This thesis examines the effects that Pleistocene glaciation had on the
population structure and contemporary genetic patterns of the hairy woodpecker
(Picoides villosus). A combination of molecular markers, revealed reduced levels of
gene flow among groups of hairy woodpeckers. Microsatellite analyses suggest
barriers to gene flow have influenced contemporary population structure, with
higher structure found in western North America where barriers to gene flow are
more prevalent. MtDNA analyses revealed three distinct genetic lineages, two in
North America and a third in Central America. Results indicate these lineages
separated prior to the Wisconsin glaciation (~100 kya) and that contemporary
population structure is the result of post-glacial expansion from multiple refugia
following deglaciation. Current taxonomy recognizes 17 subspecies (Jackson et al.,
2002), but molecular analyses in this study do not support current subspecies
designations. / xii, 117 leaves ; 29 cm
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:ALU.w.uleth.ca/dspace#10133/2612 |
| Date | January 2011 |
| Creators | Graham, Brendan A., University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Arts and Science |
| Contributors | Burg, Theresa |
| Publisher | Lethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Dept. of Biological Sciences, c2011, Arts and Science, Department of Biological Sciences |
| Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Relation | Thesis (University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Arts and Science) |
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