Genetic Population Structure of Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricta) Using Microsatellite Analysis

Information on the genetic structure of marine species is essential for stock improvement programs. In orderto analyses the genetic diversity of the Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricte) by the microsatellite geneticmethod, 64 samples were caught from the beaches located in Kish and Qeshm islands. Polymerase chainreactions (PCR) of genomic DNA extracted from the samples were carried out using 5 pairs of microsatelliteprimers. The results of this study indicated that all 5 pairs of primers were polymorphic. Average numbersof real allele and effective allele were 4.90 and 2.99, respectively. Average rate of observed heterozygositywas 0.570 and that for expected heterozygosity was 0.616. Study of the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium wasshown the entire locus had not equilibrium except Cm3 and Ei8 locus in Kish area. Fst (0.166) and Rst (0.634)calculated by the Analysis of Molecular Variance (AMOVA) test illustrated that there are separate populationsof Hawksbill turtle in this part of the Persian Gulf (Kish and Qeshm islands). It seems that Kish’sturtles live under better conditions in contrast to their Qeshm counterparts. Diminution of genetic variationwithin examined population decreases its adaptation to environmental alterations. We identified two differentE. imbricte populations from north of the Persian Gulf.