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This project examines the ability to use the theory of island biogeography to predict patterns of genetic variation. We are sampling salamanders from three
islands in the Beaver Island archipelago and two sites in the mainland of Michigan (Vestaburg Bog and
Neithercut Woodlands). We are using a set of microsatellites to examine how the levels of genetic variation
differ with respect to island size and inter-island distance. Just as the theory of island biogeography shows that species diversity is positively related to island
size and negatively related to distance, we expect to see the same patterns with respect to genetic variation. The mainland populations are used as comparators for
the amount of genetic variation found in large contiguous populations.
Funding provided by:
Central Michigan University
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