Event Title
Reconstructing the Biogeography of Hawaiian Hoary Bats (Lasiurus cinereus)
Presentation Type
Poster/Portfolio
Presenter Major(s)
Chemistry
Mentor Information
Amy Russell
Department
Biology
Location
Henry Hall Atrium 86
Start Date
10-4-2013 10:00 AM
End Date
10-4-2013 11:00 AM
Keywords
Information, Innovation, and Technology, Life Science
Abstract
The Hawaiian hoary bat is a subspecies of the species Lasiurus cinereus, which is primarily located in North and South America. The current population in Hawaii most probably descended from the North American population, but now has a great number of morphological differences from that population. This study sought to investigate the genetic relationships between hoary bats from the Hawaiian Islands and hoary bats from mainland North America in order to reconstruct the biogeographic history of this species. Nuclear intron and mitochondrial DNA sequences from the Hawaiian bats and the North American bats were analyzed to estimate effective population sizes, rates of gene flow, and the time of dispersal separating the two populations. These parameters are of critical importance in assessing the conservation status of this unique Hawaiian population, and evaluating the frequency of long-distance dispersal events in populating isolated oceanic islands.
Reconstructing the Biogeography of Hawaiian Hoary Bats (Lasiurus cinereus)
Henry Hall Atrium 86
The Hawaiian hoary bat is a subspecies of the species Lasiurus cinereus, which is primarily located in North and South America. The current population in Hawaii most probably descended from the North American population, but now has a great number of morphological differences from that population. This study sought to investigate the genetic relationships between hoary bats from the Hawaiian Islands and hoary bats from mainland North America in order to reconstruct the biogeographic history of this species. Nuclear intron and mitochondrial DNA sequences from the Hawaiian bats and the North American bats were analyzed to estimate effective population sizes, rates of gene flow, and the time of dispersal separating the two populations. These parameters are of critical importance in assessing the conservation status of this unique Hawaiian population, and evaluating the frequency of long-distance dispersal events in populating isolated oceanic islands.