NANFA-L-- NANFA Conservation Research / F. sciadicus contacts

Mike's bigred e-mail (mbesser1-in-bigred.unl.edu)
Tue, 7 Jun 2005 13:41:24 -0500

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Hello, all.

It's been a long time since I've submitted a message to the list, but this
one is quite relevant. Just to (re)introduce myself, I am a 3rd year PhD
student-in-the University of Nebraska. Another student and I (Chenhong Li)
were selected as recipients of a 2005 NANFA Conservation Research Grant. A
brief description of our project appears on p. 31 in the May '05 A.C. The
subject of our study is the plains topminnow (Fundulus sciadicus). Although
it is currently categorized as S4 (apparently secure) on the Nebraska
Heritage List, our preliminary field (and genetic) data suggest that the
species is declining here. Last summer we encountered them-in-only 10 of 32
historical collection sites. There are three main areas of distribution:
1) Nebraska (Platte, Niobrara, and Republican drainages), 2) central
Missouri (MO River tribs), and 3) a small area in southwestern area, incl.
the Spring River drainage (also includes small sections in Kansas, Oklahoma,
and Arkansas - but agency folks are not optimistic that they still occur
there). We already acquired a quality sample set (at least for genetic
work) from Nebraska last summer and have worked quickly in the lab to
develop necessary markers. Our greatest remaining need this year is to get
samples from both populations in Missouri - and this is where NANFA stepped
in to assist us. We really need these samples so that we can compare
genetic diversity and estimate gene flow between all three areas. In
conclusion, we will estimate these and other demographic parameters and use
this information to develop conservation strategies the species. Ideally,
this project will serve as a template to assess and address the needs of
other species-in-similar crossroads.

I thought I would take this opportunity to personally introduce you to the
project and ask for assistance in locating F. sciadicus in Missouri. We
have a trip tentatively planned for the week of July 17-22 and will be
visiting both areas. We already have several historical sites on our list,
but if any of you are from that region and know of any possible collection
sites, we'd sure appreciate hearing from you. Unexpectedly, I will be able
to attend the NANFA Convention in Little Rock this weekend and I am pretty
excited about that. If any of you will be there and would like to hear more
- or just visit - please let me know. I will definitely be there for all
the talks, etc. on Saturday, but I am still not certain about Friday or
Sunday.

Thank you.

Mike

Michael L. Bessert

324 Manter Hall

School of Biological Sciences

University of Nebraska

Lincoln, NE 68588-0118

ph. 402-472-3999

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Hello, all.<o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

It’s been a long time since I’ve =
submitted a
message to the list, but this one is quite relevant.  Just to
(re)introduce myself, I am  a 3rd year PhD student-in-=
the <st1:place
w:st=3D"on"><st1:PlaceType w:st=3D"on">University</st1:PlaceType> of =
<st1:PlaceName
w:st=3D"on">Nebraska</st1:PlaceName></st1:place>.  Another student =
and I (<st1:PersonName
w:st=3D"on">Chenhong Li</st1:PersonName>) were selected as recipients of =
a 2005
NANFA Conservation Research Grant.  A brief description of our =
project
appears on p. 31 in the May ’05 A.C.  The subject of our =
study is
the plains topminnow (Fundulus =
sciadicus). 
Although it is currently categorized as S4 (apparently secure) on the =
Nebraska
Heritage List, our preliminary field (and genetic) data suggest that the
species is declining here.  Last summer we encountered them-in-only =
10 of
32 historical collection sites.  There are three main areas of
distribution:  1) <st1:State w:st=3D"on">Nebraska</st1:State> =
(Platte,
Niobrara, and Republican drainages), 2) central <st1:State =
w:st=3D"on">Missouri</st1:State>
(MO River tribs), and 3) a small area in southwestern area, incl. the =
<st1:PlaceType
w:st=3D"on">Spring</st1:PlaceType> <st1:PlaceType =
w:st=3D"on">River</st1:PlaceType>
drainage (also includes small sections in <st1:State =
w:st=3D"on">Kansas</st1:State>,
<st1:State w:st=3D"on">Oklahoma</st1:State>, and <st1:State =
w:st=3D"on"><st1:place
w:st=3D"on">Arkansas</st1:place></st1:State> – but agency folks =
are not
optimistic that they still occur there).  We already acquired a =
quality
sample set (at least for genetic work) from <st1:State =
w:st=3D"on"><st1:place
w:st=3D"on">Nebraska</st1:place></st1:State> last summer and have =
worked quickly
in the lab to develop necessary markers.  Our greatest remaining =
need this
year is to get samples from both populations in <st1:State =
w:st=3D"on"><st1:place
w:st=3D"on">Missouri</st1:place></st1:State> – and this is where =
NANFA
stepped in to assist us.  We really need these samples so that we =
can
compare genetic diversity and estimate gene flow between all three =
areas. 
In conclusion, we will estimate these and other demographic parameters =
and use
this information to develop conservation strategies the species.  =
Ideally,
this project will serve as a template to assess and address the needs of =
other
species-in-similar crossroads.  <o:p></o:p>

=
    <o:p></o:p>

I thought I would take this opportunity to personally
introduce you to the project and ask for assistance in locating F. =
sciadicus in
<st1:State w:st=3D"on"><st1:place =
w:st=3D"on">Missouri</st1:place></st1:State>. 
We have a trip tentatively planned for the week of July 17-22 and will =
be
visiting both areas.  We already have several historical sites on =
our
list, but if any of you are from that region and know of any possible =
collection
sites, we’d sure appreciate hearing from you.  Unexpectedly, =
I will
be able to attend the NANFA Convention in <st1:City =
w:st=3D"on"><st1:place w:st=3D"on">Little
Rock</st1:place></st1:City> this weekend and I am pretty excited about
that.  If any of you will be there and would like to hear more =
– or just
visit – please let me know.  I will definitely be there for =
all the
talks, etc. on Saturday, but I am still not certain about Friday or =
Sunday.<o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

Thank you.<o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

Mike<o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

Michael L. Bessert<o:p></o:p>

324 Manter Hall<o:p></o:p>

<st1:place w:st=3D"on"><st1:PlaceType =
w:st=3D"on">School</st1:PlaceType>
of <st1:PlaceName w:st=3D"on">Biological</st1:PlaceName></st1:place> =
Sciences<o:p></o:p>

<st1:place w:st=3D"on"><st1:PlaceType =
w:st=3D"on">University</st1:PlaceType>
of <st1:PlaceName =
w:st=3D"on">Nebraska</st1:PlaceName></st1:place><o:p></o:p>

<st1:place w:st=3D"on"><st1:City w:st=3D"on">Lincoln</st1:City>,
<st1:State w:st=3D"on">NE</st1:State> <st1:PostalCode =
w:st=3D"on">68588-0118</st1:PostalCode></st1:place><o:p></o:p>

ph. 402-472-3999<o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

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