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Genetic survey of loggerhead turtle Caretta caretta nesting population in Tunisia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 March 2010

Olfa Chaieb ,
Ali El Ouaer ,
Fulvio Maffucci ,
Mohamed Nejmeddine Bradai ,
Flegra Bentivegna ,
Khaled Said  and
Noureddine Chatti
Olfa Chaieb*
Affiliation:
Unité de Recherche: Génétique, Biodiversité et Valorisation des Bioressources UR03ES09, Institut Supérieur de Biotechnologie de Monastir, Tunisie Laboratoire de Biodiversité et Biotechnologie Marines, Institut National des Sciences et Technologies de la Mer, Tunisie
Ali El Ouaer
Affiliation:
Laboratoire de Biodiversité et Biotechnologie Marines, Institut National des Sciences et Technologies de la Mer, Tunisie
Fulvio Maffucci
Affiliation:
Stazione Zoologica ‘Anton Dohrn’, Villa Communale, Napoli, Italy
Mohamed Nejmeddine Bradai
Affiliation:
Laboratoire de Biodiversité et Biotechnologie Marines, Institut National des Sciences et Technologies de la Mer, Tunisie
Flegra Bentivegna
Affiliation:
Stazione Zoologica ‘Anton Dohrn’, Villa Communale, Napoli, Italy
Khaled Said
Affiliation:
Unité de Recherche: Génétique, Biodiversité et Valorisation des Bioressources UR03ES09, Institut Supérieur de Biotechnologie de Monastir, Tunisie
Noureddine Chatti
Affiliation:
Unité de Recherche: Génétique, Biodiversité et Valorisation des Bioressources UR03ES09, Institut Supérieur de Biotechnologie de Monastir, Tunisie
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Olfa Chaieb, Laboratoire de Biodiversité et Biotechnologie Marìnes, Institut National des Sciences et Technologies de la Mer, BP 59, Route de Khniss, Monastir 5000 email: olfa.chaieb@instm.rnrt.tn
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Abstract

Genetic diversity of loggerhead turtles, Caretta caretta, nesting on the Kuriat Islands, the most important Tunisian nesting beach (central Mediterranean), was investigated using both nuclear and mitochondrial markers. Allozyme electrophoresis of 63 hatchlings from four different clutches showed a low genetic diversity. The genotypic composition of two clutches did not match Mendelian expectations suggesting the occurrence of multiple paternity. The analysis of 380 bp of the mitochondrial DNA control region revealed no genetic variability. Only one haplotype was described in our sample (N = 16), which corresponds to the sequence of the most common haplotype found on the Mediterranean nesting beaches (CC-A2). The low genetic diversity detected by both mitochondrial and allozyme markers is discussed taking into account available data about past and present situations of loggerhead nesting activity in this site. Adequate conservation measures should be urgently taken to protect the nesting population in this area.

Keywords

Caretta carettaallozymesmitochondrial DNAgenetic diversitymultiple paternityKuriat Islandscentral Mediterranean
Type
Research Article
Information
Marine Biodiversity Records , Volume 3 , June 2010 , e20
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2010

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