UVM Theses and Dissertations
Format:
Print
Author:
Petty, Joseph M. A.
Dept./Program:
Wildlife and Fisheries Biology Program
Year:
2004
Degree:
M.S.
Abstract:
Knowledge of a population's genetic profile has become a key component in wildlife management. Genetic analysis of both mitochondrial and nuclear markers can provide information on levels of fitness, isolation, dispersal, and population structure. Analysis of nuclear markers has become more powerful with the discovery of highly variable non-coding markers called micro satellites in the eukaryotic genome. The analysis of a 354-base sequence of the D-loop control region of the mitochondrial genome found in black bear (Ursus americanus), has shown considerable phylogeography from 59 samples in the State of Vermont. Six unique lineages, most in relatively cohesive geographic areas, have been defined.
In order to test the hypothesis that the phylogeographic patterns observed by the distribution of mitochondrial haplotypes in this sample of Vermont black bears reflect current patterns of isolation and restriction of gene flow, Fst and Nei's standard genetic distance were calculated and compared among subpopulation across five population models. In order to calculate Fst and genetic distance five highly variable micro satellite loci were analyzed in 30 individuals. In four models several pairs of subpopulations had Fst that differed significantly from zero (p< 0.05). In a random model Fst did not differ from zero between subgroups. Genetic distances between several subpopulation pairs within all non-random models were larger than those found in the random model. Non-zero Fst values and larger genetic distances were typically found between non-adjacent subpopulation pairs in non-random models. Patterns of gene flow based on micro satellite data do not entirely reflect patterns present in the mitochondrial haplotype data. This is likely due to the mediation of mitochondrial gene flow by female philopatry and survivorship and the mediation of micro satellite and other non-mitochondrial gene flow by male dispersal.
In order to test the hypothesis that the phylogeographic patterns observed by the distribution of mitochondrial haplotypes in this sample of Vermont black bears reflect current patterns of isolation and restriction of gene flow, Fst and Nei's standard genetic distance were calculated and compared among subpopulation across five population models. In order to calculate Fst and genetic distance five highly variable micro satellite loci were analyzed in 30 individuals. In four models several pairs of subpopulations had Fst that differed significantly from zero (p< 0.05). In a random model Fst did not differ from zero between subgroups. Genetic distances between several subpopulation pairs within all non-random models were larger than those found in the random model. Non-zero Fst values and larger genetic distances were typically found between non-adjacent subpopulation pairs in non-random models. Patterns of gene flow based on micro satellite data do not entirely reflect patterns present in the mitochondrial haplotype data. This is likely due to the mediation of mitochondrial gene flow by female philopatry and survivorship and the mediation of micro satellite and other non-mitochondrial gene flow by male dispersal.