Low Diversity and Strong Genetic Structure Between Feeding and Nesting Areas in Brazil for the Critically Endangered Hawksbill Sea Turtle

Marine turtle nesting areas are characterized by receiving several females every year. The species Eretmochelys imbricata , known as hawksbill is listed Critically Endangered the IUCN, and has been target of studies on genetic structure population diversity in areas. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze haplotype composition populations sampled from coast northeastern Brazil based mtDNA D-loop region. We used information compared it with data feeding available public databases. recorded a total six exclusive haplotypes 27 for H_1 was shared all turtles these regions had low composed five divergent groups separating reproductive ones Positive significant geographical distance relationships were also F ST values ( r = 0.2302, p 0.007). Our results revealed that comprise single needs management strategies protect threatened species, addition providing contributes future actions conservation.