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Phylogeographic and forensic investigation of the endangered pig-nosed turtle – Matthew Young

By February 12, 2024July 22nd, 2024No Comments

The endangered pig-nosed turtle (Carettochelys insculpta) is endemic to northern Australia and southern New Guinea. A major threat to this species is high exploitation for the international wildlife trade. Millions of C. insculpta eggs were collected annually throughout the 1990’s for the sale of hatchling turtles, and thousands of hatchling turtles continue to be confiscated from wildlife smugglers annually outside their native distribution. To combat the illegal trade and implement conservation actions, wildlife forensic studies require a robust phylogeographical assessment of wild populations to be able to accurately assign individuals to source populations. My PhD research aimed to use SNP genotyping of wild and trafficked turtles to determine a) the phylogeographic history of C. insculpta, and b) the origin of trafficked C. insculpta from Australia, Hong Kong, Europe, Canada and the USA. The phylogeographical research shows that vicariance, likely due to sea-level fluctuations associated with Pleistocene glacial cycles, as well as paleodrainage connectivity across the currently submerged Sahul Shelf, have played large roles in shaping the distribution and diversity of genetic lineages. Prolonged bottlenecks and genetic drift have occurred, and genetic rescue should be considered for conservation management of this species in Australia. The source of trafficked turtles was identified and implications for trafficking routes will be discussed.

About Matt: Matt’s research interests focus on ecology and conservation genetics, with a particular love of reptiles and amphibians. Research on turtles has been a big part of his training and early career. Beginning with undergraduate field classes at Jervis Bay in Booderee National Park studying the movement ecology of eastern long-necked turtles, and later volunteering on the same project after graduating, he learnt how much fun is to be had chasing freshwater turtles underwater. Matt was employed with the MDBfutures CRN to travel across eastern Australia collecting genetic samples from all the turtle species encountered. A research highlight has been snorkelling for pig-nosed turtles in Papua New Guinea, which are a hell of a lot faster underwater than the little chelids he first started chasing back in undergrad. Matt has worked as an Ecologist with ACT Parks and Conservation Service, and tutored undergraduate courses. In his spare time, Matt is a frequent rescuer of turtles that attempt to cross roads.

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