Graduation Semester and Year

2006

Language

English

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Biology

Department

Biology

First Advisor

Paul Chippindale

Abstract

The central Texas Eurycea are a diverse group of perennibranchiate salamanders which inhabit the Edwards Plateau. Although several studies have addressed the systematics and taxonomy of this group, little is known about species boundaries within the southeastern Blepsimolge. Here I assess genetic variation and phylogenetic relationships both within and among species of the southeastern Blepsimolge. Using mitochondrial DNA sequences of the control region, I examined the population structure and genetic variation of Eurycea nana as well as the evolution of the control region within Eurycea and other salamanders. No population structure was found among the three E. nana localities sampled and haplotype diversity in E. nana was lower than in E. sp. Comal Springs, which is consistent with previous results. To examine species boundaries and evolutionary patterns among the southeastern Blepsimolge, I used three mitochondrial DNA products (control region, cytochrome b, and partial ND2), totaling 3,252 base pairs, to reconstruct phylogenetic relationships. Several species boundaries recovered in this study do not appear to be wholly consistent with previous designations. Eurycea latitans is paraphyletic and appears to be conspecific with E. tridentifera. Populations of E. pterophila form a weakly-supported monophyletic group and the range of this species extends beyond springs and caves in the Blanco River basin, contrary to previous inferences. Deep divergences within the southeastern Blepsimolge among taxa distributed along the Edwards fault zone aquifer suggest that formation of the Edwards Aquifer and compartmentalization within it may have been integral to the early diversification of this group. Subsequent dispersal and diversification probably ensued when the Lower Glen Rose limestone in the central portion of their distribution was exposed. Aquifer and cavern development in the region provided access to novel habitat that was exploited by salamanders. Finally, phylogenetic analyses revealed recurring patterns of morphological convergence among hypogean populations with cave-associated morphologies.

Disciplines

Biology | Life Sciences

Comments

Degree granted by The University of Texas at Arlington

332-2.nex (277 kB)
332-3.nex (84 kB)

Included in

Biology Commons

Share

COinS
 
 

To view the content in your browser, please download Adobe Reader or, alternately,
you may Download the file to your hard drive.

NOTE: The latest versions of Adobe Reader do not support viewing PDF files within Firefox on Mac OS and if you are using a modern (Intel) Mac, there is no official plugin for viewing PDF files within the browser window.