The loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta), has the widest distribution among sea turtle species in the Mediterranean, requiring regional and international collaborations in addition to local efforts to better inform conservation actions. Molecular techniques are powerful tools for the assessment of population dynamics at large scales, especially in determining the connectivity among different nesting and foraging sites, and genetic diversity. In this study, a large sample was collected synchronously in the nesting areas located in the north, south and eastern Mediterranean. Recently confirmed nesting sites from Albania and other nesting sites represented by lower sample sizes were also included in order to better assess the genetic composition of the region’s rookeries. Samples from 698 individuals were collected and the longer (815 bp) mtDNA D-loop fragment of these samples was sequenced. We recorded 15 haplotypes, three of which were novel. In addition, our results show that some haplotypes considered of Atlantic origin, have a wider dispersal in the Mediterranean than previously thought, albeit with low levels of representation. Our results contribute to determining the likely origin of haplotypes that were previously only recorded from foraging sites. They highlight the utility of broad-scale sampling, with increased sample sizes and the longer mtDNA sequence to determine genetic diversity and connectivity. This study also demonstrates the importance of continued monitoring for the contribution of Atlantic-origin haplotypes to the Mediterranean population and the effects of climate change on the resident Mediterranean population, which is expected to expand its geographical range for reproduction. This work is important for, mixed stock analyses (MSA) that seek to determine the natal regions of stranded or accidentally caught sea turtles and those purposefully obtained from foraging sites. In doing so biogeographic linkages between areas of the Mediterranean can be elucidated for conservation purposes.

赤蠵龟 ( Caretta caretta)，在地中海的海龟物种中分布最广，除了地方努力以更好地为保护行动提供信息外，还需要区域和国际合作。分子技术是大规模评估种群动态的强大工具，尤其是在确定不同筑巢和觅食地点之间的连通性以及遗传多样性方面。在这项研究中，在位于地中海北部、南部和东部的筑巢区同步采集了大量样本。最近确认的来自阿尔巴尼亚的筑巢地点和其他以较小样本量为代表的筑巢地点也被包括在内，以便更好地评估该地区鸟类的遗传组成。收集了 698 个个体的样本，并对这些样本中较长的 (815 bp) mtDNA D 环片段进行了测序。我们记录了 15 个单倍型，其中三个是新的。此外，我们的结果表明，一些被认为起源于大西洋的单倍型在地中海的分布比以前想象的要广泛，尽管代表性较低。我们的结果有助于确定以前仅从觅食地点记录的单倍型的可能来源。他们强调了大规模抽样的实用性，通过增加样本量和更长的 mtDNA 序列来确定遗传多样性和连通性。这项研究还证明了持续监测大西洋起​​源单倍型对地中海人口的贡献以及气候变化对地中海居民人口的影响的重要性，这有望扩大其繁殖的地理范围。这项工作对于混合种群分析 (MSA) 很重要，该分析旨在确定搁浅或意外捕获的海龟以及有意从觅食地点获得的海龟的出生区域。这样做可以出于保护目的阐明地中海地区之间的生物地理联系。混合种群分析 (MSA)，旨在确定搁浅或意外捕获的海龟以及有意从觅食地点获得的海龟的出生区域。这样做可以出于保护目的阐明地中海地区之间的生物地理联系。混合种群分析 (MSA)，旨在确定搁浅或意外捕获的海龟以及有意从觅食地点获得的海龟的出生区域。这样做可以出于保护目的阐明地中海地区之间的生物地理联系。