Literaturdatenbank
Literaturdatenbank |
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Herrmann, H.-W., & Rosen, P. C. (2009). Conservation of aridlands turtles iii: preliminary genetic studies of the desert box turtle and yaqui slider. Sonoran Herpetologist, 22(4), 38–44.
Added by: Admin (01 Aug 2010 18:21:55 UTC) |
| Resource type: Journal Article BibTeX citation key: Herrmann2009 View all bibliographic details  |
Categories: General Keywords: Emydidae, Genetik = genetics, Habitat = habitat, Nordamerika = North America, Schildkröten = turtles + tortoises, Terrapene, Terrapene carolina, Terrapene ornata, Trachemys, Trachemys ornata, Trachemys scripta, Trachemys yaquia Creators: Herrmann, Rosen Collection: Sonoran Herpetologist |
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| Abstract |
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We initiated genetic studies on the Desert Grassland Box Turtle (Terrapene ornata luteola), which is threatened with local extirpation in the Tucson region, and the Yaqui Slider (Trachemys yaquia), a species endemic to Sonora, Mexico, that may be in genetic contact with released pet Red-eared Sliders (T. scripta elegans). During this project, we also expanded upon phylogenetic and phylogeographic studies of mud turtles (which will be reported in detail elsewhere). Our results for box turtles tentatively support the recognition of the two subspecies of the Western Box Turtle, the Desert Grassland Box Turtle (which represents an emendation of the English name based on actually-occupied habitat) and the Ornate Box Turtle (T. o. ornata). Using mtDNA, we were able to correct misidentifications of subspecies of the Western Box Turtle in Tucson on a post hoc basis and to demonstrate that a substantial portion of the captive population consists of Ornate Box Turtles. Our microsatellite DNA analysis revealed little useful variation between populations of the Western Box Turtles, but suggested, albeit inconclusively, that there may already be introgression of exotic subspecies genes into the locally derived captive population. We demonstrated large genetic differences between the Eastern Box Turtle (T. carolina), which is also abundant in the pet population in Tucson, and the Western Box Turtle, posing perhaps a more significant threat of undesirable hybridization. Our results indicate that the Yaqui Slider is genetically distinct from the Red- eared Slider at a species level of genetic divergence. Combining our mtDNA and microsatellite findings, it should be possible to unequivocally evaluate possible hybridization in sliders. As detailed previously in this three-part series (Rosen, 2008a), while conservation problems have been clearly identified for some of the terrestrial and aquatic turtles in arid southwestern North America (Rosen and Herrmann, 2008), it is evident that most, if not all, of the taxa face important threats.
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