RESUMEN
The molecular evolution and population genetics of migratory green turtles (Chelonia mydas) in the Greater Caribbean were examined with mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region I sequences. A total of 488 base positions (bp) per individual were aligned for 44 individuals from four nesting populations in Florida, Costa Rica, Aves Island (Venezuela), and Surinam. Twelve sequence polymorphisms were detected, representing ten transitions, one transversion, and one 10-bp repeat. Sequence analyses of within- and between-population diversity revealed a deep divergence between western and eastern Caribbean nesting colonies and an inverse relationship between reproductive female population size and mtDNA diversity. In small populations, genetic admixture was important to maintaining high diversity, whereas larger populations appear to have experienced historical bottlenecks or resulted from founder effects. Mitochondrial DNA sequences of the control region offer an order of magnitude greater resolution than restriction site data for addressing questions about mtDNA variation, both within and between populations of green turtles.
Asunto(s)
ADN Mitocondrial/genética , Secuencias Reguladoras de Ácidos Nucleicos , Tortugas/genética , Animales , Secuencia de Bases , Evolución Biológica , Región del Caribe , Costa Rica , Femenino , Florida , Efecto Fundador , Variación Genética , Genética de Población , Haplotipos/genética , Masculino , Datos de Secuencia Molecular , ARN de Transferencia de Prolina/genética , Alineación de Secuencia , Suriname , VenezuelaRESUMEN
Blood biochemical profiles and packed cell volumes were determined for 100 juvenile green turtles, Chelonia mydas, from a wild population in the southern Bahamas. There was a significant correlation of body size to 13 of the 26 blood parameters measured. Only plasma uric acid and cholesterol were significantly different between male and female turtles. The relationship between total plasma proteins and plasma refractive index was significant. The equation for converting refractive index (Y) to total plasma proteins (X) is Y = 1.34 + 0.00217(X).