Abstract

This study investigates the taxonomic status of members of the heermanni subgroup of the genus Dipodomys.

Karyotypes were prepared for 12 populations of this subgroup, using in vivo cultures of bone marrow prepared by a modified colchicine-hypotonic citrate method. The 2n ranges from 52 - 72.

Electropherograms were prepared for 11 populations, and data derived from the tracings were subjected to stepwise discriminant function analysis, resulting in scattergrams which were used to indicate closeness of relationships between populations.

These data show that: a) Dipodomys stephensi (Merriam) and Dipodomys ingens (Merriam) are well defined species with 2n = 70 for D. stephensi and 2n = 72 for D. ingens. b) the populations known as Dipodomys heermanni comprise two species--the southern five-toed forms (2n = 64), which retains the name D. heermanii Le Conte, and the northern four-toed forms (2n = 52), which take the name Dipodomys californicus Merriam. c) the 5 subspecies of Dipodomys panamintinus (Merriam) (2n =64) fall into three groups showing small differences in karyotype, and significant differences in serum patterns D. panamintinus mohavensis (Grinnell) is very closely related to D. heermanni, and in fact many be conspecific with it. The entire D. heermanni-panamintinus complex appears to form a superspecies.

LLU Discipline

Biology

Department

Biology

School

Graduate School

First Advisor

Ernest S. Booth

Second Advisor

Leonard R. Brand

Third Advisor

Earl W. Lathrop

Fourth Advisor

Raymond E. Ryckman

Fifth Advisor

Charles E. Winter

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Degree Level

Ph.D.

Year Degree Awarded

1974

Date (Title Page)

6-1974

Language

English

Library of Congress/MESH Subject Headings

Kangaroo rats -- Classification.

Type

Dissertation

Page Count

vii; 69; ii

Digital Format

PDF

Digital Publisher

Loma Linda University Libraries

Usage Rights

This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights.

Collection

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Collection Website

http://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/

Repository

Loma Linda University. Del E. Webb Memorial Library. University Archives

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