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Animal Sciences Commons

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Full-Text Articles in Animal Sciences

Reconstructing Species Responses To Past Climatic Changes Using Niche Modeling And Genetic Data, Tereza Jezkova Dec 2010

Reconstructing Species Responses To Past Climatic Changes Using Niche Modeling And Genetic Data, Tereza Jezkova

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Glacial – interglacial cycles have a pronounced impact on species distributions and genetic structure. Many species shift their distributions to lower latitudes and altitudes during the colder glacial periods and expand northwards and up the elevation during warmer interglacial periods. Some species however are capable of adapting to changing environment which allows them to persist in place despite climatic changes. I explored how climatic changes after the last glacial maximum (LGM) effected two species inhabiting the deserts of western North America: one mammal (Chisel-toothed Kangaroo Rat, Dipodomys microps) and one reptile (Desert Horned Lizard, Phrynosoma platyrhinos). I used …


Impact Of Historical Climate Change On The Genetic Structure Of The Great Basin Pocket Mouse, Perognathus Parvus, Ashwitha Francis, Mallory E. Eckstut, Brett R. Riddle Aug 2010

Impact Of Historical Climate Change On The Genetic Structure Of The Great Basin Pocket Mouse, Perognathus Parvus, Ashwitha Francis, Mallory E. Eckstut, Brett R. Riddle

Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP)

The dynamics of genetic patterns, such as genetic differentiation within and between populations and the geographic distribution of genetic lineages, are often influenced by historical events (such as climatic changes) that have substantially impacted regional biodiversity (the study of phylogeography; Avise, 20001). The magnitude of genetic differentiation among populations is often increased if suitable habitat is reduced, because there is restricted migration among populations. When migration is restricted, the populations may become genetically differentiated from conspecific populations and, over time, may become independent lineages that follow distinctive evolutionary trajectories (Stebbins, 19523; Nevo & Beiles, 19892; Thomas et al., 19984). In …