Population genetics of Blanding’s turtle (Emys blandingii) in the midwestern United States

Sethuraman, Arun; McGaugh, Suzanne E.; Becker, Morgan L.; Chandler, Christopher H.; Christiansen, James L.; Hayden, Sue; LeClere, Andrea; Monson-Miller, Jennifer; Myers, Erin M.; Paitz, Ryan T.; Refsnider, Jeanine M.; VanDeWalle, Terry; Janzen, Fredric J.

doi:10.1007/s10592-013-0521-8

Cited by 19 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 59 publications

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“…Extremely high genetic differentiation between populations of a single species is unusual, although similar levels have been documented over large geographic scales in sponges (Chaves-Fonnegra et al, 2015), coastal sharks (Ashe et al, 2015) and marine mammals (Fruet et al, 2014), but also at distances o100 km in terrestrial animals (Sethuraman et al, 2013) or freshwater diatoms (Vanormelingen et al, 2015). Our results indicate that the populations of L. brevirostris α present clear geographic boundaries and are consistent with two of the characteristics of a metapopulation model (Grimm et al, 2003): (1) local populations have their own dynamics and (2) they are connected by limited dispersal.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 69%

One species for one island? Unexpected diversity and weak connectivity in a widely distributed tropical hydrozoan

Postaire¹,

Gélin²,

Bruggemann³

et al. 2017

Heredity

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 69%

One species for one island? Unexpected diversity and weak connectivity in a widely distributed tropical hydrozoan

Postaire¹,

Gélin²,

Bruggemann³

et al. 2017

Heredity

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“…() found similar levels of heterozygosity between co‐distributed E. blandingii and C. serpentina in Wisconsin, USA. Overall, estimates of heterozygosity for C. picta (0.68–0.82; Laporte, Beaudry & Angers, ; Jensen, Govindarajulu & Russello, ; Reid et al ., ) and C. serpentina (0.57–0.67; Davy, ; Reid et al ., ) were comparable to previous studies, whereas reported heterozygosity varied substantially among E. blandingii across the Midwest (0.38–0.80; Mockford et al ., ; Klut, ; McGuire, Scribner & Congdon, ; Sethuraman et al ., ; Reid et al ., ). Furthermore, our diversity estimates for C. guttata in Illinois were depressed compared to populations in Ontario, Canada (0.67; Davy & Murphy, ) and potentially correspond to genetic drift experienced by the peripheral Illinois sites.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Population genetic evaluations within a co‐distributed taxonomic group: a multi‐species approach to conservation planning

Anthonysamy

Dreslik

Thompson

et al. 2017

Animal Conservation

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Multi-species approaches provide valuable insight for conservation planning, yet most studies focus on only one species while generalizing across taxa. Here, we employed 5-14 microsatellite DNA loci to evaluate population genetic patterns and future vulnerability for a freshwater turtle assemblage distributed across north-eastern Illinois. Focal species (Emydoidea blandingii, Clemmys guttata, Chrysemys picta and Chelydra serpentina) differ in conservation status as well as in ecological and life-history traits, which modulate gene flow across heterogeneous landscapes. We hypothesized (1) common and more ubiquitous species (C. picta and C. serpentina) would exhibit higher levels of genetic connectivity compared to species more restricted in distributions and with an elevated conservation status (E. blandingii and C. guttata) and (2) endangered species exhibit a greater loss of future genetic diversity. We found that genetic patterns varied considerably among co-distributed species. Endangered species had lower levels of genetic diversity and gene flow, more pronounced genetic structure and a higher risk of genetic drift compared to common species, thus supporting our hypotheses. The observed patterns are potentially attributable to life-history and ecological traits and will affect the long-term viability of the four species within a modified north-eastern Illinois landscape. Our study is an important first step for understanding how landscape features and species-specific traits interact to affect gene flow and population genetic structure within altered landscapes. It also underscores how multi-species approaches can be informative for conservation actions.Genetic patterns in a fragmented turtle community W. J. B. Anthonysamy et al.

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“…For both genetic diversity metrics, on the other hand, roads were a better predictor of variability than public land area, with models containing only road density weighted 3 times higher (for allelic richness) or 27 times higher (for heterozygosity) than models containing public land area alone. While a number of studies have assessed microsatellite genetic variability at regional scales in E. blandingii (Mockford et al ., ; Davy et al ., ; Sethuraman et al ., ), none have explicitly examined the effects of land use on genetic diversity. Continuing loss of individuals of either sex causes loss of genetic diversity over time (Jackson & Fahrig, ) and additional effects of habitat fragmentation (such as reduced gene flow) will likely compound this effect (Keyghobadi ), meaning that genetic diversity may be more sensitive to persistent low levels of road mortality than sex ratio.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Land use patterns skew sex ratios, decrease genetic diversity and trump the effects of recent climate change in an endangered turtle

Reid

Peery

2014

Diversity and Distributions

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Aim Changes in both land use and climate can cause population declines and species extinctions, but the relative effects of these two stressors are often dependent on species‐specific life histories. Turtles are highly threatened as a taxonomic group and are particularly sensitive to environmental change due to their life history, habitat preferences and physiology. We used both sex data and genetic diversity across a landscape‐scale gradient in land use intensity and recent climate change to characterize the relative effects of these factors on three turtle species (including the endangered Blanding's turtle, Emydoidea blandingii) with different life histories and thus different vulnerabilities to environmental change. Location Wisconsin, USA. Methods Turtles were captured and sampled for genetic analyses at 18 sites. Sampled individuals were genotyped for species‐specific sets of microsatellite markers, and population‐level genetic diversity was assessed using rarefied allelic richness and heterozygosity. The relative effects of road density, public land area and recent climate change on genetic diversity and sex ratio were evaluated using regression methods and model‐selection criteria. Results Increased land use intensity was associated with male‐skewed sex ratios and decreased genetic diversity in E. blandingii but not co‐occurring species. Recent climate change did not explain variability in either sex ratio or genetic diversity for any of the three species examined. Main conclusions Changing land use has multiple impacts on turtle populations that are modulated by species‐specific life history traits. Extensive terrestrial movements associated with nesting in E. blandingii increase female vulnerability to road mortality, which in turn has led to declines in genetic diversity. The predicted effects of recent climate change may have been dampened by behavioural plasticity. We suggest that the disproportionate effect of land use on E. blandingii warrants greater legal protection for this species.

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Population genetics of Blanding’s turtle (Emys blandingii) in the midwestern United States

Cited by 19 publications

References 59 publications

One species for one island? Unexpected diversity and weak connectivity in a widely distributed tropical hydrozoan

One species for one island? Unexpected diversity and weak connectivity in a widely distributed tropical hydrozoan

Population genetic evaluations within a co‐distributed taxonomic group: a multi‐species approach to conservation planning

Land use patterns skew sex ratios, decrease genetic diversity and trump the effects of recent climate change in an endangered turtle

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