14 Linkages among Subterranean Ecosystems and Geological Events in the Eastern United States

Thursday, 12 April 2018
1:30 PM - 5:30 PM
Room 301 A

GENETIC DIVERSITY OF AN ENIGMATIC AQUIFER SPECIES FROM THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES, THE GEORGIA BLIND SALAMANDER (EURYCEA WALLACEI)

Paper number: 14-7
Program: Theme Sessions
Time: 3:30 PM – 3:50 PM

Authors

Abstract

Many groundwater-dwelling animals are of conservation concern due to small geographic ranges, but sampling of these species is often restricted to a few access points into aquifers (i.e., caves, springs, and wells). Here, we test for patterns of genetic diversity in the Georgia blind salamander (Eurycea wallacei), a species endemic to the Upper Floridan Aquifer (UFA) of southwestern Georgia and northern Florida. We conducted phylogenetic and population-level analyses to evaluate divergence, genetic isolation, and effective population size within E. wallacei. Based on mtDNA, we found two divergent lineages within this species; however, all sampled localities were non-monophyletic, and a high frequency of haplotype sharing was found, even among localities in separate drainages. Likewise, multi-locus nuclear DNA suggested high levels of admixture among localities. An analysis of molecular variance suggested genetic groupings that were not partitioned by sampled locality. These results may reflect historical fragmentation and secondary admixture within the UFA.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 50, No. 3

doi: 10.1130/abs/2018SE-312380

© Copyright 2018 The Geological Society of America (GSA), all rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to the author(s) of this abstract to reproduce and distribute it freely, for noncommercial purposes. Permission is hereby granted to any individual scientist to download a single copy of this electronic file and reproduce up to 20 paper copies for noncommercial purposes advancing science and education, including classroom use, providing all reproductions include the complete content shown here, including the author information. All other forms of reproduction and/or transmittal are prohibited without written permission from GSA Copyright Permissions.