Influence Of Landscape On Gene Differentiation In The American Pika (Ochotona princeps) Within The Interstate 90 Snoqualmie Pass Corridor

Understanding the impact of different landscape features on the movement of genes among populations can be helpful in managing wildlife populations. Our study used GIS tools to compare genetic connectivity among 13 American pika (<em>Ochotona princeps</em>) habitat patches across an approximately 77 square km area adjacent to Interstate 90 near Snoqualmie Pass, WA. Tissue samples were collected from 85 individuals and genotyped at six microsatellite loci to determine genetic differentiation among each pair of patches. A variety of models estimating the influence of landscape factors on gene flow were then used to find “resistance scores” between each pair of patches using the Circuitscape program. Partial Mantel tests, which removed the effect of isolation by distance (IBD), compared the corresponding genetic and geographic matrices to assess which geographic model resulted in the best fit. A number of models showed significant correlations when compared to IBD but none of the top models was significantly stronger than the remaining top models. Successful models included specific elevation and highway models as significant components. Results from this study suggest that increasing connectivity at specific areas, such as Gold Creek Bridge and Price/Noble Creeks will increase genetic connectivity.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (MS)

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Biology

Year dc:date.available

2015

Author dc:creator

• Fergus, Craig P.

Contributors dc:contributor

• R. Steven Wagner
• Joseph G. Lorenz
• Kristina A. Ernest

• American pika
• Ochotona princeps
• landscape genetics
• Circuitscape
• connectivity
• road ecology
• Biodiversity
• Genetics
• Geographic Information Sciences
• Population Biology

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/etd/227

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.cwu.edu:etd-1228