The Experts below are selected from a list of 327 Experts worldwide ranked by ideXlab platform
Henry R. Mushinsky - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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range wide and regional patterns of population structure and genetic diversity in the Gopher Tortoise
Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management, 2017Co-Authors: Daniel L. Gaillard, Joshua R. Ennen, Brian R. Kreiser, Carl P. Qualls, Sarah C. Sweat, Tracey D. Tuberville, Matthew Aresco, Earl D. Mccoy, Roger D Birkhead, Henry R. MushinskyAbstract:Abstract The Gopher Tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) has experienced dramatic population declines throughout its distribution in the southeastern United States and is federally listed as threatened i...
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Gopher Tortoise microsatellite genotype data Table A1
2017Co-Authors: Daniel L. Gaillard, Joshua R. Ennen, Brian R. Kreiser, Carl P. Qualls, Sarah C. Sweat, Roger Birkhead, Tracey D. Tuberville, Matthew Aresco, Earl D. Mccoy, Henry R. MushinskyAbstract:Table A1. Genotype data for 20 microsatellite loci for each of the 933 Gopher Tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) individuals collected between 2000-2012 from 47 sampling sites located across the Southeastern United States
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habitat selection increases the isolating effect of habitat fragmentation on the Gopher Tortoise
Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 2013Co-Authors: Earl D. Mccoy, Katherine A Basiotis, Kevin M Connor, Henry R. MushinskyAbstract:Habitat selection requires choice, which differentiates it from habitat use, and choice, in turn, is dependent upon the responses of organisms to the environmental, social, and other cues that they perceive. Habitat selection by the Gopher Tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) was investigated by translocating Tortoises and monitoring their movements within two sites in central Florida. The first site supported a stable preponderance of high-quality habitat, and Tortoises avoided areas with a dense tree canopy cover caused by fire exclusion. The second site was badly invaded by an introduced weed, and Tortoises avoided areas where the weed had formed a dense monoculture. At both sites, individuals appeared to be responding to visual cues to avoid areas that were relatively dark. In landscapes with relatively large amounts of high-quality habitat, this avoidance behavior serves the Gopher Tortoise well by keeping individuals within the dominant habitat type. In degraded areas, high-quality habitat often becomes increasingly uncommon, and the avoidance behavior exhibited by the Tortoises will result in individuals becoming confined to small patches, causing a significant reduction in fitness and hence questioning their long-term survival in such areas. The results from our study show that in order to maintain viable Tortoise populations in areas increasingly subjected to human fragmentation and degradation, it is crucial not only to suppress tree canopy cover continually and prevent invasion by exotic weeds, but also to be mindful that the avoidance behavior of the Gopher Tortoise could prevent individuals from fully occupying a high-quality habitat in response to restoration and management efforts.
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mitochondrial dna assessment of the phylogeography of the Gopher Tortoise
Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management, 2012Co-Authors: Joshua R. Ennen, Brian R. Kreiser, Daniel L. Gaillard, Carl P. Qualls, Tracey D. Tuberville, Matthew Aresco, Earl D. Mccoy, Henry R. Mushinsky, Roger D Birkhead, Thomas Bill W HentgesAbstract:Abstract Identifying geographic barriers that define genetic structure within a species is crucial in formulating an effective conservation plan. The identification of appropriate management units is critical for the protection and recovery of the Gopher Tortoise Gopherus polyphemus, which have declined across their entire range. Previous molecular work at various spatial scales has identified distinct population assemblages of the Gopher Tortoise. The goal of this study was to assess the genetic structure in Gopher Tortoises through a more complete sampling of the federally listed as threatened portion of the range and evaluate the extent of genetic isolation imposed by several potential geographic barriers. We sequenced a 712–base-pair portion of a mitochondrial gene (NADH dehydrogenase 4) for 322 individuals from 42 sites across the range. We found two major assemblages of haplotypes separated by a modest phylogenetic break (average uncorrected p distance = 0.015). The biogeographic barrier that best...
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translocation of the Gopher Tortoise difficulties associated with assessing success
Applied Herpetology, 2008Co-Authors: Susannah C Riedl, Henry R. Mushinsky, Earl D. MccoyAbstract:Gopher Tortoises on lands to be developed may be translocated as a conservation measure, sometimes to areas already occupied by the species. We assessed the success of this type of translocation by monitoring the movements, spatial positioning, health, and reproductive activity of translocated and resident individuals at a site in central Florida from 2001 to 2004. By several criteria, the translocation was a success. Most translocated individuals remained on-site for at least one year, home ranges of resident individuals were not significantly different before and after translocation, home ranges of translocated individuals fit within the range of estimates reported in the literature, and neither body condition nor reproduction of either group of individuals could be shown to be affected by the translocation. On the other hand, several resident individuals altered their habitat use after translocation and the spatial positioning of resident individuals was different than that of individuals throughout; so, some potential exists for future off-site movements. The study illustrates two practical problems in assessing translocation success: lack of adequate pre-translocation data for both resident and translocated individuals, which interferes with documentation of translocation effects, and the necessarily small sample sizes, which reduces statistical power.
Earl D. Mccoy - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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range wide and regional patterns of population structure and genetic diversity in the Gopher Tortoise
Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management, 2017Co-Authors: Daniel L. Gaillard, Joshua R. Ennen, Brian R. Kreiser, Carl P. Qualls, Sarah C. Sweat, Tracey D. Tuberville, Matthew Aresco, Earl D. Mccoy, Roger D Birkhead, Henry R. MushinskyAbstract:Abstract The Gopher Tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) has experienced dramatic population declines throughout its distribution in the southeastern United States and is federally listed as threatened i...
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Gopher Tortoise microsatellite genotype data Table A1
2017Co-Authors: Daniel L. Gaillard, Joshua R. Ennen, Brian R. Kreiser, Carl P. Qualls, Sarah C. Sweat, Roger Birkhead, Tracey D. Tuberville, Matthew Aresco, Earl D. Mccoy, Henry R. MushinskyAbstract:Table A1. Genotype data for 20 microsatellite loci for each of the 933 Gopher Tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) individuals collected between 2000-2012 from 47 sampling sites located across the Southeastern United States
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habitat selection increases the isolating effect of habitat fragmentation on the Gopher Tortoise
Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 2013Co-Authors: Earl D. Mccoy, Katherine A Basiotis, Kevin M Connor, Henry R. MushinskyAbstract:Habitat selection requires choice, which differentiates it from habitat use, and choice, in turn, is dependent upon the responses of organisms to the environmental, social, and other cues that they perceive. Habitat selection by the Gopher Tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) was investigated by translocating Tortoises and monitoring their movements within two sites in central Florida. The first site supported a stable preponderance of high-quality habitat, and Tortoises avoided areas with a dense tree canopy cover caused by fire exclusion. The second site was badly invaded by an introduced weed, and Tortoises avoided areas where the weed had formed a dense monoculture. At both sites, individuals appeared to be responding to visual cues to avoid areas that were relatively dark. In landscapes with relatively large amounts of high-quality habitat, this avoidance behavior serves the Gopher Tortoise well by keeping individuals within the dominant habitat type. In degraded areas, high-quality habitat often becomes increasingly uncommon, and the avoidance behavior exhibited by the Tortoises will result in individuals becoming confined to small patches, causing a significant reduction in fitness and hence questioning their long-term survival in such areas. The results from our study show that in order to maintain viable Tortoise populations in areas increasingly subjected to human fragmentation and degradation, it is crucial not only to suppress tree canopy cover continually and prevent invasion by exotic weeds, but also to be mindful that the avoidance behavior of the Gopher Tortoise could prevent individuals from fully occupying a high-quality habitat in response to restoration and management efforts.
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mitochondrial dna assessment of the phylogeography of the Gopher Tortoise
Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management, 2012Co-Authors: Joshua R. Ennen, Brian R. Kreiser, Daniel L. Gaillard, Carl P. Qualls, Tracey D. Tuberville, Matthew Aresco, Earl D. Mccoy, Henry R. Mushinsky, Roger D Birkhead, Thomas Bill W HentgesAbstract:Abstract Identifying geographic barriers that define genetic structure within a species is crucial in formulating an effective conservation plan. The identification of appropriate management units is critical for the protection and recovery of the Gopher Tortoise Gopherus polyphemus, which have declined across their entire range. Previous molecular work at various spatial scales has identified distinct population assemblages of the Gopher Tortoise. The goal of this study was to assess the genetic structure in Gopher Tortoises through a more complete sampling of the federally listed as threatened portion of the range and evaluate the extent of genetic isolation imposed by several potential geographic barriers. We sequenced a 712–base-pair portion of a mitochondrial gene (NADH dehydrogenase 4) for 322 individuals from 42 sites across the range. We found two major assemblages of haplotypes separated by a modest phylogenetic break (average uncorrected p distance = 0.015). The biogeographic barrier that best...
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translocation of the Gopher Tortoise difficulties associated with assessing success
Applied Herpetology, 2008Co-Authors: Susannah C Riedl, Henry R. Mushinsky, Earl D. MccoyAbstract:Gopher Tortoises on lands to be developed may be translocated as a conservation measure, sometimes to areas already occupied by the species. We assessed the success of this type of translocation by monitoring the movements, spatial positioning, health, and reproductive activity of translocated and resident individuals at a site in central Florida from 2001 to 2004. By several criteria, the translocation was a success. Most translocated individuals remained on-site for at least one year, home ranges of resident individuals were not significantly different before and after translocation, home ranges of translocated individuals fit within the range of estimates reported in the literature, and neither body condition nor reproduction of either group of individuals could be shown to be affected by the translocation. On the other hand, several resident individuals altered their habitat use after translocation and the spatial positioning of resident individuals was different than that of individuals throughout; so, some potential exists for future off-site movements. The study illustrates two practical problems in assessing translocation success: lack of adequate pre-translocation data for both resident and translocated individuals, which interferes with documentation of translocation effects, and the necessarily small sample sizes, which reduces statistical power.
Shahid Karim - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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The Sialotranscriptome of the Gopher-Tortoise Tick, Amblyomma tuberculatum
Ticks and tick-borne diseases, 2020Co-Authors: Shahid Karim, Joshua R. Ennen, Carl P. Qualls, Deepak Kumar, Steve Adamson, José M. C. RibeiroAbstract:Abstract The Gopher Tortoise tick, Amblyomma tuberculatum, is known to parasitize keystone ectotherm reptile species. The biological success of ticks requires precise mechanisms to evade host hemostatic and immune responses. Acquisition of a full blood meal requires attachment, establishment of the blood pool, and engorgement of the tick. Tick saliva contains molecules which counter the host responses to allow uninterrupted feeding on the host. RNASeq of the salivary glands of Amblyomma tuberculatum ticks were sequenced resulting in 138,030 pyrosequencing reads which were assembled into 29,991 contigs. A total of 1875 coding sequences were deduced from the transcriptome assembly, including 602 putative secretory and 982 putative housekeeping proteins. The annotated data sets are available as a hyperlinked spreadsheet. The sialotranscriptome assembled for this tick species made available a valuable resource for mining novel pharmacological activities and comparative analysis.
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a snapshot of the microbiome of amblyomma tuberculatum ticks infesting the Gopher Tortoise an endangered species
Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases, 2016Co-Authors: Khemraj Budachetri, Daniel L. Gaillard, Jaclyn Williams, Nabanita Mukherjee, Shahid KarimAbstract:The Gopher Tortoise tick, Amblyomma tuberculatum, has a unique relationship with the Gopher Tortoise, Gopherus polyphemus, found in sandy habitats across the southeastern United States. We aimed to understand the overall bacterial community associated with A. tuberculatum while also focusing on spotted fever group Rickettsia. These Tortoises in the Southern Mississippi region are a federally threatened species; therefore, we have carefully trapped the Tortoises and removed the species-specific ticks attached to them. Genomic DNA was extracted from individual ticks and used to explore overall bacterial load using pyrosequencing of bacterial 16S rRNA on 454-sequencing platform. The spotted fever group of Rickettsia was explored by amplifying rickettsial outer membrane protein A (rompA) gene by nested PCR. Sequencing results revealed 330 bacterial operational taxonomic units (OTUs) after all the necessary curation of sequences. Four whole A. tuberculatum ticks showed Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Actinobacteria and Bacteroidetes as the most dominant phyla with a total of 74 different bacterial genera detected. Together Rickettsiae and Francisella showed >85% abundance, thus dominating the bacterial community structure. Partial sequences obtained from ompA amplicons revealed the presence of an uncharacterized Rickettsia similar to the Rickettsial endosymbiont of A. tuberculatum. This is the first preliminary profile of a complete bacterial community from Gopher Tortoise ticks and warrants further investigation regarding the functional role of Rickettsial and Francisella-like endosymbionts in tick physiology.
Carl P. Qualls - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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The Sialotranscriptome of the Gopher-Tortoise Tick, Amblyomma tuberculatum
Ticks and tick-borne diseases, 2020Co-Authors: Shahid Karim, Joshua R. Ennen, Carl P. Qualls, Deepak Kumar, Steve Adamson, José M. C. RibeiroAbstract:Abstract The Gopher Tortoise tick, Amblyomma tuberculatum, is known to parasitize keystone ectotherm reptile species. The biological success of ticks requires precise mechanisms to evade host hemostatic and immune responses. Acquisition of a full blood meal requires attachment, establishment of the blood pool, and engorgement of the tick. Tick saliva contains molecules which counter the host responses to allow uninterrupted feeding on the host. RNASeq of the salivary glands of Amblyomma tuberculatum ticks were sequenced resulting in 138,030 pyrosequencing reads which were assembled into 29,991 contigs. A total of 1875 coding sequences were deduced from the transcriptome assembly, including 602 putative secretory and 982 putative housekeeping proteins. The annotated data sets are available as a hyperlinked spreadsheet. The sialotranscriptome assembled for this tick species made available a valuable resource for mining novel pharmacological activities and comparative analysis.
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range wide and regional patterns of population structure and genetic diversity in the Gopher Tortoise
Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management, 2017Co-Authors: Daniel L. Gaillard, Joshua R. Ennen, Brian R. Kreiser, Carl P. Qualls, Sarah C. Sweat, Tracey D. Tuberville, Matthew Aresco, Earl D. Mccoy, Roger D Birkhead, Henry R. MushinskyAbstract:Abstract The Gopher Tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) has experienced dramatic population declines throughout its distribution in the southeastern United States and is federally listed as threatened i...
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Gopher Tortoise microsatellite genotype data Table A1
2017Co-Authors: Daniel L. Gaillard, Joshua R. Ennen, Brian R. Kreiser, Carl P. Qualls, Sarah C. Sweat, Roger Birkhead, Tracey D. Tuberville, Matthew Aresco, Earl D. Mccoy, Henry R. MushinskyAbstract:Table A1. Genotype data for 20 microsatellite loci for each of the 933 Gopher Tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) individuals collected between 2000-2012 from 47 sampling sites located across the Southeastern United States
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a comparison of artificial incubation and natural incubation hatching success of Gopher Tortoise Gopherus polyphemus eggs in southern mississippi
Herpetologica, 2012Co-Authors: Krista M Noel, Carl P. Qualls, Joshua R. EnnenAbstract:Abstract Recent studies have found that Gopher Tortoise, Gopherus polyphemus, populations in southern Mississippi exhibit low recruitment, due in part to very low hatching success of their eggs. We sought to determine if the cause(s) of this low hatching success was related to egg quality (intrinsic factors), unsuitability of the nest environment (extrinsic factors), or a combination of the two. In 2003, hatching success was monitored simultaneously for eggs from the same clutches that were incubated in the laboratory and left to incubate in nests. A subset of randomly chosen eggs from each clutch was incubated in the laboratory under physical conditions that were known to be conducive to successful hatching to estimate the proportion of eggs that were capable of hatching in a controlled setting. Hatching success in the laboratory was compared with that of eggs incubated in natural nests to estimate the proportion of eggs that failed to hatch presumably from extrinsic factors. Laboratory hatching success ...
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Isolation and characterization of polymorphic microsatellite loci for the Gopher Tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) and cross-amplification in other species of Gopherus
Conservation Genetics Resources, 2012Co-Authors: Brian R. Kreiser, Joshua R. Ennen, Daniel L. Gaillard, Carl P. QuallsAbstract:All members of the Tortoise genus Gopherus have some degree of conservation concern. We report on the development of thirty-two new microsatellite loci for Gopher Tortoise, which were tested on 31 individuals from Ft. Benning, Georgia, USA. These loci possessed an average number of 5.09 alleles, an average observed heterozygosity of 0.574 and an average expected heterozygosity of 0.589. We also tested these loci in three congeners: Gopherus morafkai, Gopherus flavomarginatus and Gopherus berlandieri. The new microsatellite loci should prove useful in conservation efforts of Gopherus polyphemus and other Gopherus species.
Joshua R. Ennen - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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The Sialotranscriptome of the Gopher-Tortoise Tick, Amblyomma tuberculatum
Ticks and tick-borne diseases, 2020Co-Authors: Shahid Karim, Joshua R. Ennen, Carl P. Qualls, Deepak Kumar, Steve Adamson, José M. C. RibeiroAbstract:Abstract The Gopher Tortoise tick, Amblyomma tuberculatum, is known to parasitize keystone ectotherm reptile species. The biological success of ticks requires precise mechanisms to evade host hemostatic and immune responses. Acquisition of a full blood meal requires attachment, establishment of the blood pool, and engorgement of the tick. Tick saliva contains molecules which counter the host responses to allow uninterrupted feeding on the host. RNASeq of the salivary glands of Amblyomma tuberculatum ticks were sequenced resulting in 138,030 pyrosequencing reads which were assembled into 29,991 contigs. A total of 1875 coding sequences were deduced from the transcriptome assembly, including 602 putative secretory and 982 putative housekeeping proteins. The annotated data sets are available as a hyperlinked spreadsheet. The sialotranscriptome assembled for this tick species made available a valuable resource for mining novel pharmacological activities and comparative analysis.
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range wide and regional patterns of population structure and genetic diversity in the Gopher Tortoise
Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management, 2017Co-Authors: Daniel L. Gaillard, Joshua R. Ennen, Brian R. Kreiser, Carl P. Qualls, Sarah C. Sweat, Tracey D. Tuberville, Matthew Aresco, Earl D. Mccoy, Roger D Birkhead, Henry R. MushinskyAbstract:Abstract The Gopher Tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) has experienced dramatic population declines throughout its distribution in the southeastern United States and is federally listed as threatened i...
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Gopher Tortoise microsatellite genotype data Table A1
2017Co-Authors: Daniel L. Gaillard, Joshua R. Ennen, Brian R. Kreiser, Carl P. Qualls, Sarah C. Sweat, Roger Birkhead, Tracey D. Tuberville, Matthew Aresco, Earl D. Mccoy, Henry R. MushinskyAbstract:Table A1. Genotype data for 20 microsatellite loci for each of the 933 Gopher Tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) individuals collected between 2000-2012 from 47 sampling sites located across the Southeastern United States
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a comparison of artificial incubation and natural incubation hatching success of Gopher Tortoise Gopherus polyphemus eggs in southern mississippi
Herpetologica, 2012Co-Authors: Krista M Noel, Carl P. Qualls, Joshua R. EnnenAbstract:Abstract Recent studies have found that Gopher Tortoise, Gopherus polyphemus, populations in southern Mississippi exhibit low recruitment, due in part to very low hatching success of their eggs. We sought to determine if the cause(s) of this low hatching success was related to egg quality (intrinsic factors), unsuitability of the nest environment (extrinsic factors), or a combination of the two. In 2003, hatching success was monitored simultaneously for eggs from the same clutches that were incubated in the laboratory and left to incubate in nests. A subset of randomly chosen eggs from each clutch was incubated in the laboratory under physical conditions that were known to be conducive to successful hatching to estimate the proportion of eggs that were capable of hatching in a controlled setting. Hatching success in the laboratory was compared with that of eggs incubated in natural nests to estimate the proportion of eggs that failed to hatch presumably from extrinsic factors. Laboratory hatching success ...
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Isolation and characterization of polymorphic microsatellite loci for the Gopher Tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) and cross-amplification in other species of Gopherus
Conservation Genetics Resources, 2012Co-Authors: Brian R. Kreiser, Joshua R. Ennen, Daniel L. Gaillard, Carl P. QuallsAbstract:All members of the Tortoise genus Gopherus have some degree of conservation concern. We report on the development of thirty-two new microsatellite loci for Gopher Tortoise, which were tested on 31 individuals from Ft. Benning, Georgia, USA. These loci possessed an average number of 5.09 alleles, an average observed heterozygosity of 0.574 and an average expected heterozygosity of 0.589. We also tested these loci in three congeners: Gopherus morafkai, Gopherus flavomarginatus and Gopherus berlandieri. The new microsatellite loci should prove useful in conservation efforts of Gopherus polyphemus and other Gopherus species.
