Estudio poblacional y genético de la tortuga Chelonia mydas agassizii (Sauria: Cheloniidae) en la Playa Chinchorro, Arica, Chile

Genetics, Morphometrics and Health Characterization of Green Turtle Foraging Grounds in Mainland and Insular Chile

“…Although the small sample used here hindered performing an appropriate analysis to assess the most probable natal origin of turtles from the studied locations (mixed stock analysis-MSA [ 1 ]), the results reported above could suggest Galapagos as the main source of individuals for Chilean FGs. These results are consistent with those reported by [ 14 , 56 ], who suggested Galapagos as the major contributor for Arica and Antofagasta green turtles in northern Chile. Our study also extends the limit of Galapagos genetic contribution to Easter Island in the South Pacific.…”

“…Likewise, Dutton et al [ 43 ] reported four management units (MUs) for the Eastern Pacific region: Revillagigedo (Mexico), Michoacán (Mexico), Costa Rica, and Galapagos (Ecuador) [ 43 , 44 ]. Like other recent genetic investigations [ 14 , 56 ], this study suggests that mainland Chilean FGs are part of the East Pacific RMU, and specifically the Galapagos MUs.…”

“…comm, 33°38′ S, 78°50′ W). All of these areas include relatively sheltered locations with soft-bottom habitats dominated by macroalgae [ 14 , 15 ]. In particular, Bahia Salado is dominated by macroalgae and an endemic and endangered seagrass, Zostera chilensis [ 7 , 16 ].…”

New Record of Black Turtle Chelonia mydas agassizii in High Latitudes of Eastern South Pacific Ocean

“…Although no record exists of tagged eastern Pacific green turtles from Chilean coastal areas [14], this migratory pattern is supported by recent analyses of mtDNA from samples taken in the north of Chile (e.g., Ref. [22]). Our genetic analysis also grouped the Tamar Island specimen most closely with the Galápagos haplotypes (see Fig.…”

“…Disorientation due to physiological anomalies and signs used in migration may be other possible cause; yet, as mentioned above, it is difficult to comment on the putative physiological problems or disease with our Tamar Island specimen. In Peru and north of Chile, it has been observed that the species expand their distribution and can be found in greater numbers during periods of oceanographic-atmospheric anomalies resulting from the El Niño Southern Oscillation [22,[46][47][48] and it is reasonable to expect that such events could affect their movements from foraging areas, but no conclusive evidence has been presented yet [22].…”