Global phylogeography of the critically endangered hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata).

ABSTRACT: The hawksbill turtle is a broadly distributed, highly migratory and critically endangered sea turtle species. The paucity of studies restricts the comprehension of its behavior and life history. In this work, we performed a global phylogeographic analysis using a compilation of previously published mitochondrial haplotype data to understand the dynamics and diversity of hawksbill populations worldwide. Our results revealed a complex demographic pattern associated to hawksbill phylogeography since the Pliocene. Isolation by distance is not enough to explain distinct demographic units of hawksbill turtles, which are also influenced by other factors as oceanic currents, coral reef distribution and nesting timing. The foraging aggregations are typically mixed stocks of individuals originating

SUBMITTER: Arantes LS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7288670 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jan-Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature