The Ohio Historical Society has issued a research permit to Dr. Chris Beatty of Santa Clara University. He is working with some others on genetics in the Gray Petaltail, Tachopteryx thoreyi. He is also searching out permits for several other sites in Ohio, as well as surrounding states. He hopes to be able to decipher distribution spread since the end of the Pleistocene by comparing genetic diversity and markers. He may also be able to shed light on distribution isolation since deforestation in Ohio and its subsequent reforestation. I have long hypothesized that the disjunct populations in Ohio are the result of deforestation – forested seeps and springs drying up and becoming unsuitable when we went from 95% forest to 12 or 15% forest in 1940. Recovery since (to 30% now) has not provided enough time for re-colonization of this species – in my hypothesis. Chris may be able to provide some insight to that, but certainly hopes to see post-glaciation insights. He will be doing a lot of collection himself. But – if any of you serendipitously come upon a Petaltail and can collect it – please place the fresh specimen in ethanol (no acetone!) and get it either directly to Chris or to me to forward to Chris. Contact me at [email protected] if you need more info. I hope to see many of you at the Ohio Odonata Society meetings this Saturday at Old Woman Creek!
Posted on: Mon, 17 Jun 2013 14:18:45 +0000