Post-glacial recolonization of the Great Lakes region by the common gartersnake (Thamnophis sirtalis) inferred from mtDNA sequences

Placyk, John S.; Burghardt, Gordon M.; Small, Randall L.; King, Richard B.; Casper, Gary S.; Robinson, Jace W.

doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2006.10.023

Cited by 27 publications

(43 citation statements)

References 62 publications

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“…Results from mtDNA and AFLP supported the general conclusion that T. butleri populations that occur east of Lake Michigan are significantly different from populations that occur west of Lake Michigan, lending further support to previous studies on recolonization of the Great Lakes region following the last glaciation (Austin et al 2002;Zamudio and Savage 2003;Nice et al 2005;Placyk et al 2007). In contrast, T. radix showed no geographic structure.…”

Section: Population Structuresupporting

confidence: 83%

“…Given the extensive haplotype sharing and low level of sequence divergence overall, it would not be appropriate to estimate a timescale of speciation. However, based on the typically high rate of mtDNA sequence evolution in vertebrates (e.g., Crandall et al 1994;Austin et al 2002;Allendorf and Luikart 2007;Placyk et al 2007;Futuyma 2009), we can say that divergence of mtDNA lineages has been very recent.…”

Section: Gene Tree Analysesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Hybridization between two gartersnake species (Thamnophis) of conservation concern: a threat or an important natural interaction?

et al. 2012

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Distinguishing between hybrid zones formed by secondary contact versus parapatric divergence-withgene-flow is an important challenge for understanding the interplay of geographic isolation and local adaptation in the origin of species. Similarly, distinguishing between natural hybrid zones and those that formed as a consequence of recent human activities has important conservation implications. Recent work has demonstrated the existence of a narrow hybrid zone between the plains gartersnake (Thamnophis radix) and Butler's gartersnake (T. butleri) in the Great Lakes region of North America, raising questions about the history and conservation value of genetically admixed populations. Both taxa are of conservation concern, and it is not clear whether to regard hybridization as a threat or a natural interaction. Here we use phylogeographic and population genetic methods to assess the timescales of divergence and hybridization, and test for evidence that the hybrid zone is of recent origin. We assayed AFLP markers and ND2 mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequences from T. radix, T. butleri, and the closely related short-headed gartersnake (T. brachystoma) throughout their North American ranges. We find shallow mtDNA divergence overall and high levels of variation within the contact zone. These patterns are inconsistent with recent contact of long-diverged taxa. It is not possible to distinguish true divergence-with-gene-flow from a longterm secondary contact zone, but we infer that the hybrid zone is a long-standing, natural interaction.

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Section: Population Structuresupporting

confidence: 83%

Section: Gene Tree Analysesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hybridization between two gartersnake species (Thamnophis) of conservation concern: a threat or an important natural interaction?

et al. 2012

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“…Since T. sirtalis is diurnal, all behavioral tests were conducted during photophase. Following behavioral testing, nonpregnant females and males were scale-clipped for future identification (Brown and Parker 1976), had tissue samples taken for genetic analyses (Placyk et al 2007) and were released to their respective capture locations. It was also recorded if an animal was missing part of its tail or had other types of wounds or scars that may have been caused by a failed predatory attack, because such data may correspond with differences in antipredator behavior and because variation in this type of data has been documented in this system (Placyk and Burghardt 2005).…”

Section: General Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Burghardt and Schwartz (1999) found neonates born to mothers from Wisconsin were more reactive than neonates born to LP mothers. Since UP animals are derived from Wisconsin populations (Placyk et al 2007), the difference seen between UP and LP populations may be the result of the underlying genetics of these populations. The data presented here also indicate that neonates from MM, SM, and HI are more reactive than the LP neonates in some regards (musking, body flattening) despite more predators existing at the LP site.…”

Section: Antipredator Behavior Experimentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The data presented here also indicate that neonates from MM, SM, and HI are more reactive than the LP neonates in some regards (musking, body flattening) despite more predators existing at the LP site. Using mtDNA sequence data, Placyk et al (2007) found that most individuals sampled (80.9%) from the Beaver Archipelago are derived from UP populations rather than LP populations. Since many of the behaviors exhibited by adult animals correspond with predator richness, but not with neonate behaviors, the antipredator plasticity experiment was useful in determining the role of environmental influences on adult behavior.…”

Section: Antipredator Behavior Experimentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The role of innate and environmental influences in shaping antipredator behavior of mainland and insular gartersnakes (Thamnophis sirtalis)

Placyk

2011

J Ethol

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Vertebrates inhabiting islands are often characterized by fearlessness and tame behavior. While this relaxation of antipredator behavior has been documented in many species endemic to islands, fewer researchers have examined it in species that occur both in insular and mainland habitats. In addition, the mechanisms underlying this shift in behavior are still poorly known. For this work, antipredator behavior of island and mainland populations of the common gartersnake (Thamnophis sirtalis) was surveyed. Observed differences were explained in terms of innate tendencies and/or environmental influences using both neonates and adults in laboratory experiments designed to tease apart these two underlying mechanisms. While antipredator behavior of adults was positively correlated with the predation pressures associated with capture sites, neonate behavior did not fully reflect this pattern. However, some support for hard-wired antipredator behavior at birth was evident. Plasticity experiments also revealed that environmental factors appear to influence antipredator behavior. Thus, the data presented here suggest that predation pressures play a strong role in shaping the antipredator behavior of island animals and that the resulting behaviors are most likely the result of some combination of both nature and nurture.

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

et al. 2013

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Blanding's turtle (Emys blandingii) has declined substantially in North America due to anthropogenic activities, leaving populations smaller and increasingly fragmented spatially. We sampled 212 turtles to evaluate variation at eight microsatellite loci within and among 18 populations of E. blandingii across its primary range in the midwestern United States (Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, and Nebraska). All loci and populations were highly polymorphic. Our analyses also detected considerable genetic structure within and among the sampled localities, and revealed ancestral gene flow of E. blandingii in this region north and east from an ancient refugium in the central Great Plains, concordant with post-glacial recolonization timescales. The data further implied unexpected 'links' between geographically disparate populations in Nebraska and Illinois. Our study encourages conservation decisions to be mindful of the genetic uniqueness of populations of E. blandingii across its primary range.

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Post-glacial recolonization of the Great Lakes region by the common gartersnake (Thamnophis sirtalis) inferred from mtDNA sequences

Cited by 27 publications

References 62 publications

Hybridization between two gartersnake species (Thamnophis) of conservation concern: a threat or an important natural interaction?

Hybridization between two gartersnake species (Thamnophis) of conservation concern: a threat or an important natural interaction?

The role of innate and environmental influences in shaping antipredator behavior of mainland and insular gartersnakes (Thamnophis sirtalis)

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

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