Genetic assessment of taxonomic uncertainty and conservation units in painted turtles, with a focus on the at-risk Chrysemys picta bellii in British Columbia

As biodiversity continues to be lost at an alarming rate, it has become increasingly important to resolve issues surrounding taxonomic uncertainty and how best to prioritize populations for conservation. Controversy can arise over whether populations merit conservation if their taxonomic status is u...

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Main Author: Jensen, Evelyn Lise
Language:English
Published: University of British Columbia 2013
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/2429/44658
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spelling ndltd-LACETR-oai-collectionscanada.gc.ca-BVAU.2429-446582014-03-26T03:39:50Z Genetic assessment of taxonomic uncertainty and conservation units in painted turtles, with a focus on the at-risk Chrysemys picta bellii in British Columbia Jensen, Evelyn Lise As biodiversity continues to be lost at an alarming rate, it has become increasingly important to resolve issues surrounding taxonomic uncertainty and how best to prioritize populations for conservation. Controversy can arise over whether populations merit conservation if their taxonomic status is unclear. Additionally, maintaining intraspecific genetic diversity is of particular importance for preserving evolutionary history and the potential for future adaptation. In order to effectively protect this diversity, species and units below the species level need to be defined. However, delineation of such units is subject to many challenges, with no one strategy applying universally across taxa. Using mitochondrial DNA sequence and microsatellite genotypic data, I examine population structure and demographic history of Chrysemys picta bellii (western painted turtles) in British Columbia, where it is a species-at-risk. I use this system to compare the application of evolutionarily significant unit and management unit criteria with Canadian designatable unit guidelines to determine appropriate conservation units. I find that that BC western painted turtles form a single evolutionarily significant unit, with each occupied site constituting a separate management unit. These findings contrast with the evidence for six discrete designatable units. Patterns of genetic variation in BC western painted turtles indicate that the conservation of each region is important to maintaining regional diversity and evolutionary novelty. I also address the taxonomic uncertainty in Chrysemys, which is ambiguous due to questions regarding whether the four regional morphological variants warrant formal recognition. Despite using both mitochondrial and nuclear sequence data, I do not find genetic evidence to conclusively resolve the taxonomic uncertainty in Chrysemys, however, there are indications that the two currently recognized species Chrysemys dorsalis and Chrysemys picta may be warranted. Overall, this research presents the first detailed population genetic study for this species, which can be used to directly inform conservation prioritization of western painted turtles in BC. Moreover, the range-wide phylogeographic analyses is the most through genetic investigation of Chrysemys taxonomy to date, yet future research involving additional nuclear markers is still warranted. 2013-07-15T18:23:57Z 2013-07-16T09:11:16Z 2013 2013-07-15 2013-11 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation http://hdl.handle.net/2429/44658 eng University of British Columbia
collection NDLTD
language English
sources NDLTD
description As biodiversity continues to be lost at an alarming rate, it has become increasingly important to resolve issues surrounding taxonomic uncertainty and how best to prioritize populations for conservation. Controversy can arise over whether populations merit conservation if their taxonomic status is unclear. Additionally, maintaining intraspecific genetic diversity is of particular importance for preserving evolutionary history and the potential for future adaptation. In order to effectively protect this diversity, species and units below the species level need to be defined. However, delineation of such units is subject to many challenges, with no one strategy applying universally across taxa. Using mitochondrial DNA sequence and microsatellite genotypic data, I examine population structure and demographic history of Chrysemys picta bellii (western painted turtles) in British Columbia, where it is a species-at-risk. I use this system to compare the application of evolutionarily significant unit and management unit criteria with Canadian designatable unit guidelines to determine appropriate conservation units. I find that that BC western painted turtles form a single evolutionarily significant unit, with each occupied site constituting a separate management unit. These findings contrast with the evidence for six discrete designatable units. Patterns of genetic variation in BC western painted turtles indicate that the conservation of each region is important to maintaining regional diversity and evolutionary novelty. I also address the taxonomic uncertainty in Chrysemys, which is ambiguous due to questions regarding whether the four regional morphological variants warrant formal recognition. Despite using both mitochondrial and nuclear sequence data, I do not find genetic evidence to conclusively resolve the taxonomic uncertainty in Chrysemys, however, there are indications that the two currently recognized species Chrysemys dorsalis and Chrysemys picta may be warranted. Overall, this research presents the first detailed population genetic study for this species, which can be used to directly inform conservation prioritization of western painted turtles in BC. Moreover, the range-wide phylogeographic analyses is the most through genetic investigation of Chrysemys taxonomy to date, yet future research involving additional nuclear markers is still warranted.
author Jensen, Evelyn Lise
spellingShingle Jensen, Evelyn Lise
Genetic assessment of taxonomic uncertainty and conservation units in painted turtles, with a focus on the at-risk Chrysemys picta bellii in British Columbia
author_facet Jensen, Evelyn Lise
author_sort Jensen, Evelyn Lise
title Genetic assessment of taxonomic uncertainty and conservation units in painted turtles, with a focus on the at-risk Chrysemys picta bellii in British Columbia
title_short Genetic assessment of taxonomic uncertainty and conservation units in painted turtles, with a focus on the at-risk Chrysemys picta bellii in British Columbia
title_full Genetic assessment of taxonomic uncertainty and conservation units in painted turtles, with a focus on the at-risk Chrysemys picta bellii in British Columbia
title_fullStr Genetic assessment of taxonomic uncertainty and conservation units in painted turtles, with a focus on the at-risk Chrysemys picta bellii in British Columbia
title_full_unstemmed Genetic assessment of taxonomic uncertainty and conservation units in painted turtles, with a focus on the at-risk Chrysemys picta bellii in British Columbia
title_sort genetic assessment of taxonomic uncertainty and conservation units in painted turtles, with a focus on the at-risk chrysemys picta bellii in british columbia
publisher University of British Columbia
publishDate 2013
url http://hdl.handle.net/2429/44658
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