Identifier

etd-06102009-100440

Degree

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Biological Sciences

Document Type

Thesis

Abstract

In the genus Thomomys, external phenotypic differences account for much of the variation among currently named species. Allozyme and mitochondrial studies of the Mexican species, T. umbrinus, have shown strong discordance between genetically defined clades and current species taxonomy. In this study, I analyzed mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences, chomosomes, and morphological characters, and used ecological niche modeling to investigate the phylogenetic status of a phenotypically divergent subspecies of T. umbrinus, T. u. atrovarius. Although quantitative morphometrics provided little discrimination among groups within T. umbrinus, the molecular data indicated that there are three allopatric clades. The Pacific coastal clade (T. u. atrovarius) is diagnosable based on multiple characters, including nuclear genotype, habitat preference, and qualitative morphological characters. Accordingly, I resurrect Allen’s (1898) species Thomomys atrovarius to represent members of this clade, which occurs in the Pacific coastal region of western Mexico.

Date

2009

Document Availability at the Time of Submission

Release the entire work immediately for access worldwide.

Committee Chair

Mark S. Hafner

DOI

10.31390/gradschool_theses.3200

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