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CC BY V4.0, Open Access
Dissertation
Investigating population dynamics and demographics for conservation and management using genomics, eRNA, and eDNA
Washington State University
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Washington State University
2023
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7273/000006348
Abstract
Populations are central units in ecology and evolution, as they are the level at which ecological and evolutionary processes act. Populations are also central units in conservation and management as the long-term persistence of species requires many viable populations. In order to make effective conservation and management decisions, a comprehensive understanding of focal populations is required, but can be difficult to obtain for rare or cryptic species. However, for difficult to study species, genomic techniques can fill in gaps of knowledge and lead to more informed decision-making. The three chapters in this dissertation explore the dynamics and demographics of populations to aid in the conservation of imperiled species using genomic data and environmental nucleic acids. Chapter one describes the efficacy of environmental RNA to distinguish life stages in amphibian populations using gene-specific assays developed and tested in multiple taxa. Chapter two investigates the relationship between environmental DNA concentrations and population size at varying environmental and conditions, providing important implications for the precision of these population estimates. Finally, chapter three explores the dynamics of natural and anthropogenic hybridization in an endangered amphibian taxon using adaptive genomic variation. This dissertation highlights our ability to further understand population dynamics and demographics in threatened taxa using genomic techniques and apply those to conservation and management situations.
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Details
- Title
- Investigating population dynamics and demographics for conservation and management using genomics, eRNA, and eDNA
- Creators
- Meghan B. Parsley
- Contributors
- Caren S Goldberg (Advisor)Erica J Crespi (Committee Member)Paul A Hohenlohe (Committee Member)Sarah S Roley (Committee Member)Katherine M Strickler (Committee Member)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- School of the Environment (CAHNRS)
- Theses and Dissertations
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University
- Number of pages
- 134
- Identifiers
- 99901087337101842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Dissertation