Full text release has been delayed at the author’s request until August 9, 2013.

Degree

Master of Science, Miami University, Zoology, 2012.

Abstract

In recent years, the range of Peromyscus maniculatus gracilis in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula (LP) contracted simultaneously with the northward expansion of the closely related Peromyscus leucopus. Recent trapping shows that the range of P. m. gracilis has shrunk to two remaining areas: one in Cheboygan and Otsego Counties and another to the east in Alpena Co. (AP). I used a Geographic Information System habitat analysis to predict where P. m. gracilis would be found across the region, trapped at selected locations, and analyzed 11 microsatellite loci for all individuals. Genetic diversity and bottleneck analyses indicate that LP populations once had good gene flow and were continuous across the area; however, trapping data and assignment tests show that the AP population is in the process of becoming geographically and genetically isolated from all other populations. The AP population is currently genetically viable, but is showing signs of becoming genetically distinct from the western populations.

Subject Headings

Biology; Genetics

Keywords

Peromyscus; microsatellite; conservation genetics; small mammals; range

Committee / Advisors

Susan M. G. Hoffman (Advisor)
Brian Keane (Committee Member)
M. H. H. Stevens (Committee Member)

Pages

76p.

Document number: miami1343937507
Permalink: http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1343937507