Conservation genetics of Blanding’s turtle and its application in the identification of evolutionarily significant units

Mockford, Stephen W.; Herman, T. B.; Snyder, Mark A.; Wright, Jonathan

doi:10.1007/s10592-006-9163-4

Cited by 49 publications

(62 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…As such, conventional wisdom would have them managed as separate units (Moritz 1994) so as to conserve the genetic diversity among populations (e.g. Loftis et al 2009;Mockford et al 2007;Pabijan et al 2005). In contrast, detrimental effects of inbreeding in small populations are widely known (Frankham et al 2002;Keller and Waller 2002), so one must balance the idea of preserving genetic diversity-and the status quo-with the possibility of alleviating detrimental effects by introducing new alleles from another population.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Extreme population differentiation in a vulnerable slavemaking ant with a fragmented distribution

et al. 2010

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Understanding levels of population differentiation and inbreeding are important issues in conservation biology, especially for social Hymenoptera with fragmented and small population sizes. Isolated populations are more vulnerable to genetic loss and extinction than those with extended continuous distributions. However, small populations are not always a consequence of a recent reduction of their habitat. Thus, determining the history of population isolation and current patterns of genetic variation of a species is crucial for its conservation. Rossomyrmex minuchae is a slave-making ant with patchy distribution in South Eastern Spain and is classified as vulnerable by the IUCN. In contrast, the other three known species of the genus are presumed to show more uniform distributions. Here we investigate the genetic diversity and population structure of R. minuchae and compare it with that found in two other species of the genus: R. anatolicus and R. quandratinodum. We conclude that although genetic diversity of R. minuchae is low, there is no evidence of a recent bottleneck, suggesting a gradual and natural fragmentation process. We also show extreme population differentiation at nuclear and mitochondrial markers, and isolation by distance at a local scale. Despite some evidence for inbreeding and low genetic variation within populations, we found almost no diploid males, a finding which contrasts with that expected in inbred Hymenoptera with single locus complementary sex determination. This could mean that sex is determined by another mechanism. We argue that continued low population size means that detrimental effects of inbreeding and low genetic variation are likely in the future. We suggest that a policy of artificial gene flow aimed at increasing within population variation is considered as a management option.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Extreme population differentiation in a vulnerable slavemaking ant with a fragmented distribution

et al. 2010

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“…Historic (glacial and post-glacial) patterns of climate change in Atlantic Canada have likely been of critical importance in shaping the population genetic structure of maritime shrews as has been inferred for various other species in this region (e.g., masked shrews [Stewart and Baker 1997], southern flying squirrels [Petersen and Stewart 2006], Blanding's turtles [Mockford et al 2007]). At the height of the Wisconsin glaciation, species in the Maritime Provinces were limited to refugia where populations may have been subjected to multiple bottlenecks thereby reducing genetic diversity (e.g., Stewart and Baker 1992).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Diffusion of nuclear and mitochondrial genes across a zone of secondary contact in the maritime shrew, Sorex maritimensis: implications for the conservation of a Canadian endemic mammal

et al. 2008

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The maritime shrew, Sorex maritimensis, is a Canadian endemic species with a limited distribution in two provinces in eastern Canada. Phylogeographic analysis of mitochondrial DNA control region and cytochrome b sequences revealed two clades, one found in New Brunswick and the other primarily in Nova Scotia, Canada. We propose that these clades have come back into secondary contact following the Wisconsin glaciation via wetlands on the narrow Isthmus of Chigneto that connects these provinces. Despite evidence of an historic separation of maritime shrew subpopulations in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, we conclude that shrews in these two regions should be considered a single evolutionary significant unit but separate, semi-isolated management units that should be recognized as such for conservation purposes. The susceptibility of this stenotopic species with limited dispersal capabilities raises concerns about its long-term persistence if climate-change induced habitat fragmentation increases. Maintenance of contiguous wetland habitats is needed to ensure connectivity and gene flow among populations of the maritime shrew.

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“…Because of its threatened and endangered status, Blanding's turtle (Emydoidia blandingii) has been studied in urban areas more than most other species. These studies have focused on habitat use and movement (Rubin et al 2001a), survival and population structure (Rubin et al 2004), and conservation genetics (Rubin et al 2001b;Mockford et al 2007). Most other studies of terrestrial and freshwater turtles in urban habitats have covered natural history and basic population traits (Mitchell 1988;Spinks et al 2003;Conner et al 2005;Budischak et al 2006).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Movement and habitat use of two aquatic turtles (Graptemys geographica and Trachemys scripta) in an urban landscape

et al. 2008

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Our study focuses on the spatial ecology and seasonal habitat use of two aquatic turtles in order to understand the manner in which upland habitat use by humans shapes the aquatic activity, movement, and habitat selection of these species in an urban setting. We used radiotelemetry to follow 15 female Graptemys geographica (common map turtle) and each of ten male and female Trachemys scripta (red-eared slider) living in a man-made canal within a highly urbanized region of Indianapolis, IN, USA. During the active season (between May and September) of 2002, we located 33 of the 35 individuals a total of 934 times and determined the total range of activity, mean movement, and daily movement for each individuals. We also analyzed turtle locations relative to the upland habitat types (commercial, residential, river, road, woodlot, and open) surrounding the canal and determined that the turtles spent a disproportionate amount of time in woodland and commercial habitats and avoided the road-associated portions of the canal. We also located 21 of the turtles during hibernation (February 2003), and determined that an even greater proportion of individuals hibernated in woodland-bordered portions of the canal. Our results clearly indicate that turtle habitat selection is influenced by human activities; sound conservation and management of turtle populations in urban habitats will require the incorporation of spatial ecology and habitat use data.

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Conservation genetics of Blanding’s turtle and its application in the identification of evolutionarily significant units

Cited by 49 publications

References 31 publications

Extreme population differentiation in a vulnerable slavemaking ant with a fragmented distribution

Extreme population differentiation in a vulnerable slavemaking ant with a fragmented distribution

Diffusion of nuclear and mitochondrial genes across a zone of secondary contact in the maritime shrew, Sorex maritimensis: implications for the conservation of a Canadian endemic mammal

Movement and habitat use of two aquatic turtles (Graptemys geographica and Trachemys scripta) in an urban landscape

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