DNA evidence for the hybridization of wild turtles in Taiwan : possible genetic pollution from trade animals
Document Type
Journal article
Source Publication
Conservation Genetics
Publication Date
10-2010
Volume
11
Issue
5
First Page
2061
Last Page
2066
Publisher
Springer Netherlands
Keywords
Mauremys mutica, Mauremys sinensis, Mauremys reevesii, Asian turtle crisis, Introduced species, Conservation
Abstract
Field surveys in Taiwan have uncovered turtles presumed to be hybrids based on their intermediate morphology. We sequenced a mitochondrial (ND4) and nuclear (R35) gene of two putative hybrid individuals, along with representatives of the potential parental species (Mauremys mutica, M. reevesii, M. sinensis), to determine their genetic identity. Based on our data, both individuals are hybrids, with independent, recent origins resulting from the mating of a female M. reevesii and a male M. sinensis. Since we question whether the highly traded M. reevesii is endemic to Taiwan, this hybridization could represent human-mediated genetic pollution. We also discuss the implications of our findings on turtle conservation in Taiwan.
DOI
10.1007/s10592-010-0066-z
Print ISSN
15660621
E-ISSN
15729737
Funding Information
This work was made possible through funding from the National Science Foundation, EAPSI summer fellowship (JJF), the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, UC Berkeley (JJF), and the Chelonian Research Foundation’s Linnaeus Fund (JJF).
Publisher Statement
Copyright © The Author(s) 2010. This article is published with open access at Springerlink.com
Full-text Version
Publisher’s Version
Language
English
Recommended Citation
Fong, J. J. & Chen, T.-H. (2010). DNA evidence for the hybridization of wild turtles in Taiwan: Possible genetic pollution from trade animals. Conservation Genetics, 11(5), 2061–2066. doi:10.1007/s10592-010-0066-z