Determination of Genetic Diversity of River Otter Populations in Minnesota

Location

CSU 253

Start Date

24-4-2006 10:30 AM

End Date

24-4-2006 12:00 PM

Student's Major

Biological Sciences

Student's College

Science, Engineering and Technology

Mentor's Name

John D. Krentz

Mentor's Department

Biological Sciences

Mentor's College

Science, Engineering and Technology

Description

Natural populations differ genetically from one another primarily because of natural selection and limitations on the exchange of individuals (restricted gene flow). Because a population's ability to adapt to a changing environment depends of genetic variability, a restriction in the exchange of individuals may subsequently result in reduced fitness. Knowledge regarding the genetic make-up of populations is important in the conservation of biological diversity to allow the identification of potential source populations and to maintain variability in small populations. Once widespread, river otter populations in Minnesota were greatly reduced or eliminated due to human activity. Current populations have rebounded and translocations of animals from source populations to areas of local extinction such as the Minnesota River have occurred or are being contemplated. My goal was to quantify (DNA) genetic differences among populations of river otters intimately associated with drainage systems in Minnesota to formulate a phylogenetic map. I hypothesized that populations which are more connected by river systems would probably exchange individuals more frequently and would thus be more similar genetically. Otter tissue was collected from trappers. I used DNA sequence data from prior studies in other states to develop a method for genotyping Minnesota otters. I compared DNA of otters from the Upper Mississippi River and Lower Mississippi River populations, and also compared them to the St. Louis River population (which is not connected to the Mississippi River). The development of our methods for obtaining genotypes and our preliminary data will be presented.

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Apr 24th, 10:30 AM Apr 24th, 12:00 PM

Determination of Genetic Diversity of River Otter Populations in Minnesota

CSU 253

Natural populations differ genetically from one another primarily because of natural selection and limitations on the exchange of individuals (restricted gene flow). Because a population's ability to adapt to a changing environment depends of genetic variability, a restriction in the exchange of individuals may subsequently result in reduced fitness. Knowledge regarding the genetic make-up of populations is important in the conservation of biological diversity to allow the identification of potential source populations and to maintain variability in small populations. Once widespread, river otter populations in Minnesota were greatly reduced or eliminated due to human activity. Current populations have rebounded and translocations of animals from source populations to areas of local extinction such as the Minnesota River have occurred or are being contemplated. My goal was to quantify (DNA) genetic differences among populations of river otters intimately associated with drainage systems in Minnesota to formulate a phylogenetic map. I hypothesized that populations which are more connected by river systems would probably exchange individuals more frequently and would thus be more similar genetically. Otter tissue was collected from trappers. I used DNA sequence data from prior studies in other states to develop a method for genotyping Minnesota otters. I compared DNA of otters from the Upper Mississippi River and Lower Mississippi River populations, and also compared them to the St. Louis River population (which is not connected to the Mississippi River). The development of our methods for obtaining genotypes and our preliminary data will be presented.

Recommended Citation

McCalla, Sunnie. "Determination of Genetic Diversity of River Otter Populations in Minnesota." Undergraduate Research Symposium, Mankato, MN, April 24, 2006.
https://cornerstone.lib.mnsu.edu/urs/2006/oral-session-D/5