Meeting Abstract

37.8  Tuesday, Jan. 5  Genetic Relatedness in the Florida Sand Skink, Plestiodon reynoldsi, in the Scrub of Central Florida FOX, Alicia*; SCHREY, Aaron; MCCOY, Earl; MUSHINSKY, Henry; University of South Florida; University of South Florida; University of South Florida; University of South Florida amfox@mail.usf.edu

The Florida Sand Skink, Plestiodon reynoldsi, is a fossorial lizard currently listed as threatened throughout its range along the scrub habitat of the central ridges in Florida. Genetic differentiation exists across its distribution, and mark-recapture evidence suggests that the Florida Sand Skink may travel 140m at most; however, little is known about within-population properties. The goal of this study is to investigate the mating system and dispersal of the Florida Sand Skink. Multiple microsatellite loci were screened in individuals sampled from two sites: 1) A large homogeneous scrub near Davenport, Florida, and 2) Archbold Biological Station near Lake Placid, Florida. Numerous small wetlands are found throughout the scrub at Archbold and may act as barriers to dispersal. Samples at Davenport were collected from four sites (less than 2 km apart), each with multiple transects of pitfall arrays, while samples at Archbold were obtained from pitfall traps in drift fence enclosures. Parentage and genetic relatedness were estimated among individuals and sites. Significant genetic differentiation, of low magnitude, was observed among four Davenport sites, while, average relatedness values among individuals were low in magnitude. Low relatedness values may indicate that individuals are dispersing throughout the site. Average relatedness values did not differ between Davenport and Archbold, which suggests that individuals are behaving similarly at fine-scales in both locations. We are currently examining reproductive success for individuals collected in Davenport that have been relocated into enclosures with varying environmental conditions.