Theses and Dissertations

ORCID

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1523-5761

Advisor

Sandel, Michael W.

Committee Member

Rush, Scott A.

Committee Member

Johansen, Rebecca

Date of Degree

8-13-2024

Original embargo terms

Immediate Worldwide Access

Document Type

Graduate Thesis - Open Access

Major

Wildlife, Fisheries & Aquaculture

Degree Name

Master of Science (M.S.)

College

College of Forest Resources

Department

Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture

Abstract

The southeastern U.S. is a hotspot of aquatic biodiversity and endemism in the upland and Coastal Plain regions. One component of this biodiversity is the Pygmy Sunfishes of the genus Elassoma. I used next-generation sequencing to aid in the understanding and conservation of these enigmatic fish. My first chapter focused on one of the most restricted species in the U.S. the Spring Pygmy Sunfish Elassoma alabamae. In this study I found four distinct genetic populations, evidence of founder effects, and that a newly discovered population is native. My second chapter focused on the Everglades Pygmy Sunfish Elassoma evergladei a more widespread Coastal Plain species. In that chapter, I found five unique lineages with the westernmost lineage representing an undescribed species. My third chapter focused on sequencing of the mitochondrial genome of E. alabamae for use in non-invasive detection, which can aid in discovery of new populations for this species.

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