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).