Kenneth S. Norris Rancho Marino Reserve

25 Apr, 05 AM - 26 Apr, 01 PM

I am conducting range-wide population genetic, phylogeographic, and morphological surveys of two western North American scincid lizards, Plestiodon gilberti and P. skiltonianus (both species comprise the P. skiltonianus species complex) as part of an ongoing study that investigates how ecological divergence between populations can promote speciation. I use microsatellite markers and nuclear and mitochondrial DNA sequence data to study population structure and connectivity, to estimate effective population sizes, and to quantify the amount of genetic diversity within and among populations. I also measure how phenotypes vary across landscapes, and test for associations between phenotypic variability, ecology, and genetic relatedness. Skink populations along the central coast of California remain poorly understood with regard to these subjects, despite that fact that skinks are relatively common throughout this area. My immediate goal is to fill in sampling gaps along the central coast so that comparative studies can be performed among P. skiltonianus clades occurring in different regions throughout western North America. Specimens will be hand captured in the field by flipping cover objects (e.g. rocks, woody debris, corrugated tin, etc), and GPS points will be taken at each capture site. For each individual, I clip a small portion of the tail tip (5 -8.0 mm) using sterile dissecting scissors and store the tissue in 95% ethanol for DNA extraction, sequencing, and genotyping (skinks can readily regenerate their tails and often use tail autonomy as a form of predator avoidance). Photo vouchers will be taken for each animal prior to releasing them on site. Ideally, I would like to obtain tissue samples from as many as 20 individuals per population; however, it is difficult to obtain a sample this large without extended use of pitfall traps. I anticipate that 10 or fewer skinks can be realistically obtained from each site. I will also take a series of morphological measurements and record information on temperature, humidity, wind speed, and disposition of the individual at the time of capture.

Visit #17953 @Kenneth S. Norris Rancho Marino Reserve

Approved

Under Project # 19913 | Research

Ecological speciation in scincid lizards of the Plestiodon skiltonianus species group

professional - US Geological Survey

Reservation Members(s)

Jonathan Richmond Apr 25 - 26, 2009 (2 days)

Reserve Resources(s) | Create Invoice

Camping Space 1 Apr 25 - 26, 2009