Journal of Undergraduate Research
Keywords
pioneer lizards, speciation, South American lizards
College
Life Sciences
Department
Biology
Abstract
Understanding the processes by which new species are formed is a primary objective of evolutionary biology. My project aimed to contribute to this understanding by measuring the genetic and geographic structure of a population of South American lizards, Liolaemus koslowskyi. Previous research (1) had provided evidence for a trend of more complex genetic structure in northern versus southern ends of distribution ranges in several lizard complexes of the genera Liolaemus and Cnemidophorus in temperate South America. L. koslowskyi is limited to the extreme northern end of the genus’ distribution and by sampling its entire range I would be able to test predictive potential of the trend. In other words, because L. koslowskyi is at the far northern end of the genus Liolaemus’ range it should exhibit complex genetic structure.
Recommended Citation
Turner, Cameron R. and Sites, Dr. Jack W.
(2013)
"Pioneer Lizards: Speciation in South America,"
Journal of Undergraduate Research: Vol. 2013:
Iss.
1, Article 1010.
Available at:
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/jur/vol2013/iss1/1010