CRB: Population Structure, Nest-site fidelity, and Conservation Genetics in the Giant Amazon River Turtle (Podocemis expansa; Pelomedusidae)

摘要：本研究将利用分子标记来解决南美洲亚马逊河巨龟迁移模式的问题。这些海龟是群体筑巢者（成年雌性同时出现在特定的海滩上筑巢），有限的证据表明，雌性每年对同一海滩表现出高度的“归巢”忠诚。该项目的目标是使用分子遗传标记来测试“出生归巢”问题，因为它会导致对河流流域内部和流域之间遗传变异分布的明确预期。河流流域将在巴西亚马逊流域的整个部分进行采样。这项工作的内在兴趣来自于它将新的基因流模型应用于一个广泛分布的物种，这些物种的迁徙路线被限制在“直线”网格（河流）上，但它也将对巴西正在进行的保护计划具有实际意义。政府监督和保护了许多使用最频繁的海滩，但管理计划并不是基于对任何种群遗传独特性的了解。此外，用于培训巴西调查人员的资金将增进他们对分子遗传标记的使用与应用生态问题之间的联系的了解。

ABSTRACT This study will use molecular markers to address a question about migration patterns in the in the Giant Amazon River Turtle of South America. These turtles are colony nesters (adult females emerge simultaneously to nest on specific beaches), and limited evidence suggests that females show high "homing" fidelity to the same beach each year. The goal of this project is to use molecular genetic markers to test the "natal homing" question, because it leads to unambiguous expectations about the distribution of genetic variability within and between river basins. River basins will be sampled throughout Brazil's portion of the Amazon watershed. The intrinsic interest of this work derives from its application of new models gene flow to a widespread species whose migration routes constrained to a "rectilinear" grid (the rivers), but it will also have practical implications for ongoing conservation programs in Brazil. The government monitors and protects many of the most heavily used beaches, but management plans are not based on any knowledge of the genetic uniqueness of any of the populations. Further, the funds available for training of Brazilian investigators will enhance their understanding of the connection between the use of molecular genetic markers and applied ecological issues.