Intraspecific Genetic Variation in Green Salamanders (Aneides aeneus) at Bays Mountain Park

Accurate taxonomy is crucial for conserving vulnerable cryptic species like the green salamander (Aneides aeneus) in the Southern Appalachian Mountains. Prior studies identified three distinct lineages within the A. aeneus complex: Northern Appalachians, Southern Appalachians, and Blue-Ridge Escarpment. One previously collected sample indicated green salamanders in northeast Tennessee fit within the Northern lineage. The present study uses molecular data of A. aeneus at Bays Mountain Park (BMP) in Kingsport, Tennessee, to determine where the BMP population fits within these lineages. It was hypothesized that individuals from BMP belong in the northern lineage. Tail tips were collected from thirty-four individuals at BMP and DNA was extracted. Two mitochondrial genes were amplified via PCR and sequenced. Resulting sequences were aligned and analyzed using maximum likelihood (ML) based on SNP allele frequencies. Results support the hypothesis that the BMP population falls within the northern lineage, consistent with its position on the phylogenetic tree.