Post by kellysmith on Nov 11, 2009 8:42:59 GMT -6
Hello everyone,
My name is Kelly Smith and I am an undergraduate student at the University of Central Oklahoma majoring in Biology. Over the past year and a half I have been conducting population genetic research on the striped skunk under the mentorship of Dr. Michelle Haynie. I am very excited and happy to be able to work with trappers across the United States. I believe that collaborations between trappers such as yourselves and scientists are imperative to understanding the biology of many wildlife species and are an important part of keeping a species viable. Below I have attached a brief abstract of my study. I am asking for a small muscle sample (the size of a dime) from skunks that have been trapped. If possible, please freeze the samples and label them with the most specific location available (at least county). You can send the heads (skin and all) that have been frozen or just a small piece (taken from the jaw, or leg is easiest I have found). If you post your email I would be happy to send you an overlay of the 13 subspecies of striped skunk throughout the U.S. as well as a rabies map. Please feel free to contact us if you have any additional questions or would like further information. I appreciate any help you can provide in this endeavor. Anyone that provides samples will be noted as a contributor in my research presentations (in Wyoming, Texas, and Oklahoma) unless they prefer to be anonymous.
*Although the study states I am collecting samples from south central U.S. I am collecting samples from the following states: OK, TX, NE, LA, AZ, MI, IL, IN, ND, SD, KY, OH, MT, KS, TN, W, IA, MO and the Western side of WV. If you are not in one of the following states send me a line anyway, I may still take them. In addition to the U.S. if any of you trap in Canada or know anyone that traps in Canada please post their contact information.
-A trapper from NM has already sent me 200 samples from NM so I am no longer collecting samples from that state.
-I also have the states WI, WY, OK, and ND spoken for.
*If you know any trappers that come across a lot of skunks please post their information so that I may contact them.
Samples can be shipped to the following address:
Dr. Michelle L. Haynie/Kelly Smith
University of Central Oklahoma
Department of Biology
100 N University Dr.
Edmond, OK 73034
Abstract
The Genetic Diversity of Striped Skunk (Mephitis mephitis) Populations Throughout Oklahoma and Texas
The striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) is distributed throughout southern Canada, the United States and northern Mexico, and is one of the main vectors of the rabies virus. Skunks carry 3 known rabies variants: one in the south central United States, one in the north central United States, and one in California. Striped skunks have been the focus of several rabies investigations, but few genetic studies have been performed on this species and none have looked at the potential for genetic subspecies. The immediate goal of this project is to determine levels of genetic variation within striped skunk populations found in the geographic distribution of the south central strain of rabies in the United States. Currently, skunks are being sampled from OK, KS, NE, MO, TX, NM, and AZ. To determine levels of genetic variation, the D-loop portion of the control region of the maternally-inherited mitochondrial genome is being amplified. Preliminary data indicates two distinct haplotype groups among samples from Oklahoma, Kansas, New Mexico, and Texas. This research is only the third study of genetic variation within striped skunk populations and the first to be conducted over a wide geographic range (central United States).
Sincerely,
Kelly A. Smith Michelle L. Haynie
University of Central Oklahoma University of Central Oklahoma
Department of Biology Department of Biology
100 N University Dr. 100 N University Dr.
Edmond, OK 73034 Edmond, OK 73034
E-mail: kellysmith_skunks@hotmail.com Phone: (405)####
Phone: (405)664-3544 Fax: (405) 974-5726
My name is Kelly Smith and I am an undergraduate student at the University of Central Oklahoma majoring in Biology. Over the past year and a half I have been conducting population genetic research on the striped skunk under the mentorship of Dr. Michelle Haynie. I am very excited and happy to be able to work with trappers across the United States. I believe that collaborations between trappers such as yourselves and scientists are imperative to understanding the biology of many wildlife species and are an important part of keeping a species viable. Below I have attached a brief abstract of my study. I am asking for a small muscle sample (the size of a dime) from skunks that have been trapped. If possible, please freeze the samples and label them with the most specific location available (at least county). You can send the heads (skin and all) that have been frozen or just a small piece (taken from the jaw, or leg is easiest I have found). If you post your email I would be happy to send you an overlay of the 13 subspecies of striped skunk throughout the U.S. as well as a rabies map. Please feel free to contact us if you have any additional questions or would like further information. I appreciate any help you can provide in this endeavor. Anyone that provides samples will be noted as a contributor in my research presentations (in Wyoming, Texas, and Oklahoma) unless they prefer to be anonymous.
*Although the study states I am collecting samples from south central U.S. I am collecting samples from the following states: OK, TX, NE, LA, AZ, MI, IL, IN, ND, SD, KY, OH, MT, KS, TN, W, IA, MO and the Western side of WV. If you are not in one of the following states send me a line anyway, I may still take them. In addition to the U.S. if any of you trap in Canada or know anyone that traps in Canada please post their contact information.
-A trapper from NM has already sent me 200 samples from NM so I am no longer collecting samples from that state.
-I also have the states WI, WY, OK, and ND spoken for.
*If you know any trappers that come across a lot of skunks please post their information so that I may contact them.
Samples can be shipped to the following address:
Dr. Michelle L. Haynie/Kelly Smith
University of Central Oklahoma
Department of Biology
100 N University Dr.
Edmond, OK 73034
Abstract
The Genetic Diversity of Striped Skunk (Mephitis mephitis) Populations Throughout Oklahoma and Texas
The striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) is distributed throughout southern Canada, the United States and northern Mexico, and is one of the main vectors of the rabies virus. Skunks carry 3 known rabies variants: one in the south central United States, one in the north central United States, and one in California. Striped skunks have been the focus of several rabies investigations, but few genetic studies have been performed on this species and none have looked at the potential for genetic subspecies. The immediate goal of this project is to determine levels of genetic variation within striped skunk populations found in the geographic distribution of the south central strain of rabies in the United States. Currently, skunks are being sampled from OK, KS, NE, MO, TX, NM, and AZ. To determine levels of genetic variation, the D-loop portion of the control region of the maternally-inherited mitochondrial genome is being amplified. Preliminary data indicates two distinct haplotype groups among samples from Oklahoma, Kansas, New Mexico, and Texas. This research is only the third study of genetic variation within striped skunk populations and the first to be conducted over a wide geographic range (central United States).
Sincerely,
Kelly A. Smith Michelle L. Haynie
University of Central Oklahoma University of Central Oklahoma
Department of Biology Department of Biology
100 N University Dr. 100 N University Dr.
Edmond, OK 73034 Edmond, OK 73034
E-mail: kellysmith_skunks@hotmail.com Phone: (405)####
Phone: (405)664-3544 Fax: (405) 974-5726
geographic distribution of the south central strain of rabies in the United States. 
