In the Blackstone River Valley watershed, morphological data indicate that the endemic crayfish species, Orconectes quinebaugensis, is hybridizing with the more widely dispersed Orconectes virilis. The goal of our project was to identify the level of hybridization and quantify introgression between the two species using the molecular technique amplified fragment length polymorphism, which generates species-specific markers. This study has generated insights into the evolutionary processes occurring in the watershed as well as their potential implications on biodiversity and conservation efforts.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Scott-Solomon, Emily Rivkah
• Dutia, Hiral Hemant
• Buchenan, Alyce Hogan

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-042512-161238

Advisor

• Buckholt, Michael Allan
• Mathews, Lauren M.

Year

• 2012

Date created

• 2012-04-25

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Interdisciplinary
• Biology & Biotechnology

Rights statement

• In Copyright