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Genetic differentiation among populations of bald eagles, Haliaeetus leucocephalus

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Date Issued:
2011
Summary:
The bald eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus, population declined dramatically in the early 20th century reducing the population from tens of thousands of birds within the lower 48 states, to <450 pairs of birds, effectively inducing a population bottleneck. The overall population has recovered and was removed from the endangered species list in 2007. This study investigates whether such overall population statistics are appropriate descriptors for this widespread species. I investigated the genetic differentiation between three populations of bald eagles from Alaska, North Florida and Florida Bay using both mitochondrial and nuclear DNA loci to determine whether discrete subpopulations comprise the broad range. Significant FST values, for both mtDNA and microsatellites, were found between both Florida populations and Alaska, but not within Florida populations. Results indicate that there is strong population structure, rejecting the null hypothesis of a panmictic population. Future conservation efforts should focus on subpopulations rather than the overall population.
Title: Genetic differentiation among populations of bald eagles, Haliaeetus leucocephalus.
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Name(s): Helmick, Ericka Elizabeth.
Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
Department of Biological Sciences
Type of Resource: text
Genre: Electronic Thesis Or Dissertation
Date Issued: 2011
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Physical Form: electronic
Extent: x, 63 p. : ill. (some col.)
Language(s): English
Summary: The bald eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus, population declined dramatically in the early 20th century reducing the population from tens of thousands of birds within the lower 48 states, to <450 pairs of birds, effectively inducing a population bottleneck. The overall population has recovered and was removed from the endangered species list in 2007. This study investigates whether such overall population statistics are appropriate descriptors for this widespread species. I investigated the genetic differentiation between three populations of bald eagles from Alaska, North Florida and Florida Bay using both mitochondrial and nuclear DNA loci to determine whether discrete subpopulations comprise the broad range. Significant FST values, for both mtDNA and microsatellites, were found between both Florida populations and Alaska, but not within Florida populations. Results indicate that there is strong population structure, rejecting the null hypothesis of a panmictic population. Future conservation efforts should focus on subpopulations rather than the overall population.
Identifier: 729735390 (oclc), 3171395 (digitool), FADT3171395 (IID), fau:3636 (fedora)
Note(s): by Ericka Elizabeth Helmick.
Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2011.
Includes bibliography.
Electronic reproduction. Boca Raton, Fla., 2011. Mode of access: World Wide Web.
Subject(s): Wildlife conservation
Birds -- Molecular genetics
Gene targeting
Developmental biology
Biochemical markers
Persistent Link to This Record: http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/3171395
Use and Reproduction: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Host Institution: FAU