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Godwin, J. C., Pauly, G. B., Spinks, P., & Shaffer, B. H. (2013). Genetic analysis of the alabama red-bellied turtle (pseudemys alabamensis): Estimation of population subdivision, among population gene flow, and species boundaries unpublished: Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries, Montgomery, Alabama. 
Added by: Sarina Wunderlich (06 Jul 2014 16:10:47 UTC)
Resource type: Report/Documentation
BibTeX citation key: Godwin2013
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Categories: General
Keywords: Genetik - genetics, Habitat - habitat, Nordamerika - North America, Schildkröten - turtles + tortoises, Systematik - taxonomy, Testudinidae, Testudo hermanni
Creators: Godwin, Pauly, Shaffer, Spinks
Publisher: Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries, Montgomery, Alabama. (unpublished)
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Abstract     
Genetic analysis of the Alabama Redbellied Turtle (Pseudemys alabamensis): estimation of population subdivision, among population gene flow, and species boundaries Sampling for the Alabama red-bellied turtle to collect samples for genetic studies and data on the status of the species was range-wide, during the 2012 field season. This large herbivorous turtle occupies only eight drainage basins in coastal Alabama and Mississippi. Locations of Alabama red-bellied turtle population centers sampled in Alabama included Fish and Magnolia rivers of Weeks Bay, Bon Secour River, Dog River, and Fowl River. The Mississippi sampling site was the lower Pascagoula River. Samples from the Mobile- Tensaw Delta were available from previous studies thus the only drainage remaining to be sampled is the lower Biloxi River in Mississippi. Co-occurring with the Alabama red-bellied turtle, throughout its range, are two congeners, the river cooter and Florida cooter. The study was to address three important questions: 1. Is geographic distance or species assignment a better predictor of genetic variation among Mobile Basin Pseudemys? 2. Is there population subdivision (e.g., among-drainage variation) within Mobile Basin P. alabamensis? and 3. Are Mobile Basin populations genetically distinct from Mississippi P. alabamensis? Importantly, in Question 1, if geographic distance is a better predictor than species assignment, then this would suggest that P. alabamensis is either not a distinct species or is experiencing extensive hybridization with sympatric congeners. This answer to this question is critical considering that the Alabama red-bellied turtle is listed as endangered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Conclusions from the genetic analysis were: 1) There is strong evidence for recognizing the Alabama red-bellied turtle as a distinct species. 2) Preliminary results show no evidence of among-drainage variation for Mobile Bay. 3) Preliminary results show some limited differentiation between Mobile Bay populations and the Pascagoula population. 4) The Alabama red-bellied turtle and sympatric congeners do hybridize, but hybrids are rare. 5) The Florida cooter and river cooter are not supported as being distinct, indicating the need for further study of species delimitation in this genus.
Added by: Sarina Wunderlich  
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