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Population structure enhances perspectives on regional management of the western Indian Ocean green turtle

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Abstract

To refine our understanding of the spatial structure of the green turtle (Chelonia mydas) populations in the South West Indian Ocean (SWIO), we analysed patterns of mitochondrial DNA (396 base pairs control region fragment) variation among 171 samples collected at five distinct locations (Kenya, Northern Mozambique, and three locations in the Republic of Seychelles: the Granitic, Amirantes, and Farquhar groups) and compared them to genetic data (n = 288), previously collected from 10 southern locations in the SWIO. We also analysed post-nesting satellite tracks (n = 4) from green turtles nesting in the Amirantes group. Pairwise comparisons of haplotype frequencies showed significant genetic differentiation amongst rookeries and suggest that the SWIO hosts two main genetic stocks of nesting green turtles that could themselves be divided in two sub-stocks that still need to be confirmed: A. the Southern Mozambique Channel, that could be composed of two sub-stocks (a1) Europa and (a2) Juan de Nova, and B. the Northern SWIO (N-SWIO) comprising two sub-stocks (b1) the Seychelles archipelago stock—SEY; and (b2) the remaining Northern SWIO rookeries. The newly revealed differentiation of the Seychelles population is supported by restricted migration of females tracked from the Amirantes group suggesting relatively limited links with other regional stocks. We hypothesize that this differentiation could be due to local and regional current patterns and to the role of the Indo-Pacific Barrier as a genetic break, enhanced during periods of sea level decrease associated with a rare but continuous flow of hatchlings and young juveniles from Western Australia.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are most grateful for the financial support of this study provided by European Union (FSE and FEDER), Regional Council of La Réunion, FAO within the framework of the FAO project GCP/INT/919/JPN “Interactions between Sea Turtles and Fisheries within an Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management”, the EU 7th Funding Program - Capacities, Research Potential (project RUNSeaSciences) and the SWIOFP project funded by the GEF and World Bank. In Seychelles, for assistance with genetic sample collection, JAM is grateful to: R. Bresson (Bird); L. Vanherck, U. Bristol (Ile du Nord); P. Hitchins (Cousine); A. Burt, N. Dunn (Curieuse); T. Reposa, G. Canning (Fregate); C. Arnold (Aride); E. Talma (Mahé); N. Boniface, D. Bristol, W. Labrosse, C. Boyes, R. von Brandis (D’Arros & St. Joseph); T. Jupiter (Desroches); A. Duhec, R. Jeanne, P-A. Adam, S. Balderson (Alphonse); and G. Esparon (Farquhar). In Chagos, for assistance with sample collection, JAM is grateful to: N. Esteban, N. Guzman, G. Hays, the 1996 and 2006 Chagos Expeditions, Fauna & Flora International, the BIOT Scientific Advisory Group (SAG), and Darwin Initiative Challenge Fund grant (EIDCF008). Field assistance to attach the satellite tags at St. Joseph was provided by R. von Brandis, N. Boniface, W. Labrosse, and D. Bristol. Organizational support in Seychelles came from D’Arros Research Centre (DRC), Island Conservation Society (ICS), Islands Development Company (IDC), Save Our Seas Foundation (SOSF), Seychelles Islands Foundation (SIF), Seychelles Department of Environment; while project funding came from the GEF EMPS-J1: Turtle and Tortoise Conservation Project, and Turtle Component of the GEF-SEYMEMP Project. The turtle project in northern Mozambique was funded by the Maluane/Cabo Delgado Biodiversity and Tourism Project, the Zoological Society of London, Tusk Trust, the European Association of Zoo and Aquaria. BJG was supported by the Darwin Initiative. Samples for Kenya collected through KESCOM, by Watamu Turtle Watch. Finally, we would like to thank Laurence Maurel for the IDW approach used in his study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut Français de Recherche pour l’Exploitation de la Mer, Ifremer, Délégation de La Réunion, Rue Jean Bertho, BP 60, 97 822, Le Port Cedex, Ile de La Réunion, France

    Jérôme Bourjea & Delphine Muths

  2. Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA

    Jeanne A. Mortimer

  3. The Zoological Society of London, Regent’s Park, London, NW1 4RY, UK

    Julie Garnier

  4. Kenya Sea Turtle Conservation Committee (KESCOM), P.O. Box 84688, Mombasa, 80100, Kenya

    Gladys Okemwa

  5. Marine Turtle Research Group, Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Treliever Road, Penryn, Cornwall, TR10 9EZ, UK

    Brendan J. Godley

  6. 183 Amber Valley, Private Bag X30, Howick, 3290, South Africa

    George Hughes

  7. KELONIA, l’observatoire des tortues marines de La Réunion, 46 rue du Général De Gaulle, 97 436, Saint Leu, La Réunion, France

    Mayeul Dalleau, Claire Jean & Stéphane Ciccione

  8. University of Reunion Island, FRE3560 INEE-CNRS, 15 Avenue René Cassin, BP 7151, 97715, Saint Denis, La Reunion, France

    Jérôme Bourjea

  9. Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute, P.O. Box 81651-80100, Mombasa, Kenya

    Gladys Okemwa

  10. P.O. Box 1443, Victoria, Mahé, Seychelles

    Jeanne A. Mortimer

  11. Save Our Seas Foundation D’Arros Research Centre, D’Arros Island, Seychelles

    Jeanne A. Mortimer

  12. Island Conservation Society, P.O. Box 775, Victoria, Mahé, Seychelles

    Jeanne A. Mortimer

Authors
  1. Jérôme Bourjea
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  2. Jeanne A. Mortimer
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  3. Julie Garnier
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  4. Gladys Okemwa
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  5. Brendan J. Godley
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  6. George Hughes
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  7. Mayeul Dalleau
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  8. Claire Jean
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  9. Stéphane Ciccione
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  10. Delphine Muths
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jérôme Bourjea.

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Bourjea, J., Mortimer, J.A., Garnier, J. et al. Population structure enhances perspectives on regional management of the western Indian Ocean green turtle. Conserv Genet 16, 1069–1083 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-015-0723-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-015-0723-3

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