Population structure, gene flow, and sex‐biased dispersal in the reticulated flatwoods salamander ( Ambystoma bishopi ): implications for translocations

AbstractFeral swine Sus scrofa have been implicated as a major threat to sensitive habitats and ecosystems as well as threatened wildlife. Nevertheless, direct and indirect impacts on threatened species (especially small, fossorial species) are not well documented. The decline of the U.S. federally endangered reticulated flatwoods salamander Ambystoma bishopi, categorized as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, has been rapid and there are few remaining breeding locations for this species. The flatwoods salamander depends on complex herbaceous vegetation in all life stages, including eggs, larvae and adults. Historically sets of hog tracks have been observed only occasionally in the vicinity of monitored reticulated flatwoods salamander breeding wetlands, and damage to the wetlands had never been recorded. However, during the autumn–winter breeding season of 2013–2014 we observed a large increase in hog sign, including extensive rooting damage, in known flatwoods salamander breeding wetlands. Our objective was to assess the amount of hog sign and damage in these wetlands and to take corrective management actions to curb additional impacts. Of 28 wetlands surveyed for hog sign, presence was recorded at 68%, and damage at 54%. Of the 11 sites known to be occupied by flatwoods salamanders in 2013–2014, 64% had presence, and 55% had damage. We found that regular monitoring of disturbance in wetland habitats was a valuable tool to determine when intervention was needed and to assess the effectiveness of intervention. Habitat damage caused by feral hogs poses a potentially serious threat to the salamanders, which needs to be mitigated using methods to control and exclude hogs from this sensitive habitat.

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Depauperate major histocompatibility complex variation in the endangered reticulated flatwoods salamander (Ambystoma bishopi)

Immunogenetics ◽

10.1007/s00251-020-01160-y ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 72 (4) ◽

pp. 263-274

Author(s):

Steven Tyler Williams ◽

Carola A. Haas ◽

James H. Roberts ◽

Sabrina S. Taylor

Keyword(s):

Major Histocompatibility Complex ◽

Major Histocompatibility ◽

Histocompatibility Complex ◽

Ambystoma Bishopi ◽

Complex Variation ◽

Reticulated Flatwoods Salamander ◽

Flatwoods Salamander

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Differentiation and Interrelations of Two Representatives of Laudakia stellio Complex (Reptilia: Agamidae) in Israel

Russian Journal of Herpetology ◽

10.30906/1026-2296-1997-4-2-102-114 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 4 (2) ◽

pp. 102-114 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Evgenyi N. Panov ◽

Larissa Yu. Zykova

Keyword(s):

Population Structure ◽

Gene Flow ◽

Habitat Preference ◽

Additional Data ◽

Near East ◽

Field Studies ◽

Subspecies Level ◽

Limited Gene Flow ◽

Study Sites ◽

And Behavior

Field studies were conducted in Central Negev within the breeding range of Laudakia stellio brachydactyla and in NE Israel (Qyriat Shemona) in the range of an unnamed form (tentatively “Near-East Rock Agama”), during March – May 1996. Additional data have been collected in Jerusalem at a distance of ca. 110 km from the first and about 170 km from the second study sites. A total of 63 individuals were caught and examined. The animals were marked and their subsequent movements were followed. Social and signal behavior of both forms were described and compared. Lizards from Negev and Qyriat Shemona differ from each other sharply in external morphology, habitat preference, population structure, and behavior. The differences obviously exceed the subspecies level. At the same time, the lizards from Jerusalem tend to be intermediate morphologically between those from both above-named localities, which permits admitting the existence of a limited gene flow between lizard populations of Negev and northern Israel. The lizards from NE Israel apparently do not belong to the nominate subspecies of L. stellio and should be regarded as one more subspecies within the species.

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Population genetics of Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) in its native range in Lao People’s Democratic Republic

Parasites & Vectors ◽

10.1186/s13071-019-3740-0 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Maysa Tiemi Motoki ◽

Dina Madera Fonseca ◽

Elliott Frederic Miot ◽

Bruna Demari-Silva ◽

Phoutmany Thammavong ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Population Structure ◽

Gene Flow ◽

Aedes Albopictus ◽

Isolation By Distance ◽

Genetic Locus ◽

Lao Pdr ◽

Phylogenetic Network ◽

Population Expansion ◽

Recent Population Expansion ◽

The Usa

Abstract Background The Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes (Stegomyia) albopictus (Skuse) is an important worldwide invasive species and can be a locally important vector of chikungunya, dengue and, potentially, Zika. This species is native to Southeast Asia where populations thrive in both temperate and tropical climates. A better understanding of the population structure of Ae. albopictus in Lao PDR is very important in order to support the implementation of strategies for diseases prevention and vector control. In the present study, we investigated the genetic variability of Ae. albopictus across a north-south transect in Lao PDR. Methods We used variability in a 1337-bp fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene (cox1), to assess the population structure of Ae. albopictus in Lao PDR. For context, we also examined variability at the same genetic locus in samples of Ae. albopictus from Thailand, China, Taiwan, Japan, Singapore, Italy and the USA. Results We observed very high levels of genetic polymorphism with 46 novel haplotypes in Ae. albopictus from 9 localities in Lao PDR and Thailand populations. Significant differences were observed between the Luangnamtha population and other locations in Lao PDR. However, we found no evidence of isolation by distance. There was overall little genetic structure indicating ongoing and frequent gene flow among populations or a recent population expansion. Indeed, the neutrality test supported population expansion in Laotian Ae. albopictus and mismatch distribution analyses showed a lack of low frequency alleles, a pattern often seen in bottlenecked populations. When samples from Lao PDR were analyzed together with samples from Thailand, China, Taiwan, Japan, Singapore, Italy and the USA, phylogenetic network and Bayesian cluster analysis showed that most populations from tropical/subtropical regions are more genetically related to each other, than populations from temperate regions. Similarly, most populations from temperate regions are more genetically related to each other, than those from tropical/subtropical regions. Conclusions Aedes albopictus in Lao PDR are genetically related to populations from tropical/subtropical regions (i.e. Thailand, Singapore, and California and Texas in the USA). The extensive gene flow among locations in Lao PDR indicates that local control is undermined by repeated introductions from untreated sites.

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