Meeting Abstract

P3.118  Thursday, Jan. 6  Population genetics of the American alligator, Alligator mississippiensis CARRUTH, W. C.*; HARRISON, J. S.; ROSTAL, D. C.; Georgia Southern University; Georgia Southern University; Georgia Southern University wcarrut1@georgiasouthern.edu

An east-west phylogeographic split near the Apalachicola River between Alabama and Georgia has been detected for the American alligator. This phylogeographic pattern is similar to that observed in a wide range of species including fish and turtles. In addition to an east west split, alligators sampled from South Carolina and south Georgia exhibited significant population genetic structure. The close proximity of these locations and the continuous distribution of alligators between these locations provide an excellent opportunity to characterize the population genetic structure at a fine geographic scale. The southeastern United States has an exceptional diversity of reptile and amphibians because species native to Florida with a subtropical climate and species native to the Carolinas and Virginias with a temperate climate overlap in this region. This overlapping area should represent a region where phylogeographic barriers or population divisions will occur. We predict one of two possible population genetic patterns for this intermediary region: 1) a genetic cline between South Carolina and south Georgia or 2) a distinct genetic break that separates these regions.