Mapping the Distribution of Cardisoma Guanhumi (Decapoda: Gecarcinidae)
Faculty Research Grants: Facilitating Research Tool Development, Fostering International Collaboration, and Enabling Publication Generation, Graduate Program Enhancement, and Undergraduate Course Enhancement Jeffrey S. Heilveil, Ph.D. and Tami L. LaPilusa, M.S. Biology Department, SUNY College at Oneonta, Oneonta, NY Facilitating Research Tool Development Cardisoma guanhumi, the blue land crab, is a commodity species in The Bahamas, and an economic cornerstone of Andros Island. The species is also harvested in Florida, Brazil, and Puerto Rico. Recently, there has been growing interest in genetic conservation of the species; however, no sufficiently variable genetic markers existed. Under the auspices of a Faculty Research Grant, the authors Cardisoma guanhumi, a commodity species in the Bahamas were able to develop microsatellite markers, that will enable future research on this important species. Graduate Program Enhancement Publication Generation A technical issue with some of the contracted portions of the project provided the opportunity to The marker development for the two Molecular marker development is only develop molecular markers for two additional additional species (Nigronia serricornis and worthwhile if the information is species, at no cost to the College. All told, the Acroneuria carolinensis) was performed by disseminated to the scientific community. markers developed through this single grant have graduate students in the Department of Already, markers for two of the species been tested for use on 9 different species: 1 Biology Master’s in Science program, as have been published in the scientific commodity species, 1 newly described species, and part of their thesis work. Additionally, data literature, to facilitate research in these 7 environmental indictor species.
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