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

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