M2: Climate Change Vulnerability (Pt 2)

What was the method used for studying genetic diversity in the sheep?

Taking fecal samples and using micro satellites markers

What was the method used for studying geographic isolation in the sheep populations?

Least cost pathways as a calculated value to estimate how different one population is from another

What was measured regarding mountain ranges?

Maximum elevations (how tall the mountain range is)

Shorter - more stress to climate change (increasing temp)

What method was used to study climate predictions?

forward climate velocity from climate model predictions

what is forward climate velocity?

A measure of speed and direction of regional climate change

What were the two emission scenarios under the methods of study for forward climate velocity?

1. Moderate - stabilize climate change by 2100

2. High - emissions that assumes greater greenhouse gas emissions

What were the results regarding genetic diversity in sheep?

The most diverse populations were in southern Utah, Canyon Lands, and Arches

How many genetic clusters were there according to lecture?

5

What areas had the least genetically isolated populations?

Mojave, Death Valley, and Lake Mead areas

What areas had the most isolated populations?

Mountains surrounded by desert flats in Southern Mojave

What is allelic richness?

a measure of genetic diversity

What was FST a measure of in the study ?

a measure of population differentiation due to genetic structure

What was the relationship between genetic diversity and genetic isolation?

(-) relationship

What was the relationship between genetic diversity and geographic distance?

(-) relationship

What was the relationship between genetic isolation and geographic isolation?

(+)

For general conclusions what populations were the most vulnerable?

Southernmost populations as they had the highest forward climate velocities from fragmented, hot desert ranges

What were other factors that made the southernmost populations the most vulnerable?

1. Lowest elevation

2. Lost genetic diversity

3. High genetic isolation

4. High geographic isolation

For general conclusions what populations were the least vulnerable?

Death Valley and Grand Canyon National Park due to having low forward climate velocities

What were other factors that made the DEVA and GRCA populations the least vulnerable?

1. Higher elevation

2. High genetic diversity

3. Low genetic isolation

4. Low geographic isolation

What were the ideas for decreasing (mitigating) fragmentation of bighorn sheeps in the real world?

Overpasses and underpasses