Genetic diversity and population differentiation of the Chinese soft-shelled turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis) in three geographical populations

The Chinese soft-shelled turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis) is one of the most important economical chelonians in the world. To understand the genetic variations of the Chinese soft-shelled turtle in China, 62 individuals were sampled from three localities and 18 polymorphic microsatellite loci tested were used to detect genetic diversity and population structure. Results showed that the genetic diversity of the wild P. sinensis was high. Except for the Wuhu populations, the majority of microsatellite loci are not deviation from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in the other two populations. AMOVA analysis indicated that genetic variations occurred mainly within populations (97.4%) rather than among populations (2.6%). The gene flow estimates (Nm) among three geographic populations demonstrated that strong gene flow existed (Nm > 1, mean 6). The present study supported that different habitats, breed turtles escaped, multiple paternity and long evolutionary history may be responsible for the current genetic diversity and differentiation in the wild Chinese soft-shelled turtle.