title: Temporal population genetic instability in range-edge western toads, Anaxyrus boreas.
abstract: In this article, we address the temporal stability of population genetic structure in a range-edge population that is undergoing continual, short-distance colonization events. We sampled western toad, Anaxyrus boreas, breeding populations over 2 seasons near their northern range limit in southeast Alaska. We sampled 20 ponds each during the summers of 2008 and 2009, with 14 ponds sampled in both summers. We found considerable turnover in the population genetic relationships among ponds in those 2 seasons, as well as biologically meaningful genetic differentiation between years within some ponds. We found relatively consistent relationships between major population centers, whereas the relationships between the central ponds and smaller, outlying populations differed year to year. This finding indicates that multiple years of genetic sampling may be important for understanding the genetic landscape of some populations.
authors.affiliation: From the University of Michigan Museum of Natural History, Ruthven Museums Building, 1109 Geddes Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1097. iholmes@umich.edu.
authors.forename: Iris
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Holmes
mesh_terms: D000413:Alaska; D063147:Animal Distribution; D000818:Animals; D002025:Bufonidae / Q000235:genetics*; D017753:Ecosystem; D005819:Genetic Markers / Q000235:genetics; D005828:Genetics, Population; D042822:Genomic Instability / Q000235:genetics*; D005843:Geography; D012621:Seasons
chemical_list: D005819:Genetic Markers
keywords: Anaxyrus; Bufonidae; boreas; glacial rebound; metapopulation; population genetics; range edge