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1 July 2016 Genetic Evidence for Modifying Oceanic Boundaries Relative to Fiji
Gerhard P. Shipley, Diana A. Taylor, Antoine D. R. N'Yeurt, Anand Tyagi, Geetanjali Tiwari, Alan J. Redd
Author Affiliations +
Abstract

We present the most comprehensive genetic characterization to date of five Fijian island populations: Viti Levu, Vanua Levu, Kadavu, the Lau Islands, and Rotuma, including nonrecombinant Y (NRY) chromosome and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplotypes and haplogroups. As a whole, Fijians are genetically intermediate between Melanesians and Polynesians, but the individual Fijian island populations exhibit significant genetic structure reflecting different settlement experiences in which the Rotumans and the Lau Islanders were more influenced by Polynesians, and the other Fijian island populations were more influenced by Melanesians. In particular, Rotuman and Lau Islander NRY chromosomal and mtDNA haplogroup frequencies and Rotuman mtDNA hypervariable segment 1 region haplotypes more closely resemble those of Polynesians, while genetic markers of the other populations more closely resemble those of the Near Oceanic Melanesians. Our findings provide genetic evidence supportive of modifying regional boundaries relative to Fiji, as has been suggested by others based on a variety of nongenetic evidence. Specifically, for the traditional Melanesia/Polynesia/Micronesia scheme, our findings support moving the Melanesia-Polynesia boundary to include Rotuma and the Lau Islands in Polynesia. For the newer Near/Remote Oceania scheme, our findings support keeping Rotuma and the Lau Islands in Remote Oceania and locating the other Fijian island populations in an intermediate or “Central Oceania” region to better reflect the great diversity of Oceania.

© 2017 Wayne State University Press, Detroit, Michigan 48201
Gerhard P. Shipley, Diana A. Taylor, Antoine D. R. N'Yeurt, Anand Tyagi, Geetanjali Tiwari, and Alan J. Redd "Genetic Evidence for Modifying Oceanic Boundaries Relative to Fiji," Human Biology 88(3), 232-244, (1 July 2016). https://doi.org/10.13110/humanbiology.88.3.0232
Received: 23 November 2015; Accepted: 1 January 2016; Published: 1 July 2016
KEYWORDS
central oceania
Fiji
mtDNA
oceanic boundaries
rotuma
Y CHROMOSOME
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