POWSIM_input_sample_size_frequencies

The Excel file ‘POWSIM_input_sample_size_frequencies.xlsx’ contains the input data used for the power analysis of the genetic markers conducted in POWSIM v4.1 (Ryman & Palm 2006). The file contains two tables, one table entitled ‘Cyprus’ which contains the sample sizes and the CR, HR haplotype and microsatellite allele frequencies pertaining to this study. The second table entitled ‘Roberts (2004)’ contains the sample sizes and approximate allele frequencies used in the global assessment of green turtle genetic structure (Roberts et al. 2004)

Data from: Defining conservation units with enhanced molecular tools to reveal fine scale structuring among Mediterranean green turtle rookeries

Understanding the connectivity among populations is a key research priority for species of conservation concern. Genetic tools are widely used for this purpose, but the results can be limited by the resolution of the genetic markers in relation to the species and geographic scale. Here, we investigate natal philopatry in green turtles (Chelonia mydas) from four rookeries within close geographic proximity (~ 200km) on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus. We genotyped hypervariable mtSTRs, a mtDNA control region sequence (CR) and 13 microsatellite loci to genetically characterise 479 green turtles using markers with different modes of inheritance. We demonstrated matrilineal stock structure for the first time among Mediterranean green turtle rookeries. This result contradicts previous regional assessments and supports a growing body of evidence that green turtles exhibit a more precise level of natal site fidelity than has commonly been recognised. The microsatellites detected weak male philopatry with significant stock structure among three of the six pairwise comparisons. The absence of Atlantic CR haplotypes and mtSTRs among these robust sample sizes reaffirm the reproductive isolation of Mediterranean green turtles and supports their status as a subpopulation. A power analysis effectively demonstrated that the mtDNA genetic markers previously employed to evaluate regional stock identity were confounded by an insufficient resolution considering the recent colonisation of this region. These findings improve the regional understanding of stock connectivity and illustrate the importance of using suitable genetic markers to define appropriate units for management and conservation

Mediterranean green turtle population recovery increasingly depends on Lake Bardawil, Egypt

To assign conservation status to a population, its size, trends, and distribution must be estimated. The Mediterranean green turtle population has shown signs of recovering over the past decade, likely in response to nest protection, but satellite tracking suggests adult foraging remains largely restricted to only a few key sites in the eastern Mediterranean. Previous research suggested that the majority of green turtles nesting at an important rookery in Cyprus, forage in Lake Bardawil, Egypt making an observed population increase dependent on this important site, which is under a high degree of anthropogenic maintenance. Here we provide new data that further demonstrates the importance of Lake Bardawil to green turtles that nest at other major rookeries on Cyprus, in the Karpaz Peninsula, with 74 % of satellite tracked females (n = 19) migrating to this key site. We also report on the first systematic nest counts for this area in over two decades and identify the inter-nesting habitat used by females nesting at these important beaches on the north and south coasts of the Peninsula. Comparing the oldest available 3-year nest count averages (1993–1995), with nest counts undertaken as part of this study (2017–2019), mean annual nest numbers increased from 186 to 554, an increase of 198 %. Our data confirm the continued importance of these beaches for the Mediterranean green turtle population and underscore the reliance of this endangered population on a man-made lagoon for recent increases in clutch counts at monitored beaches. The results highlight the utility of satellite telemetry to inform conservation status assessments and establishing conservation at both nesting and foraging sites across the population

Unfiltered_microsatellite_genotypes_CR_mtSTRs_HR_haplotypes

The Excel file ‘Unfiltered_Microsatellite_genotypes_CR_mtSTRs_HR_haplotypes.xlsx’ contains the CR haplotypes, the mtSTRs, the HR haplotypes and genotypes at 13 microsatellite loci of all individuals used in the COLONY2 (Wang 2004, Jones & Wang 2010) analyses to remove putative relatives before the analysis of genetic structur

Filtered_Microsatellite_genotypes_CR_mtSTRs_HR_haplotypes

The Excel file ‘Filtered_Microsatellite_genotypes_CR_mtSTRs_HR_haplotypes.xlsx’ contains the CR haplotypes, the mtSTRs, the HR haplotypes and genotypes at 13 microsatellite loci of all individuals used in the analyses to detect genetic structure in Arlequin v3.5.2.3 (Excoffier & Lischer 2010, GenAlEX v6.5 (Peakall & Smouse 2006, 2012), STRUCTURE v2.3 (Pritchard et al. 2000) and Geneland (Guillot et al. 2005)

The "mainparams.txt" file contains the parameters for the STRUCTURE analysis

The file ‘mainparams’ contains the main parameter settings used for the STRUCTURE v2.3 (Pritchard et al. 2000) analysis of genetic structure with the data description for each paramete