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Marine Turtle Newsletter 114:8, © 2006
Commentary: What is a Subpopulation?
N. Mrosovsky
Department of Zoology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G5 Canada (E-mail: mro@zoo.utoronto.ca)
The editorial by Naro-Maciel & Formia (MTN 114:6-8) is a welcome sign that red listing is currently receiving serious and informed airing in the sea turtle community. With respect to the status of green turtles in the Mediterranean, it is noticeable that the “preliminary research” suggesting that turtles in this region might qualify as an IUCN subpopulation and “may be” distinct, is supported with in press references and publications much more recent than the 1996 red listing as a subpopulation. That listing occurred without distribution of documentation to the membership of the MTSG, and without the opportunity for widespread discussion. In that context especially, but in general too, Naro-Maciel and Formia are surely right that a “complete compilation” of pertinent information is an essential first step for delineating what qualifies as a subpopulation. But what is meant by a subpopulation in IUCN’s system? I have been trying for more than a year to obtain clarification from IUCN on the use of generations versus spans of a year for assessing genetic interchange. According to my latest information, some revision of their definition of subpopulation, or some additional guidelines for its use, may soon appear on the IUCN website. But do not count on it: IUCN have been known to take longer to do things than they first say.