Estrutura populacional e variabilidade genética de tartaruga verde (Chelonia mydas) da região de Cananéia, São Paulo / Populational structure and genetic variability of green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) from Cananéia, São Paulo

AUTOR(ES)

Ana Cristina Vigliar Bondioli

DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

2009

RESUMO

The green turtle, Chelonia mydas, is an endangered marine reptile that nests and forages along the Brazilian coast and oceanic islands, among other tropical areas. Due to the highly migratory and oceanic nature of these animals, ecological studies are many times difficult to carry out, and many questions about their biology remain. Molecular genetic analysis is a powerful tool for bridging these gaps, providing valuable information about population structure, phylogeography, and genealogy. This study analyzes mitochondrial DNA sequences (tRNA-Pro + D-loop) from green sea turtles of the Cananéia regional juvenile feeding ground over a four-year period. Significant differences were found between annual samples (p<0.05), however no significant differences were found between seasons (p>0.05). The sample was composed primarily of individuals of haplotypes CM-08 (63%) and CM-05 (26%). All other haplotypes (n = 8) were relative rare, with frequencies lower than 5%. The analysis revealed the area to be a mixed stock, composed of animals drawn from at least six different nesting areas. Because Cananéia is connected to other nesting and feeding grounds throughout the Atlantic Ocean, the health of these populations is interdependent, and threats in one area will likely impact connected sites. This connectivity underscores the importance of understanding regional population dynamics using genetic analysis, with conservation applications. These data will be included in the management plans for the Ilha do Cardoso State Park and the Environmental Protection Area of Ilha Comprida, so that Cananéia will be considered a priority area for the preservation of green sea turtles in Brazil.

ASSUNTO(S)

chelonia mydas mitochondrial dna chelonia mydas genetic variability estrutura populacional variabilidade genética dna mitocondrial populacional structure

Documentos Relacionados

• Morfologia do tubo digestório da tartaruga verde (Chelonia mydas)
• Green turtle (Chelonia mydas) genetic diversity at Paranaguá Estuarine Complex feeding grounds in Brazil
• Concentration of heavy metals in tissues of green turtles (Chelonia mydas) sampled in the Cananéia estuary, Brazil
• Caracterização morfológica do esôfago de tartarugas-verdes (Chelonia mydas)
• The morphology of the kidney of the green turtle (Chelonia mydas L.).