Mitochondrial DNA
In contrast to the diploid microsatellite markers, mtDNA markers
indicated pronounced population differentiation. There were two distinct
haplotype clades found in the panhandle and one in the peninsula. Three
specimens collected in the North Central peninsula (Gainesville)
appeared to be most similar to those found in the panhandle, however,
even these were genetically unique (Figure 4). Across the combined 87
samples, there were 38 mitochondrial haplotypes identified and were
defined by 71 polymorphic sites, which consisted of 33 singleton
variable sites and 38 parsimony informative sites. Overall haplotype
diversity was high and overall nucleotide diversity was low, with the
same being true within each region (the Central region is an exception
to high haplotype diversity), suggesting a recent population expansion
(Table 2).