Descripción del proyecto
Genética y satélites al rescate de las tortugas marinas
Las tortugas marinas vagaban por el planeta junto a los dinosaurios hace más de cien millones de años. Hoy día, las siete especies de tortugas marinas existentes están en peligro de extinción. El objetivo del proyecto financiado con fondos europeos SeaTGen es estudiar la tortuga verde («Chelonia mydas») en el suroeste del océano Índico. Se investigará cómo interactúan las poblaciones y cómo podrían verse afectadas por amenazas en sus zonas de nidificación y alimentación, así como a lo largo de sus corredores migratorios. En concreto, el equipo del proyecto empleará polimorfismos de nucleótido único en el genoma combinados con marcadores de ADN mitocondrial convencionales. Se utilizarán métodos genéticos novedosos y datos de la ecología del movimiento (telemetría por satélite) y la oceanografía para evaluar la estructura de la población y la historia demográfica reciente de la tortuga verde. Los resultados tendrán utilidad para iniciativas de conservación futuras.
Objetivo
Conservation and management of marine turtle populations are challenging because of their complex life history involving long-distance migrations. Consequently, marine turtles are affected by a wide range of anthropogenic threats across temporal and spatial scales, including climate change. The cumulative effect of these impacts is likely to have direct and indirect implications on these endangered species in the near future. This project aims to refine our understanding of the spatial structure of green turtles (Chelonia mydas) in the South-West Indian Ocean to understand better how populations interact and how they may be impacted by threats both at the nesting ground, at distant foraging areas, and along migratory corridors. To do so we aim to apply the power of genome-wide Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) combined with traditional mtDNA markers to assess fine-scale population structure and recent demographic history. In addition, the research will take a multidisciplinary approach, combining novel genetic methods with data from movement ecology (satellite telemetry) and oceanography (ocean current modelling) to provide a comprehensive analysis of connectivity between breeding and foraging areas. The results will allow conservation managers and policymakers to identify areas in need of protection and to assess the potential impacts of anthropogenic activities such as marine turtle interaction with fisheries. As such, our results will provide the scientific basis for future conservation actions within the framework of Integrated Maritime Policy.
This project will allow me to gain critical new skills in conservation genomics. This will broaden my research horizon, strengthen my research profile and place me in a strong position for furthering my research career within the European Community.
Ámbito científico
- humanitieshistory and archaeologyhistory
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesecology
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticsnucleotides
- natural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesoceanography
- natural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesatmospheric sciencesclimatologyclimatic changes
Palabras clave
Programa(s)
Régimen de financiación
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)Coordinador
9220 Aalborg
Dinamarca