An Analysis of the Genome and Population Dynamics of the American Alligator, Alligator...
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Transcript of An Analysis of the Genome and Population Dynamics of the American Alligator, Alligator...
An Analysis of the Genome and Population Dynamics of the American Alligator, Alligator mississippiensis
American alligator
• Alligator mississippiensis
• Order Crocodylia
• Southeastern United States
• Sub-tropical environments
• Florida Everglades
Order Crocodilia
• Diverse sex-determining systems
• Exothermic
• Extreme physiology
• Most recent ancestor was 275 mya
• Mid- to upper Cretaceous Period
Why Study the American Alligator
• Genetic evolution of Amniotes
• Ancestral reptilian and amniote genomes
• Rates of Evolution
• Medical Implications
• Antibacterial Properties
Crocodilian Genome
• 16,642 Nucleotides
• Evolutionary Rate of Crocodilians
• Relationship between Birds/Crocodilians
• Divergence
Archosaur Ancestry
• Avian and Nonavian Relationship
• Avians have a smaller Genome Size
• Hox expression correlates to skeletal morphology
• Genetic Structure correlates to flight ability
Crocodilians Comparison
• American Alligator
• Saltwater Crocodile
• Neither produce sex-determining chromosomes
• Ancient Divergence in Late Pleistocene Period
Subdivisions in American Alligator Populations
• Homogenous mtDNA
• Demographic and Life History Differences
• Coastal and Inland Habitats
• East-West phylogeographic split
• Not a single cohesive population
Intra-population Variation
• Sub-tropical environments
• Differ in activity ranges
• Movement Rates
• Habitat Use
Intra-population Variation
• Consistent Behavioral Patterns
• Differences in exploration
• Effects on the Environment
• Different Ecological Roles
Conclusion• American Alligator is a Very Unique
Organism
• Dominates SE United States
• Expansive Genomic History
• Medicinal Properties
• Ancestral Archosaurs
• Social Dynamics