Meeting Abstract

19.3  Thursday, Jan. 3  Genetic diversity and gene flow of the sand skink, Plestiodon reynoldsi, among continuous and interrupted scrub habitat in central Florida FOX, A.M.*; SCHREY, A.; MUSHINSKY, H.; MCCOY, E.; University of South Florida; University of South Florida; University of South Florida; University of South Florida amfox@mail.usf.edu

The sand skink, Plestiodon reynoldsi, is a fossorial lizard restricted primarily to the patches of Florida scrub located on the central ridges of peninsular Florida. The sand skink is listed as threatened throughout its range, and urban and agricultural development of its already naturally fragmented habitat pose a conservation threat. As a result of natural fragmentation, barriers to gene flow may already be in place, and further development of central Florida may have consequences for the genetic diversity of P. reynoldsi. Previous research, using sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene, shows genetic structure throughout the range of P. reynoldsi. The goal of our study is to conduct a more fine scale examination on the extent of gene flow within and between scrub patches, using multiple microsatellite DNA loci. We screened 8 previously developed microsatellite loci in individuals of P. reynoldsi from a seemingly continuous scrub habitat in Davenport, Florida and individuals from the scrub surrounding the Archbold Biological Station near Lake Placid, Florida. The Archbold region has patches of unsuitable wetland habitat, which may serve as barriers to gene flow, as well as, regions of more homogeneous scrub habitat. We are currently developing additional microsatellite loci for the analysis, and plan to investigate the levels of relatedness within patches and the amount of genetic differentiation among sampled scrub habitat.