Species are usually geographically distributed further than an individual can disperse, thus populations are often genetically differentiated through isolation by distance and barriers. Crayfish have been shown to have low dispersal patterns, possibly due to their biology and environment. Using four microsatellite loci as molecular markers, I studied the degree of genetic differentiation of three populations of Orconectes virilis in Massachusetts. I hypothesized the populations would show some differentiation. The data imply that the populations maybe genetically differentiated from one another, but additional data are needed for a stronger inference.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Kohlstrom, Nicholas Bolafka

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-042308-005721

Advisor

• Rulfs, Jill
• Buckholt, Michael Allan
• Mathews, Lauren M.

Year

• 2008

Date created

• 2008-04-23

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Biochemistry

Rights statement

• In Copyright

License

• All rights reserved

Last modified

• 2021-01-06