Using serially collected specimens to study the genomic consequences of decline in eastern woodland salamanders

Using serially collected specimens to study the genomic consequences of decline in eastern woodland salamanders | Authorea try { document.documentElement.classList.add('js'); } catch (e) { } var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'G-8VDV14Y67G']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); Skip to main content Preprints Collections Wiley Open Research IET Open Research Ecological Society of Japan All Collections About About Authorea FAQs Contact Us Quick Search anywhere Search for preprint articles, keywords, etc. Search Search ADVANCED SEARCH SCROLL Ecology and Evolution This is a preprint and has not been peer reviewed. Data may be preliminary. 19 July 2025 V1 Latest version Share on Using serially collected specimens to study the genomic consequences of decline in eastern woodland salamanders Authors : Kyle O'Connell 0000-0002-0464-9259 [email protected] , Carly Muletz-Wolz 0000-0001-5047-9601 , Addison Wynn , Karen Lips , Amy Ellison , Kelly Zamudio , and Rayna C Bell Authors Info & Affiliations https://doi.org/10.22541/au.175290318.86936693/v1 396 views 199 downloads Contents Abstract Supplementary Material Information & Authors Metrics & Citations View Options References Figures Tables Media Share Abstract Background: Biodiversity is facing global change at an unprecedented rate; understanding how species respond to this accelerated change is important to inform future environmental and wildlife-related policies. Serially collected specimens from natural history repositories can provide a unique window into how populations change over time and highlight further potential vulnerabilities in remaining populations. Changes in sampling abundance during field surveys suggest that salamanders from the genus Plethodon have experienced severe population declines over the past four decades. The causes of these declines remain unidentified, but factors such as habitat loss, climate change, acid rain, and pathogens are proposed as contributors. The population genetic consequences of these declines have not yet been assessed. Therefore, Plethodon serve as an ideal model to test the utility of historical DNA and serial sampling to identify shifts in genetic diversity at recent time scales in populations with documented declines. Here we estimate levels of genetic diversity in six Plethodon species through time using DNA from museum specimens and contemporary sampling. We quantify the impact of missing data, locus type, and sequencing depth on estimates of diversity. Results: Our estimates of genetic diversity are consistent with previously documented declines in P. cinereus at Indian Grave Gap, but genetic diversity increased for all other species and populations we characterized. Conclusions: Our study outlines important considerations for leveraging historical DNA in time series collections to quantify the genomic effects of localized population declines. Supplementary Material File (oconnell_et_al_plethodon_museum_genomics_ecol_evol.docx) Download 979.31 KB Information & Authors Information Version history V1 Version 1 19 July 2025 Copyright This work is licensed under a Non Exclusive No Reuse License. Collection Ecology and Evolution Keywords evolutionary ecology molecular genetics terrestrial vertebrate Authors Affiliations Kyle O'Connell 0000-0002-0464-9259 [email protected] Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History View all articles by this author Carly Muletz-Wolz 0000-0001-5047-9601 Smithsonian National Zoological Park and Conservation Biology Institute View all articles by this author Addison Wynn Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History View all articles by this author Karen Lips University of Maryland College Park View all articles by this author Amy Ellison Bangor University View all articles by this author Kelly Zamudio The University of Texas at Austin View all articles by this author Rayna C Bell Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History View all articles by this author Metrics & Citations Metrics Article Usage 396 views 199 downloads .FvxKWukQNSOunydq8rnd { width: 100px; } Citations Download citation Kyle O'Connell, Carly Muletz-Wolz, Addison Wynn, et al. Using serially collected specimens to study the genomic consequences of decline in eastern woodland salamanders. Authorea . 19 July 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22541/au.175290318.86936693/v1 If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download. For more information or tips please see 'Downloading to a citation manager' in the Help menu . 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