Influence of life-history variation on the genetic structure of two sympatric salamander taxa
Steele CA, Baumsteiger J, Storfer A. 2009. Influence of life-history variation on the genetic structure of two sympatric salamander taxa. Molecular Ecology. 18:1629-1639
From the Abstract: "Life-history characteristics are an important determinant of a species' dispersal abilities. We predict that variation in life history can influence population-level genetic patterns. To test this prediction, we estimate population-level genetic structure for two sympatric species of stream-breeding salamander. The Cope's giant salamander (Dicamptodon copei) rarely metamorphoses into a terrestrial adult, thereby limiting overland dispersal and potentially gene flow. In contrast, the Pacific giant salamander (D. tenebrosus) commonly metamorphoses, which is expected to facilitate overland dispersal and gene flow. Three sets of analyses based on micrsatellite data support these hypotheses, showing that D. tenebrosus displays minimal population-level genetic structuring and no pattern of isolation by distance, whereas D. copei displays a high degree of population-level genetic structure and significant isolation by distance."
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Steele, C; Baumsteiger, J; Storfer, Andrew
- Units
- OLYM
- Keywords
- Dispersal, DNA analysis, Genetics, giant salamander (Dicamptodon), life-history