Global phylogeography of ridley sea turtles ( spp.): evolution, demography, connectivity, and conservation.

Unlabelled: Globally distributed marine taxa are well suited for investigations of biogeographic impacts on genetic diversity, connectivity, and population demography. The sea turtle genus includes the wide-ranging and abundant olive ridley (), and the geographically restricted and 'Critically Endangered' Kemp's ridley (). To investigate their historical biogeography, we analyzed a large dataset of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequences from olive (n = 943) and Kemp's (n = 287) ridleys, and genotyped 15 nuclear microsatellite loci in a global sample of olive ridleys (n  285).

Age-specific growth and maturity estimates for the flatback sea turtle (Natator depressus) by skeletochronology.

To address a major knowledge gap for flatback sea turtles (Natator depressus), a species endemic to Australia and considered 'Data Deficient' for IUCN Red List assessment, we present the first-ever skeletochronology-derived age and growth rate estimates for this species. Using a rare collection of bone samples gathered from across northern Australia, we applied skeletochronology and characterized the length-at-age relationship, established baseline growth rates from the hatchling to adult life stages, and produced empirical estimates of age-at- and size-at-sexual-maturation (ASM, SSM). We analyzed humeri from 74 flatback sea turtles ranging in body size from 6.

Geography best explains global patterns of genetic diversity and postglacial co-expansion in marine turtles.

For many species, climate oscillations drove cycles of population contraction during cool glacial periods followed by expansion during interglacials. Some groups, however, show evidence of uniform and synchronous expansion, while others display differences in the timing and extent of demographic change. We compared demographic histories inferred from genetic data across marine turtle species to identify responses to postglacial warming shared across taxa and to examine drivers of past demographic change at the global scale.

Phylogeography, Genetic Diversity, and Management Units of Hawksbill Turtles in the Indo-Pacific.

Hawksbill 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 766 bp of the mitochondrial control region from 13 locations (plus Aldabra, n = 4) spanning over 13500 km.

Determining microsatellite genotyping reliability and mutation detection ability: an approach using small-pool PCR from sperm DNA.

Microsatellite genotyping from trace DNA is now common in fields as diverse as medicine, forensics and wildlife genetics. Conversely, small-pool PCR (SP-PCR) has been used to investigate microsatellite mutation mechanisms in human DNA, but has had only limited application to non-human species. Trace DNA and SP-PCR studies share many challenges, including problems associated with allelic drop-out, false alleles and other PCR artefacts, and the need to reliably identify genuine alleles and/or mutations.

DNA barcodes for globally threatened marine turtles: a registry approach to documenting biodiversity.

DNA barcoding is a global initiative that provides a standardized and efficient tool to catalogue and inventory biodiversity, with significant conservation applications. Despite progress across taxonomic realms, globally threatened marine turtles remain underrepresented in this effort. To obtain DNA barcodes of marine turtles, we sequenced a segment of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene from all seven species in the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean basins (815 bp; n = 80).

The genetic structure of Australasian green turtles (Chelonia mydas): exploring the geographical scale of genetic exchange.

Ecological and genetic studies of marine turtles generally support the hypothesis of natal homing, but leave open the question of the geographical scale of genetic exchange and the capacity of turtles to shift breeding sites. Here we combine analyses of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) variation and recapture data to assess the geographical scale of individual breeding populations and the distribution of such populations through Australasia. We conducted multiscale assessments of mtDNA variation among 714 samples from 27 green turtle rookeries and of adult female dispersal among nesting sites in eastern Australia.

Identification of purebred Crocodylus siamensis for reintroduction in Vietnam.

Crocodylus siamensis, the Siamese crocodile, is a critically endangered species of freshwater crocodile previously distributed throughout much of SE Asia. Recovery plans call for reintroductions to the wild using founder individuals currently in captivity, mostly in commercial crocodile farms. On many farms C.