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Increased sample size provides novel insights into population structure of Mediterranean loggerhead sea turtles

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Abstract

The loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta), has the widest distribution among sea turtle species in the Mediterranean, requiring regional and international collaborations in addition to local efforts to better inform conservation actions. Molecular techniques are powerful tools for the assessment of population dynamics at large scales, especially in determining the connectivity among different nesting and foraging sites, and genetic diversity. In this study, a large sample was collected synchronously in the nesting areas located in the north, south and eastern Mediterranean. Recently confirmed nesting sites from Albania and other nesting sites represented by lower sample sizes were also included in order to better assess the genetic composition of the region’s rookeries. Samples from 698 individuals were collected and the longer (815 bp) mtDNA D-loop fragment of these samples was sequenced. We recorded 15 haplotypes, three of which were novel. In addition, our results show that some haplotypes considered of Atlantic origin, have a wider dispersal in the Mediterranean than previously thought, albeit with low levels of representation. Our results contribute to determining the likely origin of haplotypes that were previously only recorded from foraging sites. They highlight the utility of broad-scale sampling, with increased sample sizes and the longer mtDNA sequence to determine genetic diversity and connectivity. This study also demonstrates the importance of continued monitoring for the contribution of Atlantic-origin haplotypes to the Mediterranean population and the effects of climate change on the resident Mediterranean population, which is expected to expand its geographical range for reproduction. This work is important for, mixed stock analyses (MSA) that seek to determine the natal regions of stranded or accidentally caught sea turtles and those purposefully obtained from foraging sites. In doing so biogeographic linkages between areas of the Mediterranean can be elucidated for conservation purposes.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the MAVA Foundation for supporting the project of Conservation of Marine Turtles in the Mediterranean. This paper is significant for the loggerhead turtle in the Mediterranean, and for this reason all authors agreed to collaborate by providing data. We all thank our volunteers in collecting the samples in the field.

Funding

MAVA Foundation, Conservation of Marine Turtles in the Mediterranean.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Science and Mathematics, Faculty of Education, Pamukkale University, Denizli, Turkey

    Arzu Kaska

  2. Sea Turtle Research, Rescue and Rehabilitation Center (DEKAMER), Dalyan, Turkey

    Gizem Koç & Yakup Kaska

  3. Acıpayam Vocational School, Department of Veterinary, Pamukkale University, Denizli, Turkey

    Doğan Sözbilen

  4. Sirte Environmental Affairs Department, Ministry of Environment, Sirte, Libya

    Diryaq Salih, Ashraf Glidan & Almokhtar Saied

  5. ARCHELON, the Sea Turtle Protection Society of Greece, Athens, Greece

    Dimitris Margaritoulis, Panagiota Theodorou & ALan Rees

  6. Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Penryn, TR10 9FE, UK

    Robin Snape, Annette Broderick & Brendan Godley

  7. SPOT, Society for Protection of Turtles, Nicosia, Northern Cyprus

    Damla Beton & Meryem Ozkan

  8. Sfax Faculty of Sciences, University of Sfax, B.P. 1171, 3000, Sfax, Tunisia

    Imed Jribi

  9. Notre Grand Bleu Association, Monastir, Tunisia

    Manel Ben Ismail

  10. Agence de Protection Et Aménagement de Littoral, Tunis, Tunisia

    Ahmed Ben Hmida

  11. Tyre Coast Nature Reserve- Biology Laboratory, Tyre, Lebanon

    Ali Badreddine

  12. Research Center of Flora and Fauna, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Tirana, Tirana, Albania

    Enerit Sacdanaku

  13. Mediterranean Association to Save the Sea Turtle (MEDASSET), Athens, Greece

    Vicky Rae

  14. Nature Conservation Sector, Biodiversity Department, Cairo, Egypt

    Mohamed Said Abdelwarith & Nahla Naguib

  15. Genetic Engineering Research Center, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo Unisversity, Cairo, Egypt

    Nahla Naguib

  16. Specially Protected, Areas Regional Activity Centre (SPA/RAC), Boulevard du Leader Yasser Arafat - B.P, 337 - 1080, Tunis Cedex, Tunisia

    Lobna Ben Nakhla, Atef Limam & Marwan Abderrahim

  17. MAVA Foundation, Rue Mauverney 28, 1196, Gland, Switzerland

    Julien Sémelin

  18. Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Arts, Pamukkale University, Denizli, Turkey

    Yakup Kaska

  19. Libyan Organization for Conservation of Nature, LOCN, Misrata, Libya

    Abd Alati Elsowayeb

  20. Marine Research Institute, Klaipeda University, Klaipeda, Lithuania

    Gizem Koç

Authors
  1. Arzu Kaska
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  2. Gizem Koç
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  3. Doğan Sözbilen
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  8. Dimitris Margaritoulis
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  27. Julien Sémelin
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  28. Yakup Kaska
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. The first draft of the manuscript was written by corresponding author and his co-authors from the same affiliation and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Yakup Kaska.

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Kaska, A., Koç, G., Sözbilen, D. et al. Increased sample size provides novel insights into population structure of Mediterranean loggerhead sea turtles. Conservation Genet Resour 15, 67–75 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12686-023-01303-9

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