A. barbouri is a stream-breeding salamander that is endemic to two small geographic regions in the Midwest and Central Tennessee, and its sister species, Ambystoma texanum is a common related species distributed throughout the Midwest. In this study, we analyzed the distribution and population genetics of these two species in the Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio tri-state area to determine if A. texanum is encroaching into A. barbouri range. An encroachment by A. texanum would be characterized by A. texanum mitochondrial DNA in historically A. barbouri range, which would raise concerns of a potential genetic swamping, replacing the unique local A. barbouri genotypes. A. texanum and A. barbouri tissue was collected throughout Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky. DNA was then extracted, and sequenced in the Miami University CBFG, and identified as either A. texanum or A. barbouri. A GIS map, a haplotype network map and a maximum-likelihood phylogenetic tree were created to analyze potential A. texanum encroachment into A. barbouri range. We determined that A. texanum is not encroaching into A. barbouri ranges but there is evidence of recent range expansions of A. texanum and A. barbouri, into Northern Indiana and Ohio, and Central Ohio, respectively. Despite not seeing encroachment, we have evidence that recent changes have occured in both of these species distributions, which should be further investigated in order to determine if these range changes are due to anthropogenic effects. This research has been relevant for my intended career in conservation biology as I have been exposed to field work, population genetics and data analyses which will be useful as a conservation biologist in the terrestrial and aquatic environments.
Authors: Megan Russell, Victor Fitzgerald, Jason Bracken, Tereza Jezkova
Faculty Advisor: Tereza Jezkova, Biology
Graduate Student Advisor: Victor Fitzgerald, Biology
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