LE3 .A278 2008

2008

Mockford, Steve

Acadia University

Bachelor of Science

Honours

Biology

Biology

Blanding’s turtle is a North American freshwater species with a latitudinally compressed range centered on the Great Lakes. The main range occurs to the west of the Appalachian Mountains, while disjunct populations occur along the Atlantic Coast. Previous studies have suggested a barrier to gene flow between these two sections of range is roughly coincident with the Appalachian Mountains. This led to the recommendation that populations west of the Appalachian Mountains and those to the east be recognized as distinct “evolutionarily significant units” (ESU). This study sought to test the hypothesis that these are separate ESU’s. A 526bp region of the mitochondrial control region was PCR amplified and sequenced from 45 samples from 10 populations, and the sequences were compared. Pairwise distance values, phylogenetic relationships, and a haplotype network all showed the degree of variation between eastern and western populations to exceed that within either the eastern or western populations. These data support the existence of a barrier to gene flow between these groups. There are exceptions to the hypothesized Appalachian Mountains barrier: Ontario and Nebraska populations group with the eastern populations although they are located to the West of the Appalachian Mountains. However, based on the general patterns of genetic variation observed, this study supports the recommendation for two evolutionarily significant unit designations.

The author retains copyright in this thesis. Any substantial copying or any other actions that exceed fair dealing or other exceptions in the Copyright Act require the permission of the author.

https://scholar.acadiau.ca/islandora/object/theses:524