Analysis of genotypic and phenotypic differences in Desmognathus quadramaculatus across the Southern Appalachians

Author

Deborah Susan Merritt

Date of Award

2005

Degree Name

Biology

College

College of Science

Type of Degree

M.S.

Document Type

Thesis

First Advisor

Thomas K. Pauley

Second Advisor

Charles Somerville

Third Advisor

Daniel K. Evans

Abstract

Populations of Desmognathus quadramaculatus were compared for genotypic and phenotypic differences across 5 states in the Southern Appalachians. Series consisting of 10 salamanders each were collected from West Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina and Georgia. Salamanders were assessed for genotypic differences by using allozyme (proteins with polymorphic loci) electrophoresis staining for 13 loci of the muscle, liver and stomach tissue. Nei’s genetic distance was used to score genetic variation between populations. Phenotypic differences were assessed by comparing 10 external morphological measurements between populations. Mahalanobis’ distance was used to score morphological differences between populations. Both genetic and morphological differences were correlated with linear geographic distance (km) between populations (r ²= 0.85 and 0.65, respectively). Results of these studies indicate that morphologically cryptic species exist in the D. quadramaculatus complex. However, conflicting results of the morphological and allozyme testing indicate that further research, including DNA sequencing is necessary to resolve the taxonomic status of this species complex.

Subject(s)

Dusky salamanders.

Salamanders -- Appalachian Region, Southern.

Recommended Citation

Merritt, Deborah Susan, "Analysis of genotypic and phenotypic differences in Desmognathus quadramaculatus across the Southern Appalachians" (2005). Theses, Dissertations and Capstones. 763.
https://mds.marshall.edu/etd/763