Abstract
Conservation policy in the giant Galápagos tortoise, an iconic endangered animal, has been assisted by genetic markers for ∼15 years: mitochondrial DNA and microsatellite loci have been used to delineate thirteen (sub)species, between which hybridization is prevented. Here, comparative reanalysis of a previously published NGS data set reveals a conflict with traditional markers. Genetic diversity and population substructure in the giant Galápagos tortoise are found to be particularly low, questioning the genetic relevance of current conservation practices.
Data accessibility: no new data was produced
Copyright
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