| Abstract | The historical genetic variation of a population has been a mystery for a long time. With the advent of new methodologies, scientists now have the unique opportunity to sequence DNA from museum specimens. Past studies have shown that low genetic diversity often precedes extinction events. The Texas horned lizard (Phrynosoma cornutum) has been extinct in the DFW area since the early to mid-1970s. Using museum samples of the Texas horned lizard that were collected between 1959 and 1961, we wanted to determine if there had been a loss of genetic diversity before the DFW population's extinction. In addition, we tested for unique haplotypes compared to modern populations in other parts of Texas. We found 20 haplotypes in our sample of 32 horned lizards, 5 which were also found in modern populations, and 15 that were unique to the historic DFW population. The historic DFW population had higher haplotype diversity than any modern population. These results suggest that there has been a loss of diversity with the decline of the horned lizard, but that loss of genetic diversity did not precede the extinction of the DFW population. |
