10.34691/FK2/RJZUFCAlvarez-Varas, RocíoRocíoAlvarez-VarasUniversidad de ChileRojas-Hernández, NoemiNoemiRojas-HernándezUniversidad de ChileHeidemeyer, MaikeMaikeHeidemeyerUniversidad de Costa RicaRiginos, CynthiaCynthiaRiginosUniversity of QueenslandBenitez, HugoHugoBenitezUniversidad de ConcepciónAraya-Donoso, RaulRaulAraya-DonosoArizona State UniversityResendiz, EduardoEduardoResendizUniversidad Autónoma de Baja California SurLara-Uc, MonicaMonicaLara-UcUniversidad Autónoma de Baja California SurGodoy, DanielDanielGodoyMassey UniversityMuñoz, Juan PabloJuan PabloMuñozUniversidad San Francisco de QuitoAlarcon-Ruales, DanielaDanielaAlarcon-RualesUniversidad San Francisco de QuitoAlfaro-Shigueto, JoannaJoannaAlfaro-ShiguetoUniversity of ExeterOrtiz-Alvarez, ClaraClaraOrtiz-AlvarezProDelphinusMangel, JeffreyJeffreyMangelUniversity of ExeterVianna, JulianaJulianaViannaPontificia Universidad Católica de ChileVeliz, DavidDavidVelizUniversidad de ChileGreen, yellow or black? Genetic differentiation and adaptation signatures in a highly migratory marine turtleRepositorio de datos de investigación de la Universidad de Chile2021Earth and Environmental SciencesChelonia mydasgenetic structurecandidate genesmelanismEastern Pacificconservation genomicsRocío Alvarez-VarasRocíoAlvarez-VarasUniversidad de ChileVeliz, DavidDavidVelizUniversidad de Chile2021-03-302023-04-046264255application/vnd.pg.format1.0CC-BY 4.0Marine species may exhibit genetic structure accompanied by phenotypic differentiation related to adaptation despite their high mobility. The genetic differentiation between green turtle (Chelonia mydas) Pacific shape-based morphotypes (south-central/western or yellow turtle and north-central/eastern or black turtle) and the adaptation of the black turtle to environmentally contrasting conditions of the Eastern Pacific region have remained a mystery for decades. Here we addressed both questions using a reduced-representation genome approach (Dartseq; 9,473 neutral SNPs) and identifying candidate outlier loci (67 outlier SNPs) of biological relevance between shape-based morphotypes from eight Pacific foraging grounds (n=158). Our results support genetic divergence between morphotypes, probably arising from strong natal homing behavior. Genes and enriched biological functions linked to thermoregulation, hypoxia, melanism, morphogenesis,osmoregulation, diet and reproduction were found to be outliers for differentiation, providing evidence for adaptation of C. mydas to the eastern Pacific region and suggesting independent evolutionary trajectories of the shape-based morphotypes. Our findings support the evolutionary distinctness of the enigmatic black turtle (north-central/eastern morphotype) and provide a framework for adaptive research and conservation genomics in long-lived and highly mobile vertebrates.