Systematics of two Fundulus species complexes

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dc.contributor.advisorJameson, David L.
dc.contributor.committeeMemberBryant, Edwin H.
dc.contributor.committeeMemberKlass, Michael R.
dc.contributor.committeeMemberFox, George E.
dc.creatorSmith, Carol
dc.date.accessioned2024-01-24T17:20:20Z
dc.date.available2024-01-24T17:20:20Z
dc.date.issued1984
dc.description.abstractFundulus heteroclitus and Fundulus majalis are brackish water killifish which occur abundantly from southern Canada to northeastern Florida. Fundulus grandis which is morphologically similar to F. heteroclitus, and Fundulus similis, which is morphologically similar to F. majalis, occur along the Gulf of Mexico and along the east coast of Florida. This study attempted to determined the evolutionary relationships among these killifish by examination of variation in morphology, isoenzyme and in mitochondrial DNA sequence variation. Stepwise discriminant analyses using morphological variables were successful in distinguishing heteroclitus and F. grandis from F. majalis. and F. similis, electrophoretic variables were able to distinguish F. heteroclitus from F. grandis and F. majalis from F. similis, while mtDNA fragment variables were successful in distinguishing all four taxons. Electrophoresis demonstrated that heterOGlit-US and F. majalis differ by 48.35 + 24.94 percent of their codons, F. grandis and F. heteroclitus differed by 7.30 + 8.70 percent of their codons, while F. similis and F. majalis differed by 6.93 + 8.47 percent. The net mtDNA nucleotide diversity estimate between F. heteroclitus and Ej. grandis was 4.68 percent, while F. similis and F. maialis differed by 4.32 percent of their nucleotides. It appears that grandis and H1. similis may be subspecies of H1. heteroclitus and F. majalis, respectively, with F. heteroclitus and F. majalis having diverged approximately 14.51 Myr ago and F. grandis and F. similis having evolved from F. heteroclitus and F. majalis, respectively, approximately 2 Myr ago. Among these killifish, morphological variables are better suited for studying at the specific level, electrophoretic variables at the specific and subspecific level, while mtDNA fragment variables are better suited for studying at the subspecific and populational level.
dc.description.departmentBiology and Biochemistry, Department of
dc.format.digitalOriginreformatted digital
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdf
dc.identifier.other12070026
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10657/16040
dc.language.isoen
dc.rightsThis item is protected by copyright but is made available here under a claim of fair use (17 U.S.C. Section 107) for non-profit research and educational purposes. Users of this work assume the responsibility for determining copyright status prior to reusing, publishing, or reproducing this item for purposes other than what is allowed by fair use or other copyright exemptions. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires express permission of the copyright holder.
dc.subjectSunfishes
dc.subjectFishes--Mexico, Gulf of
dc.titleSystematics of two Fundulus species complexes
dc.type.dcmiText
dc.type.genreThesis
thesis.degree.collegeCollege of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
thesis.degree.departmentBiology, Department of
thesis.degree.disciplineBiology
thesis.degree.grantorUniversity of Houston
thesis.degree.levelDoctoral
thesis.degree.nameDoctor of Philosophy

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