31 Décembre, 97319, Awala-Yalimapo, French Guiana
| | - Damien Chevallier
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, IPHC, 23 Rue Becquerel, UMR, 7178, Strasbourg, France
| | - Marie-Clélia Lankester
- RNN Amana, Réserve Naturelle de l'Amana, Maison de la Réserve, 270 Avenue 31 Décembre, 97319, Awala-Yalimapo, French Guiana
| | - Karen A Bjorndal
- Archie Carr Center for Sea Turtle Research and Department of Biology, University of Florida, P.O. Box 118525, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA
| | - Alan B Bolten
- Archie Carr Center for Sea Turtle Research and Department of Biology, University of Florida, P.O. Box 118525, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA
| | - Leontine E Becking
- Wageningen Marine Research, Ankerpark 27, 1781 AG, Den Helder, The Netherlands.,Marine Animal Ecology Group, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 338, 6700 AH, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Per J Palsbøll
- Marine Evolution and Conservation, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Nijenborg 7, 9747 AG, Groningen, The Netherlands.,Center for Coastal Studies, 5 Holway Avenue, Provincetown, MA, 02657, USA
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Barbanti A, Martin C, Blumenthal JM, Boyle J, Broderick AC, Collyer L, Ebanks-Petrie G, Godley BJ, Mustin W, Ordóñez V, Pascual M, Carreras C. How many came home? Evaluating ex situ conservation of green turtles in the Cayman Islands. Mol Ecol 2019; 28:1637-1651. [PMID: 30636347 DOI: 10.1111/mec.15017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2018] [Revised: 12/31/2018] [Accepted: 01/02/2019] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Ex situ management is an important conservation tool that allows the preservation of biological diversity outside natural habitats while supporting survival in the wild. Captive breeding followed by re-introduction is a possible approach for endangered species conservation and preservation of genetic variability. The Cayman Turtle Centre Ltd was established in 1968 to market green turtle (Chelonia mydas) meat and other products and replenish wild populations, thought to be locally extirpated, through captive breeding. We evaluated the effects of this re-introduction programmme using molecular markers (13 microsatellites, 800-bp D-loop and simple tandem repeat mitochondrial DNA sequences) from captive breeders (N = 257) and wild nesting females (N = 57) (sampling period: 2013-2015). We divided the captive breeders into three groups: founders (from the original stock), and then two subdivisions of F1 individuals corresponding to two different management strategies, cohort 1995 ("C1995") and multicohort F1 ("MCF1"). Loss of genetic variability and increased relatedness was observed in the captive stock over time. We found no significant differences in diversity among captive and wild groups, and similar or higher levels of haplotype variability when compared to other natural populations. Using parentage and sibship assignment, we determined that 90% of the wild individuals were related to the captive stock. Our results suggest a strong impact of the re-introduction programmme on the present recovery of the wild green turtle population nesting in the Cayman Islands. Moreover, genetic relatedness analyses of captive populations are necessary to improve future management actions to maintain genetic diversity in the long term and avoid inbreeding depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Barbanti
- Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics and IRBio, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Clara Martin
- Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics and IRBio, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Jack Boyle
- Department of Environment, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
| | | | - Lucy Collyer
- Department of Environment, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
| | | | - Brendan J Godley
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn, UK
| | | | - Víctor Ordóñez
- Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics and IRBio, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marta Pascual
- Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics and IRBio, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Carlos Carreras
- Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics and IRBio, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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Joseph J, Nishizawa H, Alin JM, Othman R, Jolis G, Isnain I, Nais J. Mass sea turtle slaughter at Pulau Tiga, Malaysia: Genetic studies indicate poaching locations and its potential effects. Glob Ecol Conserv 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2019.e00586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
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Casale P, Broderick AC, Camiñas JA, Cardona L, Carreras C, Demetropoulos A, Fuller WJ, Godley BJ, Hochscheid S, Kaska Y, Lazar B, Margaritoulis D, Panagopoulou A, Rees AF, Tomás J, Türkozan O. Mediterranean sea turtles: current knowledge and priorities for conservation and research. ENDANGER SPECIES RES 2018. [DOI: 10.3354/esr00901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
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10
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Chaves JA, Peña M, Valdés-Uribe JA, Muñoz-Pérez JP, Vallejo F, Heidemeyer M, Torres-Carvajal O. Connectivity, population structure, and conservation of Ecuadorian green sea turtles. ENDANGER SPECIES RES 2017. [DOI: 10.3354/esr00809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
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Rees AF, Alfaro-Shigueto J, Barata PCR, Bjorndal KA, Bolten AB, Bourjea J, Broderick AC, Campbell LM, Cardona L, Carreras C, Casale P, Ceriani SA, Dutton PH, Eguchi T, Formia A, Fuentes MMPB, Fuller WJ, Girondot M, Godfrey MH, Hamann M, Hart KM, Hays GC, Hochscheid S, Kaska Y, Jensen MP, Mangel JC, Mortimer JA, Naro-Maciel E, Ng CKY, Nichols WJ, Phillott AD, Reina RD, Revuelta O, Schofield G, Seminoff JA, Shanker K, Tomás J, van de Merwe JP, Van Houtan KS, Vander Zanden HB, Wallace BP, Wedemeyer-Strombel KR, Work TM, Godley BJ. Are we working towards global research priorities for management and conservation of sea turtles? ENDANGER SPECIES RES 2016. [DOI: 10.3354/esr00801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 175] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
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Novelletto A, Testa L, Iacovelli F, Blasi P, Garofalo L, Mingozzi T, Falconi M. Polymorphism in Mitochondrial Coding Regions of Mediterranean Loggerhead Turtles: Evolutionary Relevance and Structural Effects. Physiol Biochem Zool 2016; 89:473-486. [DOI: 10.1086/688679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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Jensen MP, Pilcher N, FitzSimmons NN. Genetic markers provide insight on origins of immature green turtles Chelonia mydas with biased sex ratios at foraging grounds in Sabah, Malaysia. ENDANGER SPECIES RES 2016. [DOI: 10.3354/esr00763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
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Shamblin BM, Dutton PH, Bjorndal KA, Bolten AB, Naro-Maciel E, Santos AJB, Bellini C, Baptistotte C, Marcovaldi MÂ, Nairn CJ. Deeper Mitochondrial Sequencing Reveals Cryptic Diversity and Structure in Brazilian Green Turtle Rookeries. CHELONIAN CONSERVATION AND BIOLOGY 2015. [DOI: 10.2744/ccb-1152.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Brian M. Shamblin
- Daniel B. Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602 USA [ ; ]
| | - Peter H. Dutton
- Marine Mammal and Turtle Division, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, 8901 La Jolla Shores Drive, La Jolla, California 92037 USA [ ]
| | - Karen A. Bjorndal
- Archie Carr Center for Sea Turtle Research and Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611 USA [ ; ]
| | - Alan B. Bolten
- Archie Carr Center for Sea Turtle Research and Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611 USA [ ; ]
| | - Eugenia Naro-Maciel
- College of Staten Island, City University of New York, 2800 Victory Boulevard, Staten Island, New York 10314 USA [ ]
| | | | - Claudio Bellini
- Centro Nacional de Conservação e Manejo de Tartarugas Marinhas, TAMAR-ICMBio, Caixa Postal 2219 Rio Vermelho, CEP 41950-970, Salvador, BA, Brazil [ ; ]
| | - Cecilia Baptistotte
- Centro Nacional de Conservação e Manejo de Tartarugas Marinhas, TAMAR-ICMBio, Caixa Postal 2219 Rio Vermelho, CEP 41950-970, Salvador, BA, Brazil [ ; ]
| | | | - Campbell J. Nairn
- Daniel B. Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602 USA [ ; ]
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15
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Genetic structure of Florida green turtle rookeries as indicated by mitochondrial DNA control region sequences. CONSERV GENET 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/s10592-014-0692-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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16
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Gorham JC, Clark DR, Bresette MJ, Bagley DA, Keske CL, Traxler SL, Witherington BE, Shamblin BM, Nairn CJ. Characterization of a subtropical hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmocheyles imbricata) assemblage utilizing shallow water natural and artificial habitats in the Florida Keys. PLoS One 2014; 9:e114171. [PMID: 25517946 PMCID: PMC4269478 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0114171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2014] [Accepted: 11/05/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
In order to provide information to better inform management decisions and direct further research, vessel-based visual transects, snorkel transects, and in-water capture techniques were used to characterize hawksbill sea turtles in the shallow marine habitats of a Marine Protected Area (MPA), the Key West National Wildlife Refuge in the Florida Keys. Hawksbills were found in hardbottom and seagrass dominated habitats throughout the Refuge, and on man-made rubble structures in the Northwest Channel near Cottrell Key. Hawksbills captured (N = 82) were exclusively juveniles and subadults with a straight standard carapace length (SSCL) ranging from 21.4 to 69.0cm with a mean of 44.1 cm (SD = 10.8). Somatic growth rates were calculated from 15 recaptured turtles with periods at large ranging from 51 to 1188 days. Mean SSCL growth rate was 7.7 cm/year (SD = 4.6). Juvenile hawksbills (<50 cm SSCL) showed a significantly higher growth rate (9.2 cm/year, SD = 4.5, N = 11) than subadult hawksbills (50–70 cm SSCL, 3.6 cm/year, SD = 0.9, N = 4). Analysis of 740 base pair mitochondrial control region sequences from 50 sampled turtles yielded 12 haplotypes. Haplotype frequencies were significantly different compared to four other Caribbean juvenile foraging aggregations, including one off the Atlantic coast of Florida. Many-to-one mixed stock analysis indicated Mexico as the primary source of juveniles in the region and also suggested that the Refuge may serve as important developmental habitat for the Cuban nesting aggregation. Serum testosterone radioimmunoassay results from 33 individuals indicated a female biased sex ratio of 3.3 females: 1 male for hawksbills in the Refuge. This assemblage of hawksbills is near the northern limit of the species range, and is one of only two such assemblages described in the waters of the continental United States. Since this assemblage resides in an MPA with intensive human use, basic information on the assemblage is vital to resource managers charged with conservation and species protection in the MPA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan C. Gorham
- Inwater Research Group Inc., Jensen Beach, Florida, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - David R. Clark
- Inwater Research Group Inc., Jensen Beach, Florida, United States of America
| | - Michael J. Bresette
- Inwater Research Group Inc., Jensen Beach, Florida, United States of America
| | - Dean A. Bagley
- Inwater Research Group Inc., Jensen Beach, Florida, United States of America
| | - Carrie L. Keske
- Inwater Research Group Inc., Jensen Beach, Florida, United States of America
| | - Steve L. Traxler
- Inwater Research Group Inc., Jensen Beach, Florida, United States of America
| | | | - Brian M. Shamblin
- Daniel B. Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Campbell J. Nairn
- Daniel B. Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
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Shamblin BM, Bolten AB, Abreu-Grobois FA, Bjorndal KA, Cardona L, Carreras C, Clusa M, Monzón-Argüello C, Nairn CJ, Nielsen JT, Nel R, Soares LS, Stewart KR, Vilaça ST, Türkozan O, Yilmaz C, Dutton PH. Geographic patterns of genetic variation in a broadly distributed marine vertebrate: new insights into loggerhead turtle stock structure from expanded mitochondrial DNA sequences. PLoS One 2014; 9:e85956. [PMID: 24465810 PMCID: PMC3900438 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0085956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2013] [Accepted: 12/04/2013] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous genetic studies have demonstrated that natal homing shapes the stock structure of marine turtle nesting populations. However, widespread sharing of common haplotypes based on short segments of the mitochondrial control region often limits resolution of the demographic connectivity of populations. Recent studies employing longer control region sequences to resolve haplotype sharing have focused on regional assessments of genetic structure and phylogeography. Here we synthesize available control region sequences for loggerhead turtles from the Mediterranean Sea, Atlantic, and western Indian Ocean basins. These data represent six of the nine globally significant regional management units (RMUs) for the species and include novel sequence data from Brazil, Cape Verde, South Africa and Oman. Genetic tests of differentiation among 42 rookeries represented by short sequences (380 bp haplotypes from 3,486 samples) and 40 rookeries represented by long sequences (∼800 bp haplotypes from 3,434 samples) supported the distinction of the six RMUs analyzed as well as recognition of at least 18 demographically independent management units (MUs) with respect to female natal homing. A total of 59 haplotypes were resolved. These haplotypes belonged to two highly divergent global lineages, with haplogroup I represented primarily by CC-A1, CC-A4, and CC-A11 variants and haplogroup II represented by CC-A2 and derived variants. Geographic distribution patterns of haplogroup II haplotypes and the nested position of CC-A11.6 from Oman among the Atlantic haplotypes invoke recent colonization of the Indian Ocean from the Atlantic for both global lineages. The haplotypes we confirmed for western Indian Ocean RMUs allow reinterpretation of previous mixed stock analysis and further suggest that contemporary migratory connectivity between the Indian and Atlantic Oceans occurs on a broader scale than previously hypothesized. This study represents a valuable model for conducting comprehensive international cooperative data management and research in marine ecology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian M. Shamblin
- National Research Council Research Associateship Program, Washington, D.C., United States of America
- Marine Mammal and Turtle Division, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration Fisheries, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Alan B. Bolten
- Archie Carr Center for Sea Turtle Research and Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - F. Alberto Abreu-Grobois
- Unidad Académica Mazatlán, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mazatlán, Sinaloa, México
| | - Karen A. Bjorndal
- Archie Carr Center for Sea Turtle Research and Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Luis Cardona
- Department of Animal Biology and IRBio, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Carlos Carreras
- Department of Animal Biology and IRBio, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Marine Turtle Research Group, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Cornwall Campus, Peryn, Cornwall, United Kingdom
| | - Marcel Clusa
- Department of Animal Biology and IRBio, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Catalina Monzón-Argüello
- Departamento de Biología, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Campus de Tafira, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - Campbell J. Nairn
- Daniel B. Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Janne T. Nielsen
- Department of Biology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida, United States of America
| | - Ronel Nel
- Zoology Department, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Summerstrand Campus South, University Way, Summerstrand, Port Elizabeth, South Africa
| | - Luciano S. Soares
- Archie Carr Center for Sea Turtle Research and Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
- Projeto TAMAR-ICMBio, Salvador, BA, Brazil
| | - Kelly R. Stewart
- Marine Mammal and Turtle Division, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration Fisheries, La Jolla, California, United States of America
- The Ocean Foundation, Washington, D.C., United States of America
| | - Sibelle T. Vilaça
- Laboratório de Biodiversidade e Evolução Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Oguz Türkozan
- Adnan Menderes University, Faculty of Science and Arts, Department of Biology, Aydin, Turkey
| | - Can Yilmaz
- Adnan Menderes University, Faculty of Science and Arts, Department of Biology, Aydin, Turkey
| | - Peter H. Dutton
- Marine Mammal and Turtle Division, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration Fisheries, La Jolla, California, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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