Genetics

Genetics is a valuable tool for understanding wildlife ecology. Listed below are research efforts and general information about how USGS researchers are using genetics to track animal movements, study wildlife health, assess species diversity, and answer other fundamental questions about the conditions of wildlife.

• Conservation Genetics in the U.S. Geological Survey. Download the fact sheet . (922 KB, PDF) (also related to Birds, Imperiled Species, Mammals: Large Species, Wildlife Health)
  
  
• Assessing Population Structure and Genetic Diversity in the Western Shovel-nosed snake (Chionactis occipitalis) across Arizona, with special emphasis on the validity of the Tuscon Shovel-nosed Snake (Chionactis occipitalis klauberi) (San Diego Field Station, WERC)
  
  
• Conservation Genetics at the San Diego Field Station. (WERC) Download the fact sheet. (624 KB, PDF) - Researchers at the San Diego Field Station of the USGS Western Ecological Research Center are using genetic techniques to investigate the population structure of several species of conservation concern and to reveal links between geographic and genetic patterns across southern California.
  
  
• Finding Evolutionary Hotspots in Southern California for Conservation Planning (San Diego Field Station, WERC)
  
  
• Grizzly Bear and Black Bear Ecology (See also Greater Grizzly Bear Project 1998-2002, NRMSC) (also related to Mammals: Large Species)
  
  
• Genetic Parameters of Bison at Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge and Sully Hills Game Range (See Big Game Species at NRMSC) (also related to Mammals: Large Species)

• Gunnison Sage-Grouse - A Bird Of A Different Feather: DNA Research Reveals New, Yet Familiar Species (FORT) (also related to Birds)

• Rocky Mountain Center for Conservation Genetics and Systematics (FORT) - a joint initiative by the University of Denver and the U.S. Geological Survey
  
  
• Use of Genetic Techniques to Evaluate the Impacts of Urbanization and Fragmentation on Wildlife, from Wide-ranging to Sedentary Species (San Diego Field Station, WERC)
  
  
• Viral Tracking of Wildlife Corridors across the Rocky Mountains (NoROCK)