| My current research focuses on using molecular tools to determine basic information on various aspects of reproduction in salamanders. Specifically, I use microsatellite anaylses to estimate population sizes, migration levels, assess parentage, and investigate various aspects of mate choice in natural breeding populations of Ambystomatid salamanders. I will conduct parentage analyses on both smallmouth and tiger salamanders to elucidate effective population size, multiple paternity, reproductive success and mate choice. Both species serve as model organisms due to their relative abundance, large clutch sizes, and differences in breeding and courtship activities.
I have developed a suite of ten tetranucleotide microsatellite markers in the smallmouth salamander ( Ambystoma texanum ). The microsatellite cloning protocol was efficient and yielded highly polymorphic markers. A detailed protocol can be viewed at: http://www.agriculture.purdue.edu/fnr/html/faculty/DeWoody/DeWoodyweb/index.html. |
