Integrating molecular, phenotypic and environmental data to elucidate patterns of crocodile hybridization in Belize
The genus Crocodylus comprises 12 currently recognized species, many of which can be difficult to differentiate phenotypically. Interspecific hybridization among crocodiles is known to occur in captivity and has been documented between some species in the wild. The identification of hybrid individua...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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The Royal Society
2015-01-01
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| Series: | Royal Society Open Science |
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| Online Access: | https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rsos.150409 |
| _version_ | 1818872742757269504 |
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| author | Evon R. Hekkala Steven G. Platt John B. Thorbjarnarson Thomas R. Rainwater Michael Tessler Seth W. Cunningham Christopher Twomey George Amato |
| author_facet | Evon R. Hekkala Steven G. Platt John B. Thorbjarnarson Thomas R. Rainwater Michael Tessler Seth W. Cunningham Christopher Twomey George Amato |
| author_sort | Evon R. Hekkala |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The genus Crocodylus comprises 12 currently recognized species, many of which can be difficult to differentiate phenotypically. Interspecific hybridization among crocodiles is known to occur in captivity and has been documented between some species in the wild. The identification of hybrid individuals is of importance for management and monitoring of crocodilians, many of which are Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) listed. In this study, both mitochondrial and nuclear DNA markers were evaluated for their use in confirming a suspected hybrid zone between American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) and Morelet’s crocodile (Crocodylus moreletii) populations in southern Belize where individuals and nests exhibiting atypical phenotypic features had previously been observed. Patterns observed in both phenotypic and molecular data indicate possible behavioural and ecological characteristics associated with hybridization events. The results of the combined analyses found that the majority of suspected hybrid samples represent crosses between female C. acutus and male C. moreletii. Phenotypic data could statistically identify hybrids, although morphological overlap between hybrids and C. moreletii reduced reliability of identification based solely on field characters. Ecologically, C. acutus was exclusively found in saline waters, whereas hybrids and C. moreletii were largely absent in these conditions. A hypothesized correlation between unidirectional hybridization and destruction of C. acutus breeding habitats warrants additional research. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T12:43:39Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5193cff3bb2e485daa7ceecaba737db5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2054-5703 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T12:43:39Z |
| publishDate | 2015-01-01 |
| publisher | The Royal Society |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Royal Society Open Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-5193cff3bb2e485daa7ceecaba737db52022-12-21T20:20:52ZengThe Royal SocietyRoyal Society Open Science2054-57032015-01-012910.1098/rsos.150409150409Integrating molecular, phenotypic and environmental data to elucidate patterns of crocodile hybridization in BelizeEvon R. HekkalaSteven G. PlattJohn B. ThorbjarnarsonThomas R. RainwaterMichael TesslerSeth W. CunninghamChristopher TwomeyGeorge AmatoThe genus Crocodylus comprises 12 currently recognized species, many of which can be difficult to differentiate phenotypically. Interspecific hybridization among crocodiles is known to occur in captivity and has been documented between some species in the wild. The identification of hybrid individuals is of importance for management and monitoring of crocodilians, many of which are Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) listed. In this study, both mitochondrial and nuclear DNA markers were evaluated for their use in confirming a suspected hybrid zone between American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) and Morelet’s crocodile (Crocodylus moreletii) populations in southern Belize where individuals and nests exhibiting atypical phenotypic features had previously been observed. Patterns observed in both phenotypic and molecular data indicate possible behavioural and ecological characteristics associated with hybridization events. The results of the combined analyses found that the majority of suspected hybrid samples represent crosses between female C. acutus and male C. moreletii. Phenotypic data could statistically identify hybrids, although morphological overlap between hybrids and C. moreletii reduced reliability of identification based solely on field characters. Ecologically, C. acutus was exclusively found in saline waters, whereas hybrids and C. moreletii were largely absent in these conditions. A hypothesized correlation between unidirectional hybridization and destruction of C. acutus breeding habitats warrants additional research.https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rsos.150409american crocodilemorelet’s crocodilehybrid zonehybridizationspecies' boundariesbelize |
| spellingShingle | Evon R. Hekkala Steven G. Platt John B. Thorbjarnarson Thomas R. Rainwater Michael Tessler Seth W. Cunningham Christopher Twomey George Amato Integrating molecular, phenotypic and environmental data to elucidate patterns of crocodile hybridization in Belize Royal Society Open Science american crocodile morelet’s crocodile hybrid zone hybridization species' boundaries belize |
| title | Integrating molecular, phenotypic and environmental data to elucidate patterns of crocodile hybridization in Belize |
| title_full | Integrating molecular, phenotypic and environmental data to elucidate patterns of crocodile hybridization in Belize |
| title_fullStr | Integrating molecular, phenotypic and environmental data to elucidate patterns of crocodile hybridization in Belize |
| title_full_unstemmed | Integrating molecular, phenotypic and environmental data to elucidate patterns of crocodile hybridization in Belize |
| title_short | Integrating molecular, phenotypic and environmental data to elucidate patterns of crocodile hybridization in Belize |
| title_sort | integrating molecular phenotypic and environmental data to elucidate patterns of crocodile hybridization in belize |
| topic | american crocodile morelet’s crocodile hybrid zone hybridization species' boundaries belize |
| url | https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rsos.150409 |
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