Conservation Genetics of the Texas Horned Lizard - Ft Worth

While TCU’s recent successes on the football field may have introduced horned frogs to the world, the real Texas horned lizard (Phrynosoma cornutum) has been declining through much of its range, including a virtual disappearance from Eastern and Central Texas. Dr. Williams and Dr. Hale have developed a set of genetic markers to study the population structure and movement patterns of horned lizards in Texas to determine if present-day populations have experienced significant genetic declines. With the help of many volunteers from Texas Parks and Wildlife, the Horned Lizard Conservation Society, and TCU samples were obtained from over 600 lizards.  The genetic data indicate that Texas horned lizards can be grouped into several large clusters across the state. With the exception of two areas which showed evidence of genetic declines, genetic diversity was generally high and differentiation was low across Texas, suggesting that most populations are healthy.  Genetic data also suggest that dispersal in Texas horned lizards is sex-biased, with males dispersing longer distances than females.  In this month’s installment of brains and brews, Dr. Williams and Dr. Hale will discuss the conservation implications of the data, including what they might mean for the eventual reintroduction of horned lizards into areas from which they have disappeared.

About Dr. Williams and Dr. Hale

Dean Williams and Amanda Hale are assistant professors of biology at Texas Christian University.  Dr. Williams received his Ph.D. in ecology from Purdue University, W. Lafayette, Indiana. His areas of expertise include ecology and evolution, population genetics, and conservation biology.  The current focus of his lab is on the conservation genetics of endangered and threatened species as well as invasive species. Dr. Hale received her Ph.D. in biology from the University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida.  Her areas of expertise include ecology and evolution, population genetics, and conservation biology.  The current focus of her lab is investigating the impacts of wind energy development on birds and bats. The two professors, along with their two young sons, moved to Fort Worth nearly four years ago to join the faculty at TCU.