Term of Award
Fall 2017
Degree Name
Master of Science in Biology (M.S.)
Document Type and Release Option
Thesis (open access)
Copyright Statement / License for Reuse
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Department
Department of Biology
Committee Chair
Jamie Roberts
Committee Member 1
Scott Harrison
Committee Member 2
Lance McBrayer
Committee Member 3
Carola Haas
Committee Member 3 Email
cahaas@vt.edu
Abstract
The reticulated flatwoods salamander (RFS) is an endangered salamander with a unique life history. One of the largest known, best studied refuges for RFS is found on Eglin Air Force Base, and these RFS have been sampled and managed extensively since 2010. My thesis seeks to better understand RFS by using genetic techniques to address several unknowns, including: 1) determining the population structuring of RFS and the manageable units for species conservation, 2) estimating the size and status of populations, 3) understanding dispersal of RFS and factors that influence this, 4) exploring the breeding biology and recruitment patterns of RFS and how they affect population sizes, and 5) drawing general conclusions about RFS population biology and recommendations for future management. The first, second, and third objectives are addressed in Chapter 1, by analyzing variation at nuclear microsatellite genetic markers within and among known, extant breeding populations on Eglin to determine the genetic structuring of RFS as well as landscape factors that would influence dispersal between the breeding ponds. The fourth objective is addressed in Chapter 2 and utilizes the same microsatellite markers but focuses on two ponds and two years in which extensive sampling of adult and larval RFS was conducted. The fifth objective is addressed in the General Conclusion section in which I use data from both chapters to provide management suggestions that can be utilized both on Eglin and elsewhere.
Recommended Citation
Wendt, Alexander S., "A Population Genetic Investigation of the Reticulated Flatwoods Salamander (Ambystoma bishopi) on Eglin Air Force Base" (2017). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 1693.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/etd/1693
Research Data and Supplementary Material
No
Included in
Other Animal Sciences Commons, Other Genetics and Genomics Commons, Population Biology Commons
