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Phylogeography, genetic diversity, and management units of hawksbill turtles in the Indo-Pacific
journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-19, 01:37 authored by Vargas, SM, Jensen, MP, Ho, SYW, Mobaraki, A, Broderick, D, Mortimer, JA, Whiting, SD, Miller, J, Prince, RIT, Bell, IP, Hoenner, X, Limpus, CJ, Santos, FR, FitzSimmons, NNHawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) populations have experienced global decline because of a history of intense commercial exploitation for shell and stuffed taxidermied whole animals, and harvest for eggs and meat. Improved understanding of genetic diversity and phylogeography is needed to aid conservation. In this study, we analyzed the most geographically comprehensive sample of hawksbill turtles from the Indo-Pacific Ocean, sequencing 766bp of the mitochondrial control region from 13 locations (plus Aldabra, n = 4) spanning over 13500 km. Our analysis of 492 samples revealed 52 haplotypes distributed in 5 divergent clades. Diversification times differed between the Indo-Pacific and Atlantic lineages and appear to be related to the sea-level changes that occurred during the Last Glacial Maximum. We found signals of demographic expansion only for turtles from the Persian Gulf region, which can be tied to a more recent colonization event. Our analyses revealed evidence of transoceanic migration, including connections between feeding grounds from the Atlantic Ocean and Indo-Pacific rookeries. Hawksbill turtles appear to have a complex pattern of phylogeography, showing a weak isolation by distance and evidence of multiple colonization events. Our novel dataset will allow mixed-stock analyses of hawksbill turtle feeding grounds in the Indo-Pacific by providing baseline data needed for conservation efforts in the region. Eight management units are proposed in our study for the Indo-Pacific region that can be incorporated in conservation plans of this critically endangered species.
History
Publication title
Journal of HeredityVolume
107Pagination
199-213ISSN
0022-1503Department/School
Integrated Marine Observing SystemPublisher
Oxford Univ Press IncPlace of publication
Journals Dept, 2001 Evans Rd, Cary, USA, Nc, 27513Rights statement
Copyright 2015 The American Genetic AssociationRepository Status
- Restricted