title: Genetic structure and natal origins of immature hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) in Brazilian waters.
abstract: Understanding the connections between sea turtle populations is fundamental for their effective conservation. Brazil hosts important hawksbill feeding areas, but few studies have focused on how they connect with nesting populations in the Atlantic. Here, we (1) characterized mitochondrial DNA control region haplotypes of immature hawksbills feeding along the coast of Brazil (five areas ranging from equatorial to temperate latitudes, 157 skin samples), (2) analyzed genetic structure among Atlantic hawksbill feeding populations, and (3) inferred natal origins of hawksbills in Brazilian waters using genetic, oceanographic, and population size information. We report ten haplotypes for the sampled Brazilian sites, most of which were previously observed at other Atlantic feeding grounds and rookeries. Genetic profiles of Brazilian feeding areas were significantly different from those in other regions (Caribbean and Africa), and a significant structure was observed between Brazilian feeding grounds grouped into areas influenced by the South Equatorial/North Brazil Current and those influenced by the Brazil Current. Our genetic analysis estimates that the studied Brazilian feeding aggregations are mostly composed of animals originating from the domestic rookeries Bahia and Pipa, but some contributions from African and Caribbean rookeries were also observed. Oceanographic data corroborated the local origins, but showed higher connection with West Africa and none with the Caribbean. High correlation was observed between origins estimated through genetics/rookery size and oceanographic/rookery size data, demonstrating that ocean currents and population sizes influence haplotype distribution of Brazil's hawksbill populations. The information presented here highlights the importance of national conservation strategies and international cooperation for the recovery of endangered hawksbill turtle populations.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maira C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Proietti
authors.affiliation: Oceans Institute and School of Civil, Environmental and Mining Engineering, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia ; Wealth from Oceans Flagship, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Floreat, Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Reisser
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luis Fernando
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Marins
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Clara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rodriguez-Zarate
authors.affiliation: Fundação Pró-Tamar, Praia do Forte, Bahia, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Marcovaldi
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil ; Núcleo de Educação e Monitoramento Ambiental, Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors.forename: Danielle S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Monteiro
authors.affiliation: Oceans Institute and School of Civil, Environmental and Mining Engineering, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Charitha
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pattiaratchi
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors.forename: Eduardo R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Secchi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006239:Haplotypes; D009791:Oceanography; D011156:Population Density; D014426:Turtles / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development
chemical_list: D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial