M.Sc. / Southern Africa has the world's greatest diversity of terrestrial and freshwater turtles. The law on turtles kept as pets recently changed and in the process conservation authorities have confiscated numerous terrestrial and freshwater turtles. Relocating programs was an obvious solution but the contamination of healthy gene pools is a big concern. As a result this study involved the determination of genetic variation within and between two freshwater turtle species (Pelomedusa subrufa and Pelusios sinuatus). Hematological and biochemical plasma parameters and Hematozoa infections of the latter two species were studied, which are important for ecologists, veterinarians and nature conservationists. The phylogeny of selected freshwater (Pelomedusidae) and terrestrial (Testudinidae) turtles was also studied and is yet another important aspect regarding relocation programs. Results indicated that the hematological and biochemical plasma parameters compare well with previous studies on various turtle species. The baseline data described will be useful in the nutritional management and clinical monitoring of captive and free-ranging helmeted (P. subrufa) and serrated hinged (P. sinuatus) turtles. Allozyme electrophoresis was used to study the amount of variation within and differentiation between both freshwater species and results indicated that both comprise healthy gene pools, but they need to be monitored on a regular basis. Monitoring is important because changes could occur in time as a result of various factors such as habitat destruction, inbreeding, selection for certain traits, ect. Phylogenetic relationships among seven turtle taxa, representing all South African genus species, were examined by allozyme electrophoresis. Phylogenetic Phylogenetic relationships among seven turtle taxa, representing all South African genus species, were examined by allozyme electrophoresis. Phylogenetic (phenetic and cladistic) analysis grouped the two freshwater genus species together and separate from the terrestrial genus species. On genus level Chersina was grouped with Geochelone, with Kinixys being a sister taxon Df the latter grouping and separate from the grouping of Homopus with Psammobates. This result is in congruence with the limited morphological information available. As far as could be ascertained, this is the first available data set of blood physiology parameters, variation and phylogenetic relationships based on genetic methods in selected turtle species.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:uj/uj:1933 |
| Date | 24 January 2012 |
| Creators | Hofmann, Dieter |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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