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Conservation genetics of a peripherally isolated population of the wood turtle (Glyptemys insculpta) in Iowa

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Abstract

The North American wood turtle, Glyptemys insculpta, is a semi-aquatic species that is considered rare, threatened, or endangered over much of its range. In this study, a particularly vulnerable peripheral isolate population in Iowa has been monitored over a period of 7 years. Population census size, estimated from mark-recapture data, and age structure determined from morphology are compared with genetic variation assessed using microsatellites. For reference, the genetics and demographics of this peripheral isolate are compared to data from a more dense population nearer the core of the species range in West Virginia. Geneflow between the Iowa population and a nearby population in Minnesota also is assessed. Genetic data indicate that the Iowa population is isolated, unique, and diverse. Although the Iowa population has lower allelic richness, lower heterozygosity, and smaller genetic effective population size than does the West Virginia population, the difference is not dramatic despite its lower population size, position at the periphery of the species range, and biogeographic history. The Iowa population is not inbred, and there is no genetic signature of a recent population bottleneck. However, interpretations of recent population dynamics based on genetic data may be unduly encouraging in long-lived species such as G. insculpta. Field data suggest a nearly complete lack of recruitment in Iowa. A number of environmental and anthropogenic factors, including recent increases in summer flooding during egg incubation, may have a more negative impact on the Iowa population than on the West Virginia population.

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Acknowledgments

Many UNI students helped with the field and lab portions of this project, particularly A. Alsheddi, V. Bajaj, A. Cyr, J. Hammen, M. Keller, S. McNaughton, F. Silva, and the 2008 and 2009 Field Biology: Herpetology classes. Support for this project was provided by a Minnesota Herpetological Society grant (to JWT), UNI’s Intercollegiate Academic Fund (to SSD), and UNI’s Student Opportunities for Academic Research Grants (to SSD and KJM). Research was performed under Iowa collecting permit SC-648 and West Virginia collecting permit numbers 2003.207, 2004.184, 2008.079, and 2009.086. Blood samples from Minnesota turtles were kindly provided by John Moriarty, Ramsey County Park System. Animal care and handling procedures were approved by the UNI animal care and use committee. We gratefully acknowledge the assistance of Dr. David Tallmon with ONeSAMP analysis and interpretation. We thank Dr. Peter Berendzen for assistance with calculating ∆K values and Dr. James Demastes for help in the field and for Fig. 1. We thank Dr. James Demastes and two anonymous reviewers for helpful comments on the manuscript.

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  1. Samantha S. Dow

    Present address: College of Pharmacy, PHAR127, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA

  2. K. J. Meyer

    Present address: Interdisciplinary Genetics Program, 4181 MERF, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 52442, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, IA, 50614-0421, USA

    Theresa A. Spradling, Jeffrey W. Tamplin, Samantha S. Dow & K. J. Meyer

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  1. Theresa A. Spradling
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Correspondence to Theresa A. Spradling.

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Spradling, T.A., Tamplin, J.W., Dow, S.S. et al. Conservation genetics of a peripherally isolated population of the wood turtle (Glyptemys insculpta) in Iowa. Conserv Genet 11, 1667–1677 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-010-0059-y

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