Daphnée Bernier
Université du Québec en Outaouais
M.Sc. candidate
Supervisor: Yann Surget-Groba
Start: 2021-09-01
Personal page
M.Sc. candidate
Supervisor: Yann Surget-Groba
Start: 2021-09-01
Personal page
Project
Population genetic of Blanding's turtle (Emydoidea blandingii) in OutaouaisGenetic diversity is an important issue in small, isolated populations. The landscape and the distance separating subpopulations can limit gene flow, which accelerates the loss of genetic diversity. Species at risk are particularly susceptible to this problem, as in the case of the Blanding's turtle (Emydoidea blandingii), a freshwater turtle from southern Quebec. My research project addresses this aspect of conservation with the main objective of evaluating the state of genetic diversity and connectivity of Blanding's turtle populations in the Outaouais. To achieve this objective, analysis of the genetic structure of microsatellites was carried out on biological samples recovered during the capture of individuals in the summers of 2021, 2022 and 2023. The sampled sites are distributed across the range of the species in Outaouais, and a few sites in the Ottawa Greenbelt were selected to verify the connectivity of the populations of the two provinces. Several statistical analyses, including an analysis of isolation by distance as well as an analysis by Bayesian groups, will provide a better understanding of the population structure. It is expected that with the topology and fragmentation of the distribution area, the Outaouais population is composed of several more or less connected, or even completely isolated, subpopulations. Assuming that the Ottawa River is an obstacle difficult for this species to cross, it is also expected that the populations of Quebec and Ontario are genetically isolated. The study has the potential to identify genetically isolated populations that would require management as independent units.
