Genetics and conservation on islands: the Galápagos giant tortoise as a case study

In this study we review how population genetic approaches based on mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and nuclear DNA microsatellite analyses have aided in reconstructing the evolutionary history of Galápagos giant tortoise populations, assessing demographic patterns and identifying units with substantial demographic and genetic independence to assist taxonomic designation and direct conservation efforts. Sequence data from museum specimens of two extinct but biogeographically important taxa were included in the analysis to better address the origin of extant lineages. This body of work integrates information on population structure, parentage analysis and individual assignment tests on captive individuals to guide maintenance of viable effective population size for breeding programs and assist management plans involving repatriation of tortoises to populations of origin.