Lauren Lucas

 

Graduate Student (M.S.)

Population and Conservation Biology Program

Department of Biology

 

Texas State University

San Marcos, TX 78666

 

Email: lucas@txstate.edu

My CV

 

Research Interests

 

Biogeography & Phylogeography

Population Genetics

Natural History

Conservation

Current Research

Advisor: Dr. Chris Nice

Committee: Dr. Jim Ott, Dr. Caitlin Gabor, Joe Fries (USFWS)

 

Population Genetics and Conservation of Texas Hill Country Salamanders (Plethodontidea: Eurycea)

 

            There are many salamander populations of the genus Eurycea found in springs scattered throughout the Texas Hill Country. Many of these populations belong to taxa that are federally listed as threatened or endangered due to their restricted ranges and the threats to their habitats by human usage. Phylogenetic relationships among most of these Texas Hill Country Eurycea populations are uncertain, as divergences are shallow and many springs are currently unsampled. Some of Texas Hill Country springs are known to dry up during drought years or even seasonally. There is anecdotal evidence for population persistence, but it is unknown how these salamander populations persist under such conditions. Two scenarios postulated for how these populations persist are: populations go extinct and re-colonize from connections within river drainage systems, or populations may persist in subterranean habitats within the aquifers.

            I am using data from genetic markers (mtDNA sequence, nuclear DNA sequence, and AFLPs) to test hypotheses about potential hydrogeological systems responsible for phylogeographic structure in this system. My hypotheses are: A) Genetic variation is organized along aquifer boundaries, and B) Genetic variation is organized along river boundaries. Testing these hypotheses will make it possible to: 1) Detect boundaries of units for conservation, and 2) Elucidate the means by which Eurycea persist through periods of drought. I am also using these genetic data to calculate effective population size estimates for each population to compare to available census estimates. Such estimates will help me determine the proportion of a population in subterranean habitats and/or detect bottlenecks if present.

            I am also assessing extant genetic diversity and population structure of the wild and captive populations of the federally-threatened E. nana to determine if the diversity of the wild population is represented in the captive population.

Scientific Presentations

Talks

Lucas, L.K. 2006. The Phylogeography of Texas Hill Country Salamanders: Implications for Conservation and Population Persistence. Southwestern Association of Naturalists 53rd Annual Meeting, Colima, Mexico.

 

Lucas, L.K. 2006. Rivers and Aquifers: What structures genetic variation in Texas Hill Country salamanders? 11th annual Student Colloquium. Texas State University-San Marcos, Department of Biology.

 

Lucas, L.K., C.R. Gabor, J.N. Fries and C.C. Nice. 2005. Conservation genetics of salamander populations in the Texas Hill Country. East Texas Herpetology Society Annual Meeting, Austin, TX.

 

Lucas, L.K., C.R. Gabor, J.N. Fries and C.C. Nice. 2005. Population genetics of a threatened plethodontid salamander. Evolution Annual Meeting, Fairbanks, AK.

 

Posters

A. M. Graves, L.K. Lucas and M.C. Swift. 2004. Phylogenetic relationships among Chaoborus species. 52nd Annual Meeting. North American Benthological Society. Vancouver, BC, Canada.

 

Graves, A. and L. Lucas. 2004. Phylogenetic relationships among Chaoborus species. 72nd Minnesota Academy of Science Annual Meeting. 18th Winchell Undergraduate Research Symposium. St. JohnÕs University, Collegeville, MN.

Publications

Wende, F., L.K. Lucas, A.M. Graves, M.C. Swift and T.U. Berendonk. Steps between lakes?  Initial genetic data on the planktonic predator Chaoborus flavicans. In press: Archives of Hydrobiology

 

Lucas, L.K., J.A. Fordyce and C.C. Nice. Patterns of Genitalic Morphology Around Suture Zones in North American Lycaeides (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae): Implications for Taxonomy and Historical Biogeography. In review.

Links

Pop & Cons Bio Program

San Marcos National Fish Hatchery & Technology Center (Home of captive Eurycea nana)

Spring Lake, Aquarena Center (Home of Eurycea nana)