Low-coverage reduced representation sequencing reveals subtle within-island genetic structure in Aldabra giant tortoises.

ABSTRACT: Aldabrachelys gigantea (Aldabra giant tortoise) is one of only two giant tortoise species left in the world and survives as a single wild population of over 100,000 individuals on Aldabra Atoll, Seychelles. Despite this large current population size, the species faces an uncertain future because of its extremely restricted distribution range and high vulnerability to the projected consequences of climate change. Captive-bred A. gigantea are increasingly used in rewilding programs across the region, where they are introduced to replace extinct giant tortoises in an attempt to functionally resurrect degraded island ecosystems. However, there has been little consideration of the current levels of genetic variation and differentiation within and among the islands on Aldabr

SUBMITTER: Cilingir FG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8931707 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature