Paul Moler - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Paul Moler

Research paper thumbnail of Correction: The Amphibian Chytrid Fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, in Fully Aquatic Salamanders from Southeastern North America

PLOS ONE

The following text in the Ethics Statement is incorrect: No permit was obtained for sampling perf... more The following text in the Ethics Statement is incorrect: No permit was obtained for sampling performed in Mississippi.. .as [this state] does not require permits for sampling amphibian species not listed as threatened or endangered. Instead, the Ethics Statement of this article [1] has been updated to include the following information: Scientific collecting permits were obtained from the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks (permit numbers 0127113 and 0428111) for collections made in Mississippi. These permits covered the sampling of amphibians which took place in Spring 2011, and allowed for the capture and release of animals, as described in this article [1]. One of the permits (0127113) was obtained after the sampling was carried out, and was retroactive.

Research paper thumbnail of Population Structure and Cryptic Evolutionary Units in the Alligator Snapping Turtle

Conservation Biology, 1999

The alligator snapping turtle (Macroclemys temminckii) is a long-lived, slow-growing chelydrid tu... more The alligator snapping turtle (Macroclemys temminckii) is a long-lived, slow-growing chelydrid turtle found in Gulf of Mexico drainages from Florida to Texas (U.S.A.). Populations are thought to be depleted throughout the range due in part to an increased harvest in the 1960s through 1980s. To identify population and evolutionary units, 420 base pairs were sequenced within the mitochondrial DNA control region of 158 specimens from 12 drainages. Results indicate substantial phylogeographic structuring and strong population-level separations among river drainages. Eight of 11 haplotypes were observed to be river-specific, providing diagnostic markers for most drainages. Three partitions are resolved in the mtDNA genealogy, corresponding to the eastern, central, and western portion of the species' range. These separations coincide with recognized biogeographic provinces. The population structure by river system indicates that many drainages are distinct management units, with the Suwannee River lineage possibly deserving special attention, based on the criterion of genetic distinctiveness. The partitioning of M. temminckii into river-specific populations illustrates the management framework and conservation challenges that apply to a broad array of riverine species. Drainage-specific molecular markers may be used to identify the geographic origin of turtle products in the marketplace.

Research paper thumbnail of The plot thickens: Ovipleistophora diplostomuri infects two additional species of Florida crayfish

Journal of Invertebrate Pathology

Research paper thumbnail of The Amphibian Chytrid Fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, in Fully Aquatic Salamanders from Southeastern North America

Little is known about the impact that the pathogenic amphibian chytrid fungus, Batrachochytrium d... more Little is known about the impact that the pathogenic amphibian chytrid fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), has on fully aquatic salamander species of the eastern United States. As a first step in determining the impacts of Bd on these species, we aimed to determine the prevalence of Bd in wild populations of fully aquatic salamanders in the genera Amphiuma, Necturus, Pseudobranchus, and Siren. We sampled a total of 98 salamanders, representing nine species from sites in Florida, Mississippi, and Louisiana. Overall, infection prevalence was found to be 0.34, with significant differences among genera but no clear geographic pattern. We also found evidence for seasonal variation, but additional sampling throughout the year is needed to clarify this pattern. The high rate of infection discovered in this study is consistent with studies of other amphibians from the southeastern United States. Coupled with previously published data on life histories and population densities, the ...

Research paper thumbnail of Is The Amphibian Tree of Life really fatally flawed

Research paper thumbnail of http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:06D44DCE-0816-459A-A201-171F273BC210 Taxonomic assessment of Alligator Snapping Turtles

Research paper thumbnail of Iso-seq analysis and functional annotation of the Santa Fe cave crayfish (Procambarus erythrops) transcriptome

Research paper thumbnail of A new lineage of crayfish-infecting Microsporidia: The Cambaraspora floridanus n. gen. n. sp. (Glugeida: Glugeidae) complex from Floridian freshwaters (USA)

Journal of Invertebrate Pathology

Research paper thumbnail of Ovipleistophora diplostomuri, a parasite of fish and their trematodes, also infects the crayfish Procambarus bivittatus

Journal of Invertebrate Pathology

Research paper thumbnail of {"__content__"=>"A biogeographical profile of the sand cockroach and its bearing on origin hypotheses for Florida scrub biota.", "i"=>{"__content__"=>"Arenivaga floridensis"}}

Ecology and evolution, 2018

Florida scrub is a xeric ecosystem associated with the peninsula's sand ridges, whose intermi... more Florida scrub is a xeric ecosystem associated with the peninsula's sand ridges, whose intermittent Pliocene-Pleistocene isolation is considered key to scrub endemism. One scrub origin hypothesis posits endemics were sourced by the Pliocene dispersal of arid-adapted taxa from southwestern North America; a second invokes Pleistocene migration within eastern North America. Only one study to date has explicitly tested these competing hypotheses, supporting an eastern origin for certain scrub angiosperms. For further perspective, we conducted a genetic analysis of an endemic arthropod, the Florida sand cockroach (), with two aims: (1) to reconstruct the peninsular colonization and residence history of and (2) determine whether its biogeographic profile favors either origin hypothesis. We sequenced the mitochondrial gene for 237 specimens (65 populations) as well as additional loci (, nuclear ) for a subset of Florida roaches and congeners. Using Network and Bayesian inference methods...

Research paper thumbnail of Effect of human-mediated migration and hybridization on the recovery of the American crocodile in Florida (USA)

Conserv Genet, 2011

The American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) is a large apex predator with an extensive but fragmen... more The American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) is a large apex predator with an extensive but fragmented range. Crocodylus acutus suffered a population crash and was almost extirpated from Florida (USA) during the 1970s; however, in 2007 it was federally downlisted from endangered to threatened based on an increase of suitable habitat and a growing population. A genetic assessment of this population has not been performed even though foreign crocodiles have been released into Florida waters. Herein, we use mitochondrial and nuclear DNA markers to characterize relationships among American crocodiles along the southern coast of Florida and reference samples from other countries. We detected inter-and intra-specific hybridization and unexpected population structure attributed to human-mediated migration of crocodiles from Latin America and the Greater Antilles. Our results suggest that the population size of crocodiles actually native to Florida should be reevaluated, particularly in light of ongoing admixture in this population. We reemphasize the utility of genetic markers in conservation and management programs for endangered species; especially those that can hybridize with closely related congeners. The American crocodile in Florida has recovered owing to successful conservation initiatives, but a long-term management protocol that takes genetic data into account is still needed.

Research paper thumbnail of American Crocodile (Crocodylus Acutus) in Florida: Recommendations for Endangered Species Recovery and Ecosystem Restoration

Journal of Herpetology, 2007

Research paper thumbnail of What the world needs is a better gopher tortoise trap

Herpetological Review, 2012

Research paper thumbnail of Frogs and Toads

Egg masses may be removed with a fine-meshed net. Shooting Allowed in some states, but often not ... more Egg masses may be removed with a fine-meshed net. Shooting Allowed in some states, but often not safe in areas requiring control. Some states permit shooting only during daylight hours. Habitat Modification Around hatchery ponds, keep vegetation closely mown and remove emergent vegetation and other types of cover.

Research paper thumbnail of Spermatogenic Cycle of the Florida Softshell Turtle, Apalone ferox

Copeia, 2002

Spermatogenesis in Apalone ferox from Palm Beach County, Florida, is found to follow a postnuptia... more Spermatogenesis in Apalone ferox from Palm Beach County, Florida, is found to follow a postnuptial or dissociated pattern. Reduction of epididymis mass and clearing of sperm from the epididymides suggest spring mating. Histology of the testes, somatic index, and tubule diameter all suggest fall spermatogenesis. Males as small as 15.2 cm PL were found to be mature, and all males were reproductive in a given year. The distribution of postnuptial spermatogenesis is mapped on a phylogeny of turtles and suggests that this pattern has evolved at least six times among living turtles.

Research paper thumbnail of Parasites of florida softshell turtles (Apalone ferox) from southeastern Florida

Journal of the Helminthological Society of Washington, 1998

Research paper thumbnail of Distribution and Conservation Status of the Rusty Gravedigger, Cambarus miltus , a Poorly Known Gulf Coastal Crayfish

Southeastern Naturalist, 2011

... 2011 doi: 10.1656/058.010.0314. Distribution and Conservation Status of the Rusty Gravedigger... more ... 2011 doi: 10.1656/058.010.0314. Distribution and Conservation Status of the Rusty Gravedigger, Cambarus miltus, a Poorly Known Gulf Coastal Crayfish. ... 3 pp. Taylor, CA, ML Warren, Jr., JF Fitzpatrick, Jr., HH Hobbs III, RF Jezerinac, WL Pflieger, and HW Robison. 1996. ...

Research paper thumbnail of Natural Hybrids of the Pine Barrens Treefrog, Hyla andersonii with H. cinerea and H. femoralis (Anura, Hylidae): Morphological and Chromosomal Evidence

Copeia, 1986

ABSTRACT Two natural hybrids of Hyla andersonii are reported from Okaloosa County, Florida. Chrom... more ABSTRACT Two natural hybrids of Hyla andersonii are reported from Okaloosa County, Florida. Chromosome analyses confirmed the hybrid nature of the specimens and identified the parent species. The chromosome complement of each hybrid shows the presence of nucleolar-organizer regions unique to each of the two respective parents. Meiotic observations indicate that both hybrids were infertile. These hybrids cross previously proposed species groups of Hyla based on artificial hybridization experiments.

Research paper thumbnail of Karyology and Systematics of the Salamander Genus Pseudobranchus (Sirenidae)

Copeia, 1993

... Arrows indicate the pair of telocentric chromosomes. (C) P. axanthus (32 karyomorph), Hernand... more ... Arrows indicate the pair of telocentric chromosomes. (C) P. axanthus (32 karyomorph), Hernando County, Florida. Arrow indicates a secondary constriction on one homologue of chromosome 25; the inset shows the telomeric C-band hetero-chromatin on chromosome 24. ...

Research paper thumbnail of Spermatogenic Cycle of the Florida Softshell Turtle, Apalone ferox

Copeia, 2002

Spermatogenesis in Apalone ferox from Palm Beach County, Florida, is found to follow a postnuptia... more Spermatogenesis in Apalone ferox from Palm Beach County, Florida, is found to follow a postnuptial or dissociated pattern. Reduction of epididymis mass and clearing of sperm from the epididymides suggest spring mating. Histology of the testes, somatic index, and tubule diameter all suggest fall spermatogenesis. Males as small as 15.2 cm PL were found to be mature, and all males were reproductive in a given year. The distribution of postnuptial spermatogenesis is mapped on a phylogeny of turtles and suggests that this pattern has evolved at least six times among living turtles.

Research paper thumbnail of Correction: The Amphibian Chytrid Fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, in Fully Aquatic Salamanders from Southeastern North America

PLOS ONE

The following text in the Ethics Statement is incorrect: No permit was obtained for sampling perf... more The following text in the Ethics Statement is incorrect: No permit was obtained for sampling performed in Mississippi.. .as [this state] does not require permits for sampling amphibian species not listed as threatened or endangered. Instead, the Ethics Statement of this article [1] has been updated to include the following information: Scientific collecting permits were obtained from the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks (permit numbers 0127113 and 0428111) for collections made in Mississippi. These permits covered the sampling of amphibians which took place in Spring 2011, and allowed for the capture and release of animals, as described in this article [1]. One of the permits (0127113) was obtained after the sampling was carried out, and was retroactive.

Research paper thumbnail of Population Structure and Cryptic Evolutionary Units in the Alligator Snapping Turtle

Conservation Biology, 1999

The alligator snapping turtle (Macroclemys temminckii) is a long-lived, slow-growing chelydrid tu... more The alligator snapping turtle (Macroclemys temminckii) is a long-lived, slow-growing chelydrid turtle found in Gulf of Mexico drainages from Florida to Texas (U.S.A.). Populations are thought to be depleted throughout the range due in part to an increased harvest in the 1960s through 1980s. To identify population and evolutionary units, 420 base pairs were sequenced within the mitochondrial DNA control region of 158 specimens from 12 drainages. Results indicate substantial phylogeographic structuring and strong population-level separations among river drainages. Eight of 11 haplotypes were observed to be river-specific, providing diagnostic markers for most drainages. Three partitions are resolved in the mtDNA genealogy, corresponding to the eastern, central, and western portion of the species' range. These separations coincide with recognized biogeographic provinces. The population structure by river system indicates that many drainages are distinct management units, with the Suwannee River lineage possibly deserving special attention, based on the criterion of genetic distinctiveness. The partitioning of M. temminckii into river-specific populations illustrates the management framework and conservation challenges that apply to a broad array of riverine species. Drainage-specific molecular markers may be used to identify the geographic origin of turtle products in the marketplace.

Research paper thumbnail of The plot thickens: Ovipleistophora diplostomuri infects two additional species of Florida crayfish

Journal of Invertebrate Pathology

Research paper thumbnail of The Amphibian Chytrid Fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, in Fully Aquatic Salamanders from Southeastern North America

Little is known about the impact that the pathogenic amphibian chytrid fungus, Batrachochytrium d... more Little is known about the impact that the pathogenic amphibian chytrid fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), has on fully aquatic salamander species of the eastern United States. As a first step in determining the impacts of Bd on these species, we aimed to determine the prevalence of Bd in wild populations of fully aquatic salamanders in the genera Amphiuma, Necturus, Pseudobranchus, and Siren. We sampled a total of 98 salamanders, representing nine species from sites in Florida, Mississippi, and Louisiana. Overall, infection prevalence was found to be 0.34, with significant differences among genera but no clear geographic pattern. We also found evidence for seasonal variation, but additional sampling throughout the year is needed to clarify this pattern. The high rate of infection discovered in this study is consistent with studies of other amphibians from the southeastern United States. Coupled with previously published data on life histories and population densities, the ...

Research paper thumbnail of Is The Amphibian Tree of Life really fatally flawed

Research paper thumbnail of http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:06D44DCE-0816-459A-A201-171F273BC210 Taxonomic assessment of Alligator Snapping Turtles

Research paper thumbnail of Iso-seq analysis and functional annotation of the Santa Fe cave crayfish (Procambarus erythrops) transcriptome

Research paper thumbnail of A new lineage of crayfish-infecting Microsporidia: The Cambaraspora floridanus n. gen. n. sp. (Glugeida: Glugeidae) complex from Floridian freshwaters (USA)

Journal of Invertebrate Pathology

Research paper thumbnail of Ovipleistophora diplostomuri, a parasite of fish and their trematodes, also infects the crayfish Procambarus bivittatus

Journal of Invertebrate Pathology

Research paper thumbnail of {"__content__"=>"A biogeographical profile of the sand cockroach and its bearing on origin hypotheses for Florida scrub biota.", "i"=>{"__content__"=>"Arenivaga floridensis"}}

Ecology and evolution, 2018

Florida scrub is a xeric ecosystem associated with the peninsula's sand ridges, whose intermi... more Florida scrub is a xeric ecosystem associated with the peninsula's sand ridges, whose intermittent Pliocene-Pleistocene isolation is considered key to scrub endemism. One scrub origin hypothesis posits endemics were sourced by the Pliocene dispersal of arid-adapted taxa from southwestern North America; a second invokes Pleistocene migration within eastern North America. Only one study to date has explicitly tested these competing hypotheses, supporting an eastern origin for certain scrub angiosperms. For further perspective, we conducted a genetic analysis of an endemic arthropod, the Florida sand cockroach (), with two aims: (1) to reconstruct the peninsular colonization and residence history of and (2) determine whether its biogeographic profile favors either origin hypothesis. We sequenced the mitochondrial gene for 237 specimens (65 populations) as well as additional loci (, nuclear ) for a subset of Florida roaches and congeners. Using Network and Bayesian inference methods...

Research paper thumbnail of Effect of human-mediated migration and hybridization on the recovery of the American crocodile in Florida (USA)

Conserv Genet, 2011

The American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) is a large apex predator with an extensive but fragmen... more The American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) is a large apex predator with an extensive but fragmented range. Crocodylus acutus suffered a population crash and was almost extirpated from Florida (USA) during the 1970s; however, in 2007 it was federally downlisted from endangered to threatened based on an increase of suitable habitat and a growing population. A genetic assessment of this population has not been performed even though foreign crocodiles have been released into Florida waters. Herein, we use mitochondrial and nuclear DNA markers to characterize relationships among American crocodiles along the southern coast of Florida and reference samples from other countries. We detected inter-and intra-specific hybridization and unexpected population structure attributed to human-mediated migration of crocodiles from Latin America and the Greater Antilles. Our results suggest that the population size of crocodiles actually native to Florida should be reevaluated, particularly in light of ongoing admixture in this population. We reemphasize the utility of genetic markers in conservation and management programs for endangered species; especially those that can hybridize with closely related congeners. The American crocodile in Florida has recovered owing to successful conservation initiatives, but a long-term management protocol that takes genetic data into account is still needed.

Research paper thumbnail of American Crocodile (Crocodylus Acutus) in Florida: Recommendations for Endangered Species Recovery and Ecosystem Restoration

Journal of Herpetology, 2007

Research paper thumbnail of What the world needs is a better gopher tortoise trap

Herpetological Review, 2012

Research paper thumbnail of Frogs and Toads

Egg masses may be removed with a fine-meshed net. Shooting Allowed in some states, but often not ... more Egg masses may be removed with a fine-meshed net. Shooting Allowed in some states, but often not safe in areas requiring control. Some states permit shooting only during daylight hours. Habitat Modification Around hatchery ponds, keep vegetation closely mown and remove emergent vegetation and other types of cover.

Research paper thumbnail of Spermatogenic Cycle of the Florida Softshell Turtle, Apalone ferox

Copeia, 2002

Spermatogenesis in Apalone ferox from Palm Beach County, Florida, is found to follow a postnuptia... more Spermatogenesis in Apalone ferox from Palm Beach County, Florida, is found to follow a postnuptial or dissociated pattern. Reduction of epididymis mass and clearing of sperm from the epididymides suggest spring mating. Histology of the testes, somatic index, and tubule diameter all suggest fall spermatogenesis. Males as small as 15.2 cm PL were found to be mature, and all males were reproductive in a given year. The distribution of postnuptial spermatogenesis is mapped on a phylogeny of turtles and suggests that this pattern has evolved at least six times among living turtles.

Research paper thumbnail of Parasites of florida softshell turtles (Apalone ferox) from southeastern Florida

Journal of the Helminthological Society of Washington, 1998

Research paper thumbnail of Distribution and Conservation Status of the Rusty Gravedigger, Cambarus miltus , a Poorly Known Gulf Coastal Crayfish

Southeastern Naturalist, 2011

... 2011 doi: 10.1656/058.010.0314. Distribution and Conservation Status of the Rusty Gravedigger... more ... 2011 doi: 10.1656/058.010.0314. Distribution and Conservation Status of the Rusty Gravedigger, Cambarus miltus, a Poorly Known Gulf Coastal Crayfish. ... 3 pp. Taylor, CA, ML Warren, Jr., JF Fitzpatrick, Jr., HH Hobbs III, RF Jezerinac, WL Pflieger, and HW Robison. 1996. ...

Research paper thumbnail of Natural Hybrids of the Pine Barrens Treefrog, Hyla andersonii with H. cinerea and H. femoralis (Anura, Hylidae): Morphological and Chromosomal Evidence

Copeia, 1986

ABSTRACT Two natural hybrids of Hyla andersonii are reported from Okaloosa County, Florida. Chrom... more ABSTRACT Two natural hybrids of Hyla andersonii are reported from Okaloosa County, Florida. Chromosome analyses confirmed the hybrid nature of the specimens and identified the parent species. The chromosome complement of each hybrid shows the presence of nucleolar-organizer regions unique to each of the two respective parents. Meiotic observations indicate that both hybrids were infertile. These hybrids cross previously proposed species groups of Hyla based on artificial hybridization experiments.

Research paper thumbnail of Karyology and Systematics of the Salamander Genus Pseudobranchus (Sirenidae)

Copeia, 1993

... Arrows indicate the pair of telocentric chromosomes. (C) P. axanthus (32 karyomorph), Hernand... more ... Arrows indicate the pair of telocentric chromosomes. (C) P. axanthus (32 karyomorph), Hernando County, Florida. Arrow indicates a secondary constriction on one homologue of chromosome 25; the inset shows the telomeric C-band hetero-chromatin on chromosome 24. ...

Research paper thumbnail of Spermatogenic Cycle of the Florida Softshell Turtle, Apalone ferox

Copeia, 2002

Spermatogenesis in Apalone ferox from Palm Beach County, Florida, is found to follow a postnuptia... more Spermatogenesis in Apalone ferox from Palm Beach County, Florida, is found to follow a postnuptial or dissociated pattern. Reduction of epididymis mass and clearing of sperm from the epididymides suggest spring mating. Histology of the testes, somatic index, and tubule diameter all suggest fall spermatogenesis. Males as small as 15.2 cm PL were found to be mature, and all males were reproductive in a given year. The distribution of postnuptial spermatogenesis is mapped on a phylogeny of turtles and suggests that this pattern has evolved at least six times among living turtles.