Dissertations and Theses @ UNI
Availability
Open Access Thesis
Keywords
Blue-spotted salamander--Geographical distribution; Phylogeography; Academic theses;
Abstract
The amphibian diversity of Iowa has been in a constant state of flux in response to several environmental forces over the past 14,000 years. Most amphibians require a moist environment in which to live, and aquatic habitats for reproduction. Ambystoma laterale is one of the few salamanders found in the state of Iowa and is one of two found on Iowa's endangered species list. Unfortunately, A. laterale has only been observed in two counties in Iowa, Blackhawk and Linn. The blue-spotted salamander (Ambystoma laterale) has the northern-most distribution of any North American salamander and primarily occurs in areas that were once covered by the Laurentide Ice Sheet during the last glacial maximum. My thesis research examines the phylogeography of this primary invader of northern North America following the last glacial retreat. Mitochondrial DNA sequence data reveals geographic structuring with a well supported clade located in the western portion of the range. Genetic variation at a single nuclear DNA microsatellite locus supports this finding which suggests the possibility of either multiple Pleistocene refugia for this species (east and west) or a single eastern refugium.
Year of Submission
2010
Degree Name
Master of Science
Department
Department of Biology
First Advisor
James Demastes
Second Advisor
Theresa Spradling
Third Advisor
Steve O'Kane
Date Original
2010
Object Description
1 PDF file (64 leaves)
Copyright
©2010 Jade Shawndee East
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Recommended Citation
East, Jade Shawndee, "The Intraspecific Phylogeography of the Blue-Spotted Salamander, Ambysotma laterale" (2010). Dissertations and Theses @ UNI. 2543.
https://scholarworks.uni.edu/etd/2543
Comments
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