Genetic and phenotypic variation among fox squirrels in eastern North Carolina
- WCU Author/Contributor (non-WCU co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
- Kendell Ray Bennett (Creator)
- Institution
- Western Carolina University (WCU )
- Web Site: http://library.wcu.edu/
- Advisor
- Laura DeWald
Abstract: The longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill) ecosystem serves as habitat for the eastern fox squirrel (Sciurus niger L) in the southeastern United States and has been reduced in size and fragmented. Fragmentation often leads to loss of genetic diversity and an increase in population structure of species. To determine if this is happening in the fox squirrels of North Carolina, five microsatellite loci and phenotypic variation were used to compare geographic variation among fox squirrel populations. Fox squirrels showed a low level of population subdivision indicated by FST values of 0.010 to 0.017. In contrast, FIS values were higher (0.222 to 0.230) indicating that inbreeding could be causing a loss of genetic diversity. Linear regression showed a positive correlation between individual weight and longitude and ANOVA analysis revealed squirrels were significantly heavier and shorter west of 78°W longitude, which runs just east of Wilmington N.C. North Carolina fox squirrels were found to be less heterozygous than those of the Midwestern United States, and one locus (FO-41) showed a major decrease in heterozygosity since 1983. Future management of fox squirrels should focus on maintaining habitat and population numbers sufficient to avoid inbreeding. Introducing individuals from other areas may help to increase overall genetic diversity which should also conserve the overall fitness of North Carolina's fox squirrels as it has with other species.
Genetic and phenotypic variation among fox squirrels in eastern North Carolina
PDF (Portable Document Format)
708 KB
Created on 12/1/2015
Views: 1401
Additional Information
- Publication
- Thesis
- Language: English
- Date: 2015
- Subjects
- Fox squirrel -- North Carolina -- Genetics
- Fox squirrel -- North Carolina -- Geographical distribution
- Animal genetics -- Variation -- North Carolina
- Animal diversity -- North Carolina
- Fox squirrel -- Evolution -- North Carolina
- Phenotype
- Variation (Biology)
- Inbreeding
- Heterozygosity