The genus Orconectes is native to the eastern parts of North America, however, Orconectes also includes a number of species that are invasive in parts of the United States. We investigated two invasive O. virilis populations in close geographic proximity using the 16S gene of mtDNA. Due to causes of low dispersal rates among populations, we predicted that the two populations are genetically differentiated. Also, that the invasive populations of O. visilis have been subject to the founder effect. Since O. limosus is the native population, and therefore not subject to the founder effect, we hypothesized that this species would be more genetically diverse than the invasive O. virilis population. Our results support both of our hypotheses, with high differentiation found between the two O. virilis populations. Also, native populations were considerably more genetically diverse than the invasive O. virilis populations found in the same area.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Anderson, Erica M.
• Gottardi, Elizabeth A.

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• 06D330M

Advisor

• Buckholt, Michael Allan
• Mathews, Lauren M.

Year

• 2006

Date created

• 2006-01-01

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Biology & Biotechnology

Rights statement

• In Copyright

License

• All rights reserved

Last modified

• 2021-10-10