Abstract

Patterns of genetic structure in highly mobile marine vertebrates may be accompanied by phenotypic variation. Most studies in marine turtles focused on population genetic structure have been performed at rookeries. We studied whether genetic and morphological variation of the endangered green turtle (Chelonia mydas) is consistent geographically, focusing on foraging grounds. An association between population genetic structure and body shape variation at broad (inter-lineage) and fine (foraging grounds) scales was predicted and analysed using mitochondrial DNA and geometric morphometrics. Although genetic and phenotypic differentiation patterns were congruent between lineages, no fine-scale association was found, suggesting adaptive divergence. Connectivity among Pacific foraging grounds found here suggests that temperatures of ocean surface currents may influence the genetic structure of C. mydas on a broad scale. Our results suggest that vicariance, dispersal, life-history traits and ecological conditions operating in foraging grounds have shaped the intraspecific morphology and genetic diversity of this species. Considering a range of geographic and temporal scales is useful when management strategies are required for cosmopolitan species. Integrating morphological and genetic tools at different spatial scales, conservation management is proposed based on protection of neutral and adaptive diversity. This approach opens new questions and challenges, especially regarding conservation genetics in cosmopolitan species.

中文翻译：

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整合大都会海龟物种中不同空间尺度的形态和遗传数据：管理和保护的挑战

摘要

在高度活动的海洋脊椎动物中，遗传结构的模式可能伴随着表型变异。大部分针对种群遗传结构的海龟研究都是在鸟类园进行的。我们研究了濒临灭绝的绿海龟（Chelonia mydas）的遗传和形态变异）在地理上保持一致，并以觅食为重点。使用线粒体DNA和几何形态计量学，预测并分析了群体遗传结构与广泛（中间谱系）和精细（觅食场）尺度上的体形变异之间的关联。尽管谱系之间的遗传和表型分化模式是一致的，但没有发现精细的关联，表明适应性分歧。此处发现的太平洋觅食地之间的连通性表明，海表洋流的温度可能会影响梭状芽胞杆菌的遗传结构。广泛地。我们的研究结果表明，觅食场中的变异，传播，生活史特征和生态条件已经影响了该物种的种内形态和遗传多样性。当需要国际化物种的管理策略时，考虑一系列地理和时间尺度是有用的。结合不同空间尺度的形态学和遗传学工具，在保护中性和适应性多样性的基础上，提出了保护管理措施。这种方法提出了新的问题和挑战，特别是关于大都会物种的保护遗传学。