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DEMOGRAPHY AND GENETIC STRUCTURE OF AN ALLEGHENY WOODRAT POPULATION NORTHCENTRAL WEST VIRGINIA MARY ELIZABETH MANJEROVIC The Allegheny woodrat (Neotoma magister) occurs throughout the Appalachian Mountains forming isolated colonies in rock outcrops, cliffs, and caves. In the past 20–30 years, populations along the northern and western peripheries of the range have experienced drastic declines. There have been suggested reasons for this decline but a lack of long-term data has prevented application of specific management actions. In recent years, there has been more insight into population structure, gene flow, and relatedness among colonies. The objectives of my study were to examine these factors at a localized level to further assist with future management decisions. Using data collected over the last nine years, population trends were examined at three study areas in northcentral West Virginia along the western ridge of the central Appalachian Mountains. Relations to temperature and precipitation along with mast production were analyzed to determine if environmental variables are a factor impacting the population. Results suggest that there has been a decrease in the overall population with the adult female segment most affected. Juvenile capture rate was negatively correlated with winter temperature supporting the hypothesis that the severity of winters is a factor affecting the northern populations. Geographic genetic variation was previously examined throughout the entire Allegheny woodrat distribution. The current research analyzed genetic differentiation at a smaller scale to determine if analysis of a larger proportion of the population would result in further population structure. Movements within and among specific outcrops suggest that outcrops function as breeding assemblages but that the Cheat River does not limit movement between the study areas. Results suggest that the regional populations are less differentiated than previously assumed and management decisions should be applied to a wider spatial scale to increase the genetic variation among the subpopulations. To assign parentage and kinship, likelihood based approaches were used. Results support field observations of one to four young per litter and greater juvenile dispersal in male woodrats. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Funding for this study was provided by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, USGS Cooperative Research Units, West Virginia Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, and the Division of Forestry, West Virginia University. Clarion University of Pennsylvania provided use of laboratory equipment and genetic software analysis systems. I wish to thank Dr. Petra Bohall Wood for her constant guidance while serving as my major professor. I am also grateful to Dr. John Edwards and Craig Stihler for their assistance while serving on my committee. I am indebted to Roger and Susie McPherson for their friendship and for adopting me as a second daughter. I would like to thank multiple people for contributing data: Ryan Myers and Jon Zuck for their woodrat trapping records, Steven Castleberry for 1999 genetic data, Tim King and Shannon Julian for woodrat primers and protocol information, Bob Driscoll and John Brooks for weather data, and Jim Pack for regional mast records. I am also grateful for George Seidel for all of his statistical assistance. I give special thanks to Dr. Frank Ammer for not only helping me through the genetic data collection but for the analysis and interpretation as well. I also am eternally grateful to all of the undergraduate and graduate help in the field, including Jon Simmons, Joe Rogerson, Michael Dye, Matt Schnupp, Tasha Davies, Tamara Terry, Elizabeth Osier, Jason Freund, Scott Bosworth, Cindy Sanders, Aaron Proctor, and Joe Osbourne. Lastly, I would like to thank all of my friends and family. Without their constant support, none of this would have been possible. Most especially, I thank my mother and father, who were always there for me and who may never realize just how much they helped me throughout this entire process.

Demography and genetic structure of an Allegheny woodrat population in northcentral West Virginia