Jonathan Sarasa
Pronouns: he/him
Research Mentor(s): Roberto Marquez Pizano
Co-Presenter:
Research Mentor School/College/Department: Ecology and Evolutiionary Biology / LSA
Presentation Date: April 20
Presentation Type: Poster
Session: Session 1 – 10am – 10:50am
Room: League Ballroom
Authors:
Presenter: 102
Abstract
Conspicuous coloration often evolves in animals to advertise secondary defenses, such as toxins, to potential predators. The coloration of poison-dart frogs of the genus Phyllobates provides a keen example of this: as toxicity increases in a lineage, more of the frog’s skin becomes a bright yellow rather than the standard black. Along the Pacific coast of Colombia, the world’s most toxic poison dart-frog, Phyllobates terribilis, exists in two distinct color morphs: a saturated golden-yellow and a pale mint green color. The existence of distinct color morphs is surprising considering the close proximity between these two groups (at some points less than 3 km). This research seeks to understand the evolutionary history of these two morphs, as well as the evolutionary processes behind their origin and persistence through examining cross-population gene flow and overall genetic structure of the two populations. We are comparing the genotypes of the different specimens also considering their color morph, geographical location, and surrounding topography. If the color morphs have relatively independent populations with low rates of gene flow, we would expect the level of genetic divergence between the two color morphs to be similar among varying geographical and topographical locations. If the genetic divergence between the two color morphs varies depending on the location of the specimens, then that would indicate the color morphs have significant gene flow between populations. The relatively recent divergence of the two color morphs provides a unique opportunity to examine the genetic processes that take place when a new phenotype emerges, as well as the mechanisms that maintain distinct populations.
Interdisciplinary, Natural/Life Sciences
