Meeting Abstract

P3.115  Thursday, Jan. 6  Multiple Paternity within the Northern Subpopulation of Loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) LASALA, J*; HARRISON, JS; WILLIAMS, K; FRICK, M; ROSTAL, DC; Georgia Southern University; Georgia Southern University; Caretta Research Project; Caretta Research Project; Georgia Southern University jl02621@georgiasouthern.edu

Mating systems play an important role in shaping life history evolution and population dynamics of a species and should be considered when planning conservation efforts. For example, multiple paternity can influence the genetic effective population size and the maintenance of genetic variation within a population. Recent studies have suggested that multiple paternity occurs in most species of reptiles but within the Testudines there is a high degree of variation (Uller & Olsson 2008). Previous studies on the loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) have shown that within large rookeries (Florida, Australia and Greece) the occurrence of multiple paternity ranges from 30-95%. The primary objectives of this study are to determine if 1) multiple paternity occurs in Georgia’s smaller nesting population, 2) does the percentage of nests displaying multiple paternity differ significantly from previous studies, and 3) does the incidence of nests displaying multiple paternity vary over the course of the nesting season (early, middle and late nests). Mothers and offspring were sampled from 20 nests in 2009 spanning the entire nesting season on Wassaw Island, GA, a component of the Northern subpopulation. Multiple paternity was detected in greater than 30% of the nests. Seasonal variation in multiple paternity will be discussed in relation to number of nesting females.