Genetic Assessment of Abrams Creek Reintroduction Program for the Federally Threatened Yellowfin Madtom (Noturus flavipinnis), and Endangered Smoky Madtom (Noturus baileyi) and Citico Darter (Etheostoma sitikuense)
Moyer GR and Williams AS. 2012. Genetic Assessment of Abrams Creek Reintroduction Program for the Federally Threatened Yellowfin Madtom (Noturus flavipinnis), and Endangered Smoky Madtom (Noturus baileyi) and Citico Darter (Etheostoma sitikuense). USFWS Conservation Genetics Lab. Warm Springs, Georgia
Summary of major findings: 1. Low levels of genetic diversity were observed for each species 2. Comparisons of genetic diversity were significantly different between Citico and Abrams Creek populations for each species 3. These differences were attributed to variance in reproductive success (either in the hatchery or wild) and not as having used too few brood for the reintroduction program 4. Simulations indicated that at least four effective migrants per generation are necessary to minimize genetic differentiation between Citico and Abrams Creek populations for each species 5. Low levels of genetic diversity in Citico creek species were attributed to wholesale deforestation of the surrounding watershed in the 1900s and highlight the importance of protecting these species from further genetic and demographic bottlenecks.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Moyer, Gregory; Williams, Ashantye
- Date of Issue
- 2012-02-15
- Publisher
- USFWS Conservation Genetics Lab
- Units
- GRSM
- Keywords
- Abrams Creek, APHN, Appalachian Highlands Network, Citico darter, conservation, endangered species, Etheostoma sitikuense, fish, genetics, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, GRSM, GRSM-00050, Noturus baileyi, Noturus flavipinnis, SER, Smoky madtom, Southeast Region, threatened species, yellowfin madtom