One Small Band: Troubleshooting a Genetic Study of Common Loons (Gavia immer) in Vermont

Simple Item Record
dc.contributor.advisorEmmons, Cherlyd
dc.contributor.advisorDeLorenzo, Heather
dc.contributor.advisorBeaudry, Frederic
dc.contributor.authorSchramm, Lauren
dc.date.accessioned2016-06-09T18:04:58Z
dc.date.available2016-06-09T18:04:58Z
dc.date.issued2016-05
dc.descriptionThesis completed in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Alfred University Honors Program.en_US
dc.description.abstractThe common loon (Gavia immer) is an iconic species for North America. Populations in Vermont reached a low of 8 nesting pairs in 1978. Today the population contains over 80 nesting pairs. The population, due to this bottleneck, seems to be at risk of inbreeding. This puts the species at greater risk for genetic problems. During the summer of 2013 samples of eggshells and membranes were collected. DNA was extracted from these, as well as from historical samples, yielding over 75 samples of DNA. A nanospectrophotometer was used to verify the purity and concentration of these samples. Using primers previously used in loon genetic research PCR reactions where done on the samples to amplify specific DNA sequences. (In a PCR reaction you make a lot of copies of one area of DNA. This section of DNA is determined using the primers you add to the reaction.) Unfortunately, there was an unidentified source of interference in these reactions. A variety of techniques were done including adjusting the PCR cycle, primers changing, the addition of an enhancer and magnesium chloride and a variety of Taq polymerases. This work will be continued at Texas State University, there different DNA extraction methods will be used. There is also potential to work with Dr. McMillan from SUNY Buffalo to analyze her genetic data for loons all over the United States. This research has management implications as in Vermont many lakes have artificial nesting rafts for loons, which promote a larger breeding population. If the loons face genetic problems the use of these rafts will need to be evaluated.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10829/7250
dc.language.isoen_USen_US
dc.relation.ispartofHerrick Libraryen_US
dc.rights.urihttps://libraries.alfred.edu/AURA/termsofuseen_US
dc.subjectHonors thesisen_US
dc.subjectCommon loonsen_US
dc.subjectGeneticsen_US
dc.subjectVermonten_US
dc.titleOne Small Band: Troubleshooting a Genetic Study of Common Loons (Gavia immer) in Vermonten_US
dc.typeThesisen_US

Files

Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
Schramm, Lauren 2016.pdf
Size:
1.01 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Thesis
Download

Collections

Student Honors Theses