Population genetics of the Eastern Hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis alleganiensis) across multiple spatial scales.

ABSTRACT: Conservation genetics is a powerful tool to assess the population structure of species and provides a framework for informing management of freshwater ecosystems. As lotic habitats become fragmented, the need to assess gene flow for species of conservation management becomes a priority. The eastern hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis alleganiensis) is a large, fully aquatic paedamorphic salamander. Many populations are experiencing declines throughout their geographic range, yet the genetic ramifications of these declines are currently unknown. To this end, we examined levels of genetic variation and genetic structure at both range-wide and drainage (hierarchical) scales. We collected 1,203 individuals from 77 rivers throughout nine states from June 2007 to August 2011. Levels of gene

SUBMITTER: Unger SD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3800131 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature