Life Sciences Commons^™

Examining Population Structure Of Cismontane And Desert Populations Of Zebra-Tailed Lizards (Callisaurus Draconoides) Using Mitochondrial And Nuclear Intron Dna., Lauren Nicole Morrison

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Callisaurus draconoides, also known as the Zebra-Tailed lizard, belongs to the family Phrynosomatidae family (Pianka, et al. 1972). C. draconoides is a widespread desert lizard found western North America. In California, this species can be found in the Mojave and Colorado Deserts. There are currently several populations that reside in the San Bernardino basin on the cismontane side of the Transverse and Peninsular ranges. These mountain ranges have the potential to have isolated the cismontane populations from their typical desert ranges. In addition, geological passes have the potential to serve as migration corridor between the Deserts and cismontane regions. The …

Potential Fitness Trade-Offs Of Elevated Esterase Activity Associated With Insecticide Resistance In The Mosquito Culex Quinquefasciatus, Timothy Schulte

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

One of the current major issues in the control of vector-borne disease is resistance to insecticides. Resistance to one or more insecticides has appeared in over 580 different arthropod species. Widespread resistance has led to the field of Insecticide Resistance Management (IRM). The goal of IRM is to develop insecticide-use strategies that prevent or slow down the evolution of resistance. Computer models have shown that more effective IRM strategies rely on the assumption that resistance carries a fitness cost in the absence of insecticide use.

In the mosquito Culex quinquefasciatus resistance to certain organophosphate insecticides is caused by an increased …

Population Structure Of A Federally Endangered Plant (Astragalus Jaegerianus Munz, Fabaceae) With Limited Range Using Microsatellites, Sueann Neal

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Studies on population genetics examine the relationship and effects of population structure, migration, gene flow and demographic history, and are therefore important in the conservation of endangered species. Astragalus jaegerianus, a critically federally endangered species found in a geographically restricted range is investigated to determine population structure and genetic variation. Previous research on A. jaegerianus focused on DNA sequence data for cpDNA and nrDNA showed no variation. Further research on A. jaegerianus utilizing AFLP’s on the whole genome indicated substantial gene diversity and population structure consistent with geographically widespread species. AFLP research is a cost-effective process to identify levels …

Geographic Population Structure And Taxonomic Identity Of Rhinichthys Osculus, The Santa Ana Speckled Dace, As Elucidated By Nuclear Dna Intron Sequencing, Liane Raynette Greaver

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Rhinichthys osculus (Cyprinidae), the speckled dace, is the most widely distributed freshwater fish in the western United States. The southern California populations of R. osculus are identified as the Santa Ana speckled dace (SASD), though the SASD has not yet been formally recognized as a distinct taxon. Current mtDNA analysis performed in the Metcalf Lab has shown a reciprocally monophyletic relationship among three California regions; southern, central coast, and Owens Valley. Similarly, microsatellite genotyping has shown significant levels of geographic population structure. The purpose of this study was to provide nuclear DNA sequence data to determine the taxonomic status of …

The Santa Ana Speckled Dace (Rhinichthys Osculus): Phylogeography And Molecular Evolution Of The Mitochondrial Dna Control Region, James Jay Vanmeter

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The purpose of this genetic study of the Santa Ana Speckled Dace Rhinichthys osculus was three-fold. The first goal was to characterize the molecular structure of the mtDNA control region of R. osculus. An 1143 base-pair region of the mitochondrial DNA genome, which included the complete control region was sequenced for all individuals. Analysis of the sequence data revealed that the molecular structure of the speckled dace control region was similar to the molecular structure described for other vertebrate taxa. The speckled dace control region contains three major domains, which vary in base frequency as well as in the frequency …

Microsatellite Analysis Of Population Structure In The Santa Ana Speckled Dace (Rhinicthys Osculus), Stacey A. Nerkowski

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Rhinichthys osculus, the Speckled Dace, is one of the most ubiquitous fish in western North America. Within the Southern California region, the local taxon is known as the Santa Ana Speckled Dace. The purpose of this study was to characterize and identify polymorphic microsatellite markers for R. osculus in which twenty-three were identified through Illumina pair-end sequencing. Seven of these loci were then used to examine the patterns of genetic variation and population structure that occurred within and among the watersheds in the Southern California. The study also examined the regional relationships among Southern California, Central California and Owen’s …

A Geographically Constrained Molecular Phylogeny Of Panamanian Aechmea Species (Bromeliaceae, Subfamily Bromelioideae), Keri Renee Maher

Theses Digitization Project

This study lends strong support to the idea that members of Bromeliaceae have undergone a recent adaptive radiation, and therefore show that, at least in part, diversity in the tropics is due to a fast speciation rate and that the tropics can be a "cradle" for new diversification and exploitation of varying ecological niches through the diversification of ecophysiological traits within a lineage.

Population Genetics And Phylogeography Of The Pygmy Nuthatch In Southern California, Thomas Alan Benson

Theses Digitization Project

Uses mitochondrial DNA sequence data to examine the degree of genetic differentiation among sky island populations of two subspecies of pygmy nuthatch (Sitta pygmaea melanotis and Sitta pygmaea leuconucha) occurring in Southern California. Assesses the hypothesis that sky islands are genetically isolated and that migration (gene flow) is restricted among them. Eleven sampling locations throughout Southern California were selected based on representation of subspecies, availability of specimens, and feasibility of collection. Results indicate that pygmy nuthatch populations fragmented in the disjunct mountain ranges of Southern California exhibit low but significant levels of genetic differentiation.

Ecological Correlates Of Protein Polymorphisms In A Desert And Non-Desert Population Of Belonia Saturata (Odonata: Anisoptera), Melissa Jean Hamilton

Theses Digitization Project

Two populations of the Big Red Skimmer Dragonfly, Belonia saturata (Odonata: Amisoptera), were studied to determine the thoracic temperatures maintained during flight, the presence of polymorphic enzyme systems, and to determine the differences in activity of glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase between a desert and non-desert population.

Environmental Factors Affecting The Diversity Of Reptiles In The Deep Canyon Transect Of The Colorado Desert, California, James W Cornett

Theses Digitization Project

No abstract provided.