Genetic structuring of immature loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) in the Mediterranean Sea reflects water circulation patterns |
| |
Authors: | Carlos Carreras Sara Pont Fulvio Maffucci Marta Pascual Anna Barceló Flegra Bentivegna Luis Cardona Ferràn Alegre Manuel SanFélix Gloria Fernández Alex Aguilar |
| |
Institution: | (1) Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Avda. Diagonal 645, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain;(2) Marine Animal Rescue Center (CRAM), Camí Ral 239, E-08330 Premià de Mar, Spain;(3) Stazione Zoologica “A. Dorhn”, Villa Comunale I, 80121 Naples, Italy;(4) Department of Genetics, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Avda. Diagonal 645, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain;(5) Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Barcelona Autonomous University, E-08193 Bellaterra, Spain;(6) Marine Biology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Faculty of Biology, University of Valencia, C/Dr. Moliner 50, E-46100 Burjasot (Valencia), Spain;(7) Fundación Marineland, C/ Garcilaso de la Vega 9, E-07181 Costa d’en Blanes, Calvià, Spain |
| |
Abstract: | The analysis of mitochondrial DNA in loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) from eight foraging grounds in the Mediterranean and the adjoining Atlantic revealed deep genetic structuring within the western Mediterranean. As a consequence, the foraging grounds off the North-African coast and the Gimnesies Islands are shown to be inhabited mainly by turtles of the Atlantic stocks, whereas the foraging grounds off the European shore of the western Mediterranean are shown to be inhabited mainly by turtles from the eastern Mediterranean rookeries. This structuring is explained by the pattern of sea surface currents and water masses and suggests that immature loggerhead sea turtles entering the western Mediterranean from the Atlantic and the eastern Mediterranean remain linked to particular water masses, with a limited exchange of turtles between water masses. As the north of the western Mediterranean comprises mostly individuals from the highly endangered eastern Mediterranean rookeries, conservation plans should make it a priority to reduce the mortality caused by incidental by-catch in these areas. |
| |
Keywords: | |
本文献已被 SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |
|