The parthenogenetic reproduction of Baetis tricaudatus
Authors:
Guadalupe Elguera, Laura RiveraMentor:
Brian Spitzer, Professor of Biology, University of RedlandsThe parthenogenetic reproduction of Baetis tricaudatus Authors: Laura Rivera and Guadalupe Elguera, University of Redlands Mentor: Brian Spitzer, University of Redlands The ephemeroptera species, Baetis tricaudatus has been found to have developed parthenogenetic abilities. This form of reproduction has been what has lead to female-bias populations and in extreme cases, unisexual populations. A number of female-bias populations were found in the San Bernardino mountains suggesting parthenogenetic reproduction. To test the hypothesis of an automictic form of parthenogenesis with terminal fusion in the population found in Cold Creek, the populations’ genetic structure was analyzed at three microsatellite DNA markers. Mayflies were collected from Cold Creek, one of the female-bias populations. The population would suggest to have homozygous alleles particularly at three loci, Brh-1, Brh-4, and Brh-7, in order to coincide with the idea of a parthenogenetically reproducing population. Males were collected, analyzed and used as the control, and females appeared to have a heterozygotic deficiency at the three loci (HE= 0.717, HO= 0.222). With a FIS of 0.815, we suggest that the female population at Cold Creek is using parthenogenesis as a form of reproduction, via terminal fusion considering the heterozygosity that was observed was far below the heterozygosity that was expected in a sexually reproducing population.