2023
Galapagos giant tortoise trafficking case demonstrates the utility and applications of long‐term comprehensive genetic monitoring
Quinzin M, Bishop A, Miller J, Poulakakis N, Tapia W, Torres‐Rojo F, Sevilla C, Caccone A. Galapagos giant tortoise trafficking case demonstrates the utility and applications of long‐term comprehensive genetic monitoring. Animal Conservation 2023, 26: 826-838. DOI: 10.1111/acv.12870.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchGalapagos giant tortoisesGiant tortoisesIllegal wildlife tradeGenetic analysisNuclear microsatellite markersGenetic repositoryBreeding CenterStandard genetic markersComprehensive genetic characterizationWild speciesIsland of originGenetic monitoringMicrosatellite markersGenetic markersGenetic characterizationSpecies protectionGalapagos IslandsLa conservaciónWildlife tradeSpeciesJuvenile tortoisesTortoisesSan CristobalJuvenilesFirst documentation
2022
Temporal Monitoring of the Floreana Island Galapagos Giant Tortoise Captive Breeding Program
Gray R, Fusco N, Miller J, Tapia W, Mariani C, Caccone A, Jensen E. Temporal Monitoring of the Floreana Island Galapagos Giant Tortoise Captive Breeding Program. Integrative And Comparative Biology 2022, 62: 1864-1871. PMID: 35906184, DOI: 10.1093/icb/icac129.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCaptive breeding programsBreeding programsEffective population sizeGalapagos giant tortoisesCaptive breedingGenetic diversityGenetic trackingReproductive outputSpecies restorationGiant tortoisesConservation managersBreeding outcomesMicrosatellite markersGenetic analysisMore foundersBreeding cyclePopulation sizeBreeding facilitiesTortoisesValue of hybridsParentageOffspringGenomeHybridsBreeding
2018
Genetic Pedigree Analysis of the Pilot Breeding Program for the Rediscovered Galapagos Giant Tortoise from Floreana Island
Miller J, Quinzin M, Scheibe E, Ciofi C, Villalva F, Tapia W, Caccone A. Genetic Pedigree Analysis of the Pilot Breeding Program for the Rediscovered Galapagos Giant Tortoise from Floreana Island. Journal Of Heredity 2018, 109: 620-630. PMID: 29490038, DOI: 10.1093/jhered/esy010.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsReproductive skewGalapagos giant tortoisesBreeding programsFloreana IslandGiant tortoisesAssortative matingSelf-sustaining wild populationsGenetic pedigree analysisMajority of progenyCaptive breeding programsSmall breeding groupsOrigin of individualsPedigree analysisLarge breeding programsFounding individualsWild populationsAllelic diversityGenetic diversityExtinct tortoisesGenetic variationGenetic analysisC. nigerPopulation sizeRelated individualsBreeding groups
2017
Identification of Genetically Important Individuals of the Rediscovered Floreana Galápagos Giant Tortoise (Chelonoidis elephantopus) Provides Founders for Species Restoration Program
Miller J, Quinzin M, Poulakakis N, Gibbs J, Beheregaray L, Garrick R, Russello M, Ciofi C, Edwards D, Hunter E, Tapia W, Rueda D, Carrión J, Valdivieso A, Caccone A. Identification of Genetically Important Individuals of the Rediscovered Floreana Galápagos Giant Tortoise (Chelonoidis elephantopus) Provides Founders for Species Restoration Program. Scientific Reports 2017, 7: 11471. PMID: 28904401, PMCID: PMC5597637, DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-11516-2.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsGiant tortoisesGalápagos giant tortoisesHuman-driven environmental changesCaptive breeding programsCaptive breeding centerSpecies restoration programsHigh ancestryFloreana IslandSpecies todayIsland ecosystemsBreeding programsGalápagos IslandsGenetic analysisBreeding CenterEnvironmental changesRestoration programsTortoisesSpeciesEcosystemsDistinctive morphologyAncestryUnprecedented rateIslandsTranslocationUnique opportunity
2015
Mitochondrial DNA sequence divergence and diversity of Glossina fuscipes fuscipes in the Lake Victoria basin of Uganda: implications for control
Kato AB, Hyseni C, Okedi LM, Ouma JO, Aksoy S, Caccone A, Masembe C. Mitochondrial DNA sequence divergence and diversity of Glossina fuscipes fuscipes in the Lake Victoria basin of Uganda: implications for control. Parasites & Vectors 2015, 8: 385. PMID: 26197892, PMCID: PMC4511262, DOI: 10.1186/s13071-015-0984-1.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMicrosatellite loci dataDemographic historyGenetic differentiationMicrosatellite dataLoci dataMitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) cytochrome oxidase II geneGenetic variationMitochondrial DNA sequence divergenceCytochrome oxidase II geneWeak genetic differentiationDNA sequence divergenceLake Victoria basinGenetic structuringGene flowDemographic testsGenetic divergenceMtDNA dataSequence divergenceGenetic diversityGeographic distanceVictoria basinGenetic analysisSampling sitesMutation ratePopulation clusters
2012
Recovery of a nearly extinct Galápagos tortoise despite minimal genetic variation
Milinkovitch MC, Kanitz R, Tiedemann R, Tapia W, Llerena F, Caccone A, Gibbs JP, Powell JR. Recovery of a nearly extinct Galápagos tortoise despite minimal genetic variation. Evolutionary Applications 2012, 6: 377-383. PMID: 23467700, PMCID: PMC3586625, DOI: 10.1111/eva.12014.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchEspañola IslandGenetic variationEffective population sizeUnequal reproductive successMinimal genetic variationMolecular genetic analysisGalápagos tortoisesReproductive successCaptive populationsNonrandom matingBreeding regimesParental populationsGenetic analysisMorphological dataPopulation sizeTortoise sizeSpeciesCaptivityNumber of animalsTortoisesIslandsInbreedingGalápagosMatingRepatriation efforts
2010
Phylogeography and Population Structure of Glossina fuscipes fuscipes in Uganda: Implications for Control of Tsetse
Beadell JS, Hyseni C, Abila PP, Azabo R, Enyaru JC, Ouma JO, Mohammed YO, Okedi LM, Aksoy S, Caccone A. Phylogeography and Population Structure of Glossina fuscipes fuscipes in Uganda: Implications for Control of Tsetse. PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases 2010, 4: e636. PMID: 20300518, PMCID: PMC2838784, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0000636.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsGene flowPopulation structureLarge-scale genetic structureDivergent mitochondrial lineagesCurrent gene flowScale genetic structureBayesian assignment testsLittle gene flowHistorical colonization eventsZone of contactSouthern lineagesMitochondrial lineagesAssignment testsGenetic structureArea-wide controlMainland populationsColonization eventsMicrosatellite dataPopulation geneticsPhylogeographic analysisRiverine speciesIsland populationsAppropriate geographical scaleGenetic analysisMicrosatellite structure
2008
Historical DNA analysis reveals living descendants of an extinct species of Galápagos tortoise
Poulakakis N, Glaberman S, Russello M, Beheregaray LB, Ciofi C, Powell JR, Caccone A. Historical DNA analysis reveals living descendants of an extinct species of Galápagos tortoise. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2008, 105: 15464-15469. PMID: 18809928, PMCID: PMC2563078, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0805340105.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMuseum specimensHistorical DNA analysisDiversification of organismsCaptive breeding programsIsland of FloreanaModern DNA techniquesMicrosatellite dataGalápagos tortoisesConservation biologyMitochondrial DNANatural selectionExtinct speciesExtinct taxaBreeding programsGiant tortoisesIntense harvestingGenetic analysisGenetic dataGalápagos ArchipelagoTortoise populationsDNA techniquesHuman exploitationNearby islandsEnough individualsSpecies
2007
Giant Galápagos tortoises; molecular genetic analyses identify a trans-island hybrid in a repatriation program of an endangered taxon
Milinkovitch MC, Monteyne D, Russello M, Gibbs JP, Snell HL, Tapia W, Marquez C, Caccone A, Powell JR. Giant Galápagos tortoises; molecular genetic analyses identify a trans-island hybrid in a repatriation program of an endangered taxon. BMC Ecology And Evolution 2007, 7: 2. PMID: 17302982, PMCID: PMC1820773, DOI: 10.1186/1472-6785-7-2.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMolecular genetic analysisGenetic analysisIsland of EspañolaEffective population sizeGalápagos tortoisesGenetic integrityConservation significanceReproductive successHuman transportMicrosatellite allelesPopulation sizeTaxaSex ratioRepatriation programMajor islandsTortoisesFemale tortoisesSingle contaminationBreedersFurther contaminationIslandsHybridsPinzónContaminationLinage
2004
Genetic evaluation of a proposed introduction: the case of the greater prairie chicken and the extinct heath hen
Palkovacs E, Oppenheimer A, Gladyshev E, Toepfer J, Amato G, Chase T, Caccone A. Genetic evaluation of a proposed introduction: the case of the greater prairie chicken and the extinct heath hen. Molecular Ecology 2004, 13: 1759-1769. PMID: 15189201, DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-294x.2004.02181.x.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsGreater prairie-chickensPrairie-ChickensMitochondrial control region sequencesDivergent mitochondrial lineagesPrairie grouseControl region sequencesDifferent habitat typesEcological exchangeabilityMitochondrial lineagesExtant populationsPopulation bottlenecksMtDNA haplotypesHabitat typesExtirpated populationsPopulation introductionsGrouse speciesGenetic analysisRegion sequencesGeographical isolationHuman disturbanceGrouse populationsEcosystem restorationEcosystem restoration projectsHen populationRestoration projectsGenetic analysis of a successful repatriation programme: giant Galpagos tortoises
Milinkovitch M, Monteyne D, Gibbs J, Fritts T, Tapia W, Snell H, Tiedemann R, Caccone A, Powell J. Genetic analysis of a successful repatriation programme: giant Galpagos tortoises. Proceedings Of The Royal Society B 2004, 271: 341-345. PMID: 15101691, PMCID: PMC1691607, DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2003.2607.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsGenetic variationIsland of EspañolaGiant Galápagos tortoisesMicrosatellite DNA markersNatural populationsGalápagos tortoisesDNA markersNatural habitatsSitu reproductionBreeding programsGenetic analysisRepatriation programBreedersTortoisesOffspringFurther lossHabitatsTaxaPaternitySpeciesCaptivityReproductionPopulationIslandsVariation