Population genetic structure of a Chihuahuan Desert endemic mammal, the desert pocket gopher, Geomys arenarius.

ABSTRACT: The biogeographic history of the Chihuahuan Desert is complex, driven by numerous physiographic events and climatic changes. This dynamic history would have influenced the flora and fauna of the region including the desert pocket gopher, Geomys arenarius, a subterranean rodent endemic to the northern Chihuahuan Desert. G. arenarius is restricted to sandy soils and are considered to have a disjunct distribution. Two subspecies are recognized: G. a. arenarius and G. a. brevirostris. We used multilocus nuclear (amplified fragment length polymorphisms) and mitochondrial DNA (ND2) sequence data to uncover patterns of genetic diversity within and among populations of G. arenarius. We evaluated correspondence of genetic

SUBMITTER: Pfau RS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10539045 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature