Assessment of Morphological and Genetic Variation in Ohio Populations of Dusky Darter (Percina sciera)
Advisor(s)
Dr. Katherine Krynak
Dr. Kenneth Oswald
Confirmation
1
Document Type
Poster
Location
ONU McIntosh Center; McIntosh Activities Room
Start Date
21-4-2023 12:00 PM
End Date
21-4-2023 12:50 PM
Abstract
Field observations made by fisheries biologists with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency have recently noted dusky darter (Percina sciera) that display features characteristic of blackside darter (P. maculata) in southern Ohio. This study examines morphological and genetic variation of dusky and blackside darters captured from multiple locations within Ohio, including those inhabiting southern Ohio. Individuals were collected by electrofishing and euthanized and stored in 95% ethanol for subsequent morphological and genetic analyses. Genomic DNA (gDNA) was extracted from individual fin clips, and the presence of gDNA was confirmed by agarose gel electrophoresis. Two mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) loci were successfully amplified using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequenced via the Sanger method. Preliminary phylogenetic analyses of mtDNA sequences from captured individuals have recovered three monophyletic clades that correspond to dusky darter, blackside darter, and putatively morphologically distinct individuals collected from southern Ohio. On-going analyses of morphological variation largely corroborate the phylogenetic analyses and suggest cryptic speciation within Percina of southern Ohio. These results not only have implications for Ohio’s freshwater biodiversity, but also conservation and management of the state’s native ichthyofauna.
Recommended Citation
Gill, Hannah, "Assessment of Morphological and Genetic Variation in Ohio Populations of Dusky Darter (Percina sciera)" (2023). ONU Student Research Colloquium. 38.
https://digitalcommons.onu.edu/student_research_colloquium/2023/posters/38
Restricted
Available to ONU community via local IP address and ONU login.
Assessment of Morphological and Genetic Variation in Ohio Populations of Dusky Darter (Percina sciera)
ONU McIntosh Center; McIntosh Activities Room
Field observations made by fisheries biologists with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency have recently noted dusky darter (Percina sciera) that display features characteristic of blackside darter (P. maculata) in southern Ohio. This study examines morphological and genetic variation of dusky and blackside darters captured from multiple locations within Ohio, including those inhabiting southern Ohio. Individuals were collected by electrofishing and euthanized and stored in 95% ethanol for subsequent morphological and genetic analyses. Genomic DNA (gDNA) was extracted from individual fin clips, and the presence of gDNA was confirmed by agarose gel electrophoresis. Two mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) loci were successfully amplified using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequenced via the Sanger method. Preliminary phylogenetic analyses of mtDNA sequences from captured individuals have recovered three monophyletic clades that correspond to dusky darter, blackside darter, and putatively morphologically distinct individuals collected from southern Ohio. On-going analyses of morphological variation largely corroborate the phylogenetic analyses and suggest cryptic speciation within Percina of southern Ohio. These results not only have implications for Ohio’s freshwater biodiversity, but also conservation and management of the state’s native ichthyofauna.