A genetic survey of heavily exploited, endangered turtles : caveats on the conservation value of trade animals
Document Type
Journal article
Source Publication
Animal Conservation
Publication Date
11-2007
Volume
10
Issue
4
First Page
452
Last Page
460
Publisher
Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
Keywords
Mauremys annamensis, Mauremys mutica, Asian turtle crisis, turtle trade, turtle farm, reintroduction, repatriation, translocation
Abstract
Asian turtles face an extinction crisis, and so it is imperative that systematists accurately determine species diversity in order to guide conservation strategies effectively. We surveyed mitochondrial and nuclear DNA (mtDNA and nuDNA) variation of the heavily exploited Mauremys mutica complex, a clade of Asian turtles that contains the endangered M. mutica from Japan, Taiwan, China and Vietnam, and the critically endangered Mauremys annamensis from central Vietnam. We discovered extensive mtDNA and nuDNA variation among samples that did not correspond to the currently recognized taxonomy. Both nuDNA and mtDNA data suggest that M. mutica is paraphyletic with respect to M. annamensis. Surprisingly, M. annamensis exhibits a previously unknown mtDNA structure in the form of two clades that are paraphyletic to M. mutica. These data reveal that the currently recognized taxonomy of the mutica complex does not reflect the genetic diversity of our samples. Unfortunately, many conservation-oriented captive-breeding efforts for turtles are also based on trade samples such as the ones studied here. These efforts include plans to breed trade-rescued individuals and release their progeny into the wild. Because our genetic survey reveals that the taxonomic identity of these samples does not reflect genetic diversity, we raise serious questions about the efficacy of these programs. In order to address conservation issues and provide more accurate estimates of evolutionary lineages within Mauremys, we recommend continued surveys for wild populations of the mutica complex to provide new genetic material and additional distributional data, attempts to extract DNA from historic museum specimens and a shift in conservation focus to in situ preservation of wild populations and associated habitat.
DOI
10.1111/j.1469-1795.2007.00131.x
Print ISSN
13679430
E-ISSN
14691795
Publisher Statement
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Full-text Version
Publisher’s Version
Language
English
Recommended Citation
Fong, J. J., Parham, J. F., Shi, H., Stuart, B. L. & Carter, R. L. (2007). A genetic survey of heavily exploited, endangered turtles: Caveats on the conservation value of trade animals. Animal Conservation, 10(4), 452–460. doi:10.1111/j.1469-1795.2007.00131.x