Genetics, phylogeny, and biogeography of the marten (Martes americana)

Hicks, Shawn A. (1996) Genetics, phylogeny, and biogeography of the marten (Martes americana). Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the genetic variation within a small reintroduced population of American pine marten (Martes americana) in Terra Nova National Park, Newfoundland, as well as the variation and diversity within and among other North American pine marten and closely related species. DNA sequencing of several hundred base pairs of the 5' most end of the cytochrome b gene of the mitochonrdial DNA was completed and the sequences analysed. -- It was determined that a reintroduced population and the source population shared identical DNA, based on 307 base pairs of data. A 401 base pair data base was compiled from samples of 12 subspecies of American pine marten (Martes americana) as well as European pine marten (M. martes), sable (M. zibellina), and American badger (Taxidea taxus). Genetic diversity was detected between certain subspecies of Martes americana as well as between all species of Martes studied. Two distinct lineages of Martes americana are apparent in North America ["americana" and "caurina" groups] whose pairwise sequence divergence is 1.5%. The two genetic groups correspond to the two former North American pine marten species Martes caurina and Martes americana. The average nucleon diversity (h) within the "americana" group is 0.22 and within the "caurina" group is 0.72.

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