The North Adriatic Sea is considered a critical feeding and developmental area for Mediterranean loggerhead turtles. In this study, a comparative analysis of mitochondrial DNA control region sequences was carried out on sixty-five loggerhead individuals stranded and caught as bycatch in the Adriatic Sea from 1999 to 2002.We demonstrated the existence of genetic relationships between the North-Central Adriatic (NCA) aggregate and the Central-Eastern Mediterranean rookeries. Short-range and long-range migrations towards the Adriatic Sea were hypothesized by the finding of individuals bearing haplotypes endemic to the nesting populations of Greece and Turkey. The occurrence of individuals belonging to dimensional classes from juveniles to mature adults strongly support both the feeding and developmental role of the NCA.
Genetic characterization of loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) individuals stranded and caught as bycatch from the North-Central Adriatic Sea / M. Giovannotti; S. Franzellitti; P. Nisi Cerioni; E. Fabbri; S. Guccione; C. Vallini; F. Tinti; V. Caputo. - In: AMPHIBIA-REPTILIA. - ISSN 0173-5373. - STAMPA. - 31:(2010), pp. 127-133. [10.1163/156853810790457902]
Genetic characterization of loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) individuals stranded and caught as bycatch from the North-Central Adriatic Sea
FRANZELLITTI, SILVIA;FABBRI, ELENA;TINTI, FAUSTO;
2010
Abstract
The North Adriatic Sea is considered a critical feeding and developmental area for Mediterranean loggerhead turtles. In this study, a comparative analysis of mitochondrial DNA control region sequences was carried out on sixty-five loggerhead individuals stranded and caught as bycatch in the Adriatic Sea from 1999 to 2002.We demonstrated the existence of genetic relationships between the North-Central Adriatic (NCA) aggregate and the Central-Eastern Mediterranean rookeries. Short-range and long-range migrations towards the Adriatic Sea were hypothesized by the finding of individuals bearing haplotypes endemic to the nesting populations of Greece and Turkey. The occurrence of individuals belonging to dimensional classes from juveniles to mature adults strongly support both the feeding and developmental role of the NCA.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
