Author:
Luck Naomi L.,Thomas Kristen C.,Morin-Adeline Victoria E.,Barwick Sophie,Chong Amanda Y.,Carpenter Eliza L.,Wan LinXiao,Willet Cali E.,Langford-Salisbury Shannan M.,Abdelsayd Mary,Ang Rachel A.,Atkinson Sarah J.,Barcelo Fabian G.,Booth Melanie E.,Bradbury Emma J.,Branighan Thomas L.,Brown Jennifer,Castillo Lesley E.,Chandler Nichola D.,Chong Josephine Y.,Collits Kimberly J.,Cook Emma,Cruz Rachel E.,Farrugia Claire A.,Fletcher Jessica L.,Fletcher Sophie,Gamaliel Nicole S.,Gurr Jessica F.,Hallett Nathan J.,Hargreaves Grace,Harris Teresa,Hollings Samantha,Hopcroft Ryan L.,Johinke Danielle,Kern Pippa L.,Kiddell Jane L.,Kilby Kristen E.,Kragic Borjana,Kwan Jacqueline H.,Lee Joseph I.,Liang Jennifer M.,Lillie Mette C.,Lui Belle C.,Luk Sharon W.,Lun Kwok H.,Marshall Kate L.,Marzec Jolanta A.,Masters Kellie T.,Mazurkijevic Laura J.,Medlock Jeremy,Meoli Christopher,Morris Katrina M.,Noh Yvonne H.,Okazaki Hana,Orourke Tamara J.,Payne Elyssa M.,Powell Dean J.,Quinlivan Antonia R.,Reeves Thomas J.,Robson Kate,Robson Kate L.,Royle Leah J.,Stevenson Ryan,Sellens Teigan,Sun ZiChen,Sutton Amanda L.,Swan Amelia,Tang Jason M.,Tinker Jarrod E.,Tomlinson Suzanne C.,Wilkin Tessa,Wright Amanda L.,Xiao Sam T.,Yang Jessica,Yee Christine,Jaratlerdsiri Weerachai,Isberg Sally R.,Miles Lee,Higgins Damien,Lane Amanda,Gongora Jaime
Abstract
The saltwater crocodile is distributed throughout south-east Asia and Australia. In Australia, it is most abundant in the Northern Territory and Queensland, where it is sustainably farmed for its skins and meat. The aim of this study was to elucidate the relationships and genetic structure among saltwater crocodiles from the Northern Territory of Australia using mitochondrial control region sequences from 61 individuals, representing nine river basins and six of unknown origin, as well as published sequences from other regions. Eight mitochondrial control region haplotypes were identified among both published and novel sequences. Three of the haplotypes appear to be restricted to specimens from northern Australia, with a single haplotype being the most widely dispersed across all river basins. Although Analysis of Molecular Variance provides some support for differentiation among river basins, the frequency of shared haplotypes among these geographical units and median-joining network analysis do not support a clear genetic structure or phylogeographic pattern for saltwater crocodiles in the Northern Territory. The results of this study will assist in furthering our understanding of the genetic diversity of wild saltwater crocodile populations used for ranching in the Northern Territory, as well as providing a framework for assessing the origin of unknown specimens in the future.
Subject
Animal Science and Zoology,Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics