Tracing Genetic Lineages of Captive Desert Tortoises in Arizona

@inproceedings{Edwards2010TracingGL,
  title={Tracing Genetic Lineages of Captive Desert Tortoises in Arizona},
  author={Taylor Edwards and Christopher J. Jarchow and Cristina A. Jones and Kevin E. Bonine},
  year={2010}
}
Abstract We genotyped 180 captive desert tortoises (Gopherus agassizii) from Kingman (n  =  45), Phoenix (n  =  113), and Tucson (n  =  22), Arizona, USA, to determine if the genetic lineage of captives is associated with that of wild tortoises in the local area (Sonoran Desert). We tested all samples for 16 short tandem repeats and sequenced 1,109 base pairs of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). To determine genetic origin, we performed assignment tests against a reference database of 997 desert… 
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Are captive tortoises a reservoir for conservation? An assessment of genealogical affiliation of captive Gopherus agassizii to local, wild populations
TLDR
The data suggest that captive desert Tortoises kept within the native range of G. agassizii cannot be presumed to have a genealogical affiliation to wild tortoises in their geographic proximity, and precautions should be taken before considering the release of captive tortoise into the wild as a management tool for recovery.
Testing Taxon Tenacity of Tortoises: evidence for a geographical selection gradient at a secondary contact zone
TLDR
A secondary contact zone between two species of desert tortoise, Gopherus agassizii and G. morafkai, is examined to examine reinforcement of species' boundaries under natural conditions and test hypotheses about habitat use using habitat suitability models.
The desert tortoise trichotomy: Mexico hosts a third, new sister-species of tortoise in the Gopherus morafkai–G. agassizii group
TLDR
The description of the new species Gopherus evgoodei is described, which significantly reduces and limits the distribution of Gophersus morafkai to desertscrub habitat only and leaves it with the smallest range of the three sister species.
Biogeographic perspective of speciation among desert tortoises in the genus Gopherus : a preliminary evaluation
TLDR
An understanding of the evolutionary history of desert tortoises will not only clarify the forces that have driven the divergence in this group, but also contribute to the authors' knowledge of the biogeographic history of the Southwestern deserts and how diversity is maintained within them.
Refining genetic boundaries for Agassiz’s desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) in the western Sonoran Desert: the influence of the Coachella Valley on gene flow among populations in southern California
Understanding the influence of geographic features on the evolutionary history and population structure of a species can assist wildlife managers in delimiting genetic units (GUs) for conservation…
The dazed and confused identity of Agassiz’s land tortoise, Gopherus agassizii (Testudines, Testudinidae) with the description of a new species, and its consequences for conservation
Abstract We investigate a cornucopia of problems associated with the identity of the desert tortoise, Gopherus agassizii (Cooper). The date of publication is found to be 1861, rather than 1863. Only…
Waif Gopher Tortoise Survival and Site Fidelity Following Translocation
TLDR
It is suggested that waif tortoises could be an important resource in reducing the extirpation risk of isolated populations and could have conservation value because they can provide the needed numbers to stabilize populations.
Desert Tortoises in Zion National Park Represent a Natural Extension of Their Range
Abstract. The northeastern extreme of the Mojave desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) distribution near Zion National Park in Utah is contested as a natural range limit because of its suboptimal…
Variation in Annual Clutch Phenology of Sonoran Desert Tortoises (Gopherus morafkai) in Central Arizona
TLDR
The ability to vary the timing of egg formation and oviposition might buffer G. morafkai from some of the effects of predicted increases in temperatures, but species-specific information on developmental temperatures and nesting behavior are needed to determine whether or not the species will be able to produce viable clutches of mixed sex ratios in a warmer climate.
Assessing models of speciation under different biogeographic scenarios; an empirical study using multi‐locus and RNA‐seq analyses
TLDR
Analysis of divergence among the lineages of desert tortoise in the genus Gopherus suggests that divergence occurred in the absence of gene flow and in this scenario the genetic signature of ecological isolation cannot be differentiated from geographic isolation.
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