Genetics, Morphometrics and Health Characterization of Green Turtle Foraging Grounds in Mainland and Insular Chile
Two divergent genetic lineages have been described for the endangered green turtle in the Pacific Ocean, occurring sympatrically in some foraging grounds. Chile has seven known green turtle foraging grounds, hosting mainly juveniles of different lineages. Unfortunately, anthropic factors have led to...
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MDPI AG
2022-06-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/12/1473 |
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| author | Rocío Álvarez-Varas Carol Medrano Hugo A. Benítez Felipe Guerrero Fabiola León Miranda Juliana A. Vianna Camila González David Véliz |
| author_facet | Rocío Álvarez-Varas Carol Medrano Hugo A. Benítez Felipe Guerrero Fabiola León Miranda Juliana A. Vianna Camila González David Véliz |
| author_sort | Rocío Álvarez-Varas |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Two divergent genetic lineages have been described for the endangered green turtle in the Pacific Ocean, occurring sympatrically in some foraging grounds. Chile has seven known green turtle foraging grounds, hosting mainly juveniles of different lineages. Unfortunately, anthropic factors have led to the decline or disappearance of most foraging aggregations. We investigated age-class/sex structure, morphological variation, genetic diversity and structure, and health status of turtles from two mainland (Bahia Salado and Playa Chinchorro) and one insular (Easter Island) Chilean foraging grounds. Bahia Salado is composed of juveniles, and with Playa Chinchorro, exclusively harbors individuals of the north-central/eastern Pacific lineage, with Galapagos as the major genetic contributor. Conversely, Easter Island hosts juveniles and adults from both the eastern Pacific and French Polynesia. Morphological variation was found between lineages and foraging grounds, suggesting an underlying genetic component but also an environmental influence. Turtles from Easter Island, unlike Bahia Salado, exhibited injuries/alterations probably related to anthropic threats. Our findings point to establishing legal protection for mainland Chile’s foraging grounds, and to ensure that the administrative plan for Easter Island’s marine protected area maintains ecosystem health, turtle population viability, and related cultural and touristic activities. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T00:37:55Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f9ce8964fea143d196ff74cd7b805e89 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T00:37:55Z |
| publishDate | 2022-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-f9ce8964fea143d196ff74cd7b805e892023-11-23T15:13:42ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152022-06-011212147310.3390/ani12121473Genetics, Morphometrics and Health Characterization of Green Turtle Foraging Grounds in Mainland and Insular ChileRocío Álvarez-Varas0Carol Medrano1Hugo A. Benítez2Felipe Guerrero3Fabiola León Miranda4Juliana A. Vianna5Camila González6David Véliz7Center for Ecology and Sustainable Management of Oceanic Islands (ESMOI), Departamento de Biología Marina, Universidad Católica del Norte, Coquimbo 1780000, ChileQarapara Tortugas Marinas Chile NGO, Santiago 7750000, ChileLaboratorio de Ecología y Morfometría Evolutiva, Centro de Investigación de Estudios Avanzados del Maule, Universidad Católica del Maule, Talca 3466706, ChileQarapara Tortugas Marinas Chile NGO, Santiago 7750000, ChileDepartamento de Ecosistemas y Medio Ambiente, Facultad de Agronomía e Ingeniería Forestal, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 8940000, ChileDepartamento de Ecosistemas y Medio Ambiente, Facultad de Agronomía e Ingeniería Forestal, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 8940000, ChileCentro de Estudios Avanzados en Zonas Áridas (CEAZA), Coquimbo 1780000, ChileCenter for Ecology and Sustainable Management of Oceanic Islands (ESMOI), Departamento de Biología Marina, Universidad Católica del Norte, Coquimbo 1780000, ChileTwo divergent genetic lineages have been described for the endangered green turtle in the Pacific Ocean, occurring sympatrically in some foraging grounds. Chile has seven known green turtle foraging grounds, hosting mainly juveniles of different lineages. Unfortunately, anthropic factors have led to the decline or disappearance of most foraging aggregations. We investigated age-class/sex structure, morphological variation, genetic diversity and structure, and health status of turtles from two mainland (Bahia Salado and Playa Chinchorro) and one insular (Easter Island) Chilean foraging grounds. Bahia Salado is composed of juveniles, and with Playa Chinchorro, exclusively harbors individuals of the north-central/eastern Pacific lineage, with Galapagos as the major genetic contributor. Conversely, Easter Island hosts juveniles and adults from both the eastern Pacific and French Polynesia. Morphological variation was found between lineages and foraging grounds, suggesting an underlying genetic component but also an environmental influence. Turtles from Easter Island, unlike Bahia Salado, exhibited injuries/alterations probably related to anthropic threats. Our findings point to establishing legal protection for mainland Chile’s foraging grounds, and to ensure that the administrative plan for Easter Island’s marine protected area maintains ecosystem health, turtle population viability, and related cultural and touristic activities.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/12/1473<i>Chelonia mydas</i>regional connectivitygeometric morphometricsEastern PacificPolynesiaEaster Island |
| spellingShingle | Rocío Álvarez-Varas Carol Medrano Hugo A. Benítez Felipe Guerrero Fabiola León Miranda Juliana A. Vianna Camila González David Véliz Genetics, Morphometrics and Health Characterization of Green Turtle Foraging Grounds in Mainland and Insular Chile Animals <i>Chelonia mydas</i> regional connectivity geometric morphometrics Eastern Pacific Polynesia Easter Island |
| title | Genetics, Morphometrics and Health Characterization of Green Turtle Foraging Grounds in Mainland and Insular Chile |
| title_full | Genetics, Morphometrics and Health Characterization of Green Turtle Foraging Grounds in Mainland and Insular Chile |
| title_fullStr | Genetics, Morphometrics and Health Characterization of Green Turtle Foraging Grounds in Mainland and Insular Chile |
| title_full_unstemmed | Genetics, Morphometrics and Health Characterization of Green Turtle Foraging Grounds in Mainland and Insular Chile |
| title_short | Genetics, Morphometrics and Health Characterization of Green Turtle Foraging Grounds in Mainland and Insular Chile |
| title_sort | genetics morphometrics and health characterization of green turtle foraging grounds in mainland and insular chile |
| topic | <i>Chelonia mydas</i> regional connectivity geometric morphometrics Eastern Pacific Polynesia Easter Island |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/12/1473 |
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