Literaturdatenbank |
Godwin, J. C., Lovich, J. E., Ennen, J. R., Kreiser, B. R., Folt, B. P., & Lechowicz, C. (2013). Taxonomic assessment of map turtles (graptemys) of the choctawhatchee and pea rivers, alabama and florida unpublished: Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries, Montgomery, Alabama.
Added by: Sarina Wunderlich (06 Jul 2014 16:11:36 UTC) |
Resource type: Report/Documentation BibTeX citation key: Godwin2013a View all bibliographic details |
Categories: General Keywords: Genetik - genetics, Geoemydidae, Habitat - habitat, Mauremys leprosa, Nordamerika - North America, Schildkröten - turtles + tortoises, Systematik - taxonomy Creators: Ennen, Folt, Godwin, Kreiser, Lechowicz, Lovich Publisher: Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries, Montgomery, Alabama. (unpublished) |
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Abstract |
In the late 1990s map turtles (genus Graptemys) were discovered in the Choctawhatchee and Pea rivers in southeast Alabama. At that time this finding was significant because the Choctawhatchee River drainage was a gap in the distribution of this group of turtles. Map turtles exhibit a pattern of drainage-specific endemism, that is, only one species of broadheaded, or only one species of narrow-headed is found in any river system, although a broadheaded and narrow-headed form may co-exist. Thus the questions surrounding the map turtles in the Choctawhatchee were: 1) is this an unknown taxon; 2) is this a range extension of a known species. Subsequent collecting only hinted at answers as individuals identifiable to both Barbour’s map turtles and Escambia map turtles were captured, along with seemingly intermediate forms. To resolve this taxonomic conundrum turtles were collected in spring and summer of 2012, with morphological and genetic data being obtained from each individual. For comparative purposes we collected Escambia map turtles from the Conecuh and Yellow rivers, and Barbour’s map turtles from the Flint River. Results of genetic and morphological data indicate that in the Pea River Barbour’s map turtles and Escambia map turtles are in a state of hybridization. In the Choctawhatchee River downstream of the confluence of the Pea River forms more akin to Barbour’s map turtle are dominant, showing little influence of the Escamabia map turtle. The results of this study raise further questions pertaining to the zoogeography of the coastal plain rivers of the southeastern US, the ecological interactions of these two species, and how and why pre- and post-zygotic isolating mechanisms have broken down allowing these species to interbreed. Collaborators on this study were Dr. Jeffrey Lovich (US Geological Survey, Flagstaff, AZ), Dr. Joshua Ennen (University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN), Dr. Brian Kreiser (University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS), Brian Folt (Auburn University), and Chris Lechowicz (Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation, Sanibel, FL).
Added by: Sarina Wunderlich |