Marine Turtle Genetics Training at Institute of Biology, University of the Philippines
On 6-8 June 2023 at the Institute of Biology, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines, BIONESIA’s research staff attended marine turtle genetic training. This event is organized by the Asia-Pacific Marine Turtle Genetic Working Group. The aim of this program is to enhance the capacity of individuals and organizations in the Asia-Pacific region to utilize genetic data for effective marine turtle conservation.
The event began with a presentation on the status of sea turtle species found in the Asia-Pacific marine region. The speakers at this event were Michael Paul Jensen, PhD. (NOAA), Erin LaCasella (NOAA), and Dr. Alessandro Ponzo (LAMAVE). As a result, there are three main species of sea turtles that are vulnerable to extinction, including the green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas), leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea), and hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata). The decline of sea turtle populations is caused by various factors, including climate change and human activities such as hunting, bycatch, destruction of coastal nesting areas, and the trade of turtle eggs by local communities.
To obtain accurate data on the number of sea turtles in the Asia-Pacific Marine region, genetic mapping is needed to facilitate tracking sea turtle migration, determining their origin, nesting sites, and other conservation efforts. Laboratory techniques performed include the extraction of sea turtle samples (such as tissue samples, carapace, bones, and accessories from the sea turtle shell). Followed by DNA amplification and gel electrophoresis. The entire laboratory technique aims to obtain sea turtle DNA sequence, which will be analyzed using genetic software with the Mix Stock Analysis method.
The research project on sea turtles is still ongoing. To date, BIONESIA has analyzed more than 300 sea turtle samples collected from various regions in Indonesia, such as Bali, Java, Lombok, Sumatra, Maluku, and Sulawesi.
