Meeting Abstract

11.6  Sunday, Jan. 4  Genetic relatedness in the fossorial sand skink, Plestiodon reynoldsi, in the scrub of central Florida FOX, A.M.*; SCHREY, A.W.; MCCOY, E.D.; MUSHINSKY, H.R.; University of South Florida; University of South Florida; University of South Florida; University of South Florida amfox@mail.usf.edu

Understanding the reproductive behavior of secretive species is an important aspect when conducting studies for conservation and management. In order to make decisions related to management it is beneficial to know the proportion of individuals contributing to the gene pool, as well as the patterns of dispersal. The 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 has been found among distinct geographic samples across the range of the sand skink, but there is information lacking regarding its mating system and fine-scale dispersal patterns. The goal of this study is to investigate parentage, reproductive success, and genetic relatedness among sand skinks sampled within a single scrub location near Davenport, Florida. Four sites (less than 2 km apart), consisting of multiple transects of pitfall arrays, were used to sample the Davenport location for sand skinks (N > 500). Parentage analysis will be performed among all individuals sampled and estimates of relatedness will be calculated for each site using multiple microsatellite loci. Significant genetic differentiation exists among the four sites, suggesting a lack of gene flow. Low rates of dispersal or the existence of neighborhoods of closely related individuals could be reasons for the apparent lack of gene flow. Characterizing these fine scale genetic properties of a local scrub habitat will provide needed information for conservation efforts, especially if detectable family structure exists.