Amy Vandergast
Dr. Amy Vandergast is a Research Geneticist with the Western Ecological Research Center.
She develops and leads a research program in Conservation and Landscape Genetics and Genomics. Broadly, she seeks to understand how natural and human induced landscape and environmental change impact populations, and shape evolutionary potential. Dr. Vandergast's laboratory group approaches genetic research to inform conservation in three focal areas. 1) At the population level, the team estimates important population parameters such as effective migration (or gene flow) and the number of breeding adults (or effective population size), and quantifies the impacts of landscape changes and disturbance on these parameters. This work informs individual species management. 2) Dr. Vandergast's lab also merges genetic data with mapping and modeling tools to inform biodiversity conservation efforts. Specifically, they define evolutionary significant units within species, reveal evolutionary mechanisms responsible for diversification, and identify regions with high genetic diversity for protection. 3) The team develops genetic approaches for species detection, individual mark recapture, and studies ecological associations (such as predator/prey relationships). These techniques often increase monitoring effectiveness and efficiency when replacing or combining with standard field methodologies.
RESEARCH INTERESTS
- Landscape genetics
- Population genetics
- Conservation biology
- Habitat fragmentation
- Terrestrial invertebrate ecology and evolution
- Linkage design and monitoring
Professional Experience
Geneticist. USGS Western Ecological Research Center, San Diego Field Station (2004-Present)
Adjunct Research Professor. San Diego State University, Department of Biology (2002-Present)
Lecturer. San Diego State University, Department of Biology and Cuyamaca College Department of Biology (2002)
Education and Certifications
Ph.D., Environmental Science, Policy & Management: Division of Insect Biology, University of California, Berkeley (2002)
M.S., Department of Zoology; Ecology, Evolution & Conservation Biology, University of Hawaii, Manoa (1998)
B.S., Ecology, Behavior and Evolution, University of California, San Diego (1995)
Science and Products
Distinguishing recent dispersal from historical genetic connectivity in the coastal California gnatcatcher
Population genomic surveys for six rare plant species in San Diego County, California
Prioritizing conserved areas threatened by wildfire and fragmentation for monitoring and management
Conservation genomics of the Mogollon Narrow-headed gartersnake (Thamnophis rufipunctatus) and Northern Mexican gartersnake (Thamnophis eques megalops)
An evaluation of the efficacy of using environmental DNA (eDNA) to detect giant gartersnakes (Thamnophis gigas)
Tackling an intractable problem: Can greater taxon sampling help resolve relationships within the Stenopelmatoidea (Orthoptera: Ensifera)?
Inundation, vegetation, and sediment effects on litter decomposition in Pacific Coast tidal marshes
Incorporating genetic sampling in long-term monitoring and adaptive management in the San Diego County Management Strategic Plan Area, Southern California
Persistence of historical population structure in an endangered species despite near-complete biome conversion in California's San Joaquin Desert
Are coastal managers ready for climate change? A case study from estuaries along the Pacific coast of the United States
Using science to inform management and improve biological conservation in the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan
Metabarcoding of fecal samples to determine herbivore diets: A case study of the endangered Pacific pocket mouse
Science and Products
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Filter Total Items: 78
Distinguishing recent dispersal from historical genetic connectivity in the coastal California gnatcatcher
Habitat loss and fragmentation are primary threats to biodiversity worldwide. We studied the impacts of habitat loss and fragmentation on genetic connectivity and diversity among local aggregations of the California gnatcatcher (Polioptila californica californica) across its U.S. range. With a dataset of 268 individuals genotyped at 19 microsatellite loci, we analyzed genetic structure across theAuthorsAmy G. Vandergast, Barbara E. Kus, Kristine L. Preston, Kelly R. BarrPopulation genomic surveys for six rare plant species in San Diego County, California
San Diego County is a hotspot of biodiversity, situated at the intersection of the Baja peninsula, the California floristic province, and the desert southwest. This hotspot is characterized by a high number of rare and endemic species, which persist alongside a major urban epicenter. San Diego County has implemented a strategic management plan that identifies species, based on low numbers of occurAuthorsElizabeth R. Milano, Amy G. VandergastPrioritizing conserved areas threatened by wildfire and fragmentation for monitoring and management
In many parts of the world, the combined effects of habitat fragmentation and altered disturbance regimes pose a significant threat to biodiversity. This is particularly true in Mediterranean-type ecosystems (MTEs), which tend to be fire-prone, species rich, and heavily impacted by human land use. Given the spatial complexity of overlapping threats and species’ vulnerability along with limited conAuthorsJeff A. Tracey, Carlton J. Rochester, Stacie A. Hathaway, Kristine L. Preston, Alexandra D. Syphard, Amy G. Vandergast, James E. Diffendorfer, Janet Franklin, Jason B. MacKenzie, Tomas A. Oberbauer, Scott Tremor, Clark S. Winchell, Robert N. FisherConservation genomics of the Mogollon Narrow-headed gartersnake (Thamnophis rufipunctatus) and Northern Mexican gartersnake (Thamnophis eques megalops)
The ability of populations to persist and adapt to abiotic and biotic changes is reliant on genetic diversity. When connectivity across a species landscape is disrupted, the levels and distribution of genetic diversity can rapidly deteriorate as a result of genetic drift, leading to increased inbreeding and reduced adaptive potential. Therefore, understanding the distribution and degree of geneticAuthorsDustin A. Wood, Iain D. Emmons, Erika M. Nowak, Bruce L. Christman, Andrew T. Holycross, Amy G. VandergastAn evaluation of the efficacy of using environmental DNA (eDNA) to detect giant gartersnakes (Thamnophis gigas)
Detecting populations of rare or cryptic species is essential for their conservation. For species like giant gartersnakes (Thamnophis gigas), conventional survey methods can be expensive and inefficient. These sampling difficulties might be overcome by modern techniques that detect deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) shed by organisms into the environment (eDNA). We evaluated the efficacy of detecting giaAuthorsBrian J. Halstead, Dustin A. Wood, Lizabeth Bowen, Shannon C. Waters, Amy G. Vandergast, Julia S. Ersan, Shannon M. Skalos, Michael L. CasazzaTackling an intractable problem: Can greater taxon sampling help resolve relationships within the Stenopelmatoidea (Orthoptera: Ensifera)?
The relationships among and within the families that comprise the orthopteran superfamily Stenopelmatoidea (suborder Ensifera) remain poorly understood. We developed a phylogenetic hypothesis based on Bayesian analysis of two nuclear ribosomal and one mitochondrial gene for 118 individuals (84 de novo and 34 from GenBank). These included Gryllacrididae from North, Central, and South America, SouthAuthorsAmy G. Vandergast, David B Weissman, Dustin Wood, David C F Rentz, Corinna S Bazelet, Norihiro UeshimaInundation, vegetation, and sediment effects on litter decomposition in Pacific Coast tidal marshes
The cycling and sequestration of carbon are important ecosystem functions of estuarine wetlands that may be affected by climate change. We conducted experiments across a latitudinal and climate gradient of tidal marshes in the northeast Pacific to evaluate the effects of climate- and vegetation-related factors on litter decomposition. We manipulated tidal exposure and litter type in experimental mAuthorsChristopher Janousek, Kevin J. Buffington, Glenn R. Guntenspergen, Karen M. Thorne, Bruce D. Dugger, John Y. TakekawaIncorporating genetic sampling in long-term monitoring and adaptive management in the San Diego County Management Strategic Plan Area, Southern California
Habitat and species conservation plans usually rely on monitoring to assess progress towards conservation goals. Southern California, USA, is a hotspot of biodiversity and home to many federally endangered and threatened species. Here, several regional multi-species conservation plans have been implemented to balance development and conservation goals, including in San Diego County. In the San DieAuthorsAmy G. VandergastPersistence of historical population structure in an endangered species despite near-complete biome conversion in California's San Joaquin Desert
Genomic responses to habitat conversion can be rapid, providing wildlife managers with time-limited opportunities to enact recovery efforts that use population connectivity information that reflects predisturbance landscapes. Despite near-complete biome conversion, such opportunities may still exist for the endemic fauna and flora of California's San Joaquin Desert, but comprehensive genetic dataAuthorsJonathan Q. Richmond, Dustin A. Wood, Michael F. Westphal, Amy G. Vandergast, Adam D. Leache, Lawrence Saslaw, H. Scott Butterfield, Robert N. FisherAre coastal managers ready for climate change? A case study from estuaries along the Pacific coast of the United States
A key challenge for coastal resource managers is to plan and implement climate change adaptation strategies inlight of uncertainties and competing management priorities. In 2014, we held six workshops across estuaries along the Pacific coast of North America with over 150 participants to evaluate resource managers' perceived level of understanding of climate change science, where they obtain inforAuthorsKaren M. Thorne, Deborah L. Elliott-Fisk, Chase M. Freeman, Thuy-Vy D. Bui, Katherine Powelson, Christopher Janousek, Kevin J. Buffington, John Y. TakekawaUsing science to inform management and improve biological conservation in the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan
The Mojave and Colorado deserts of southern California have been viewed as vast wilderness since early exploration and, until recently, were considered the most untrammeled among western landscapes in the contiguous lower 48 states (United States Department of Agriculture 1893; Leu et al. 2008). However, the factors that define desert wilderness—small human population, temperature differentials thAuthorsTodd C. Esque, Amy Fesnock-Parker, Brian Croft, Felicia Chen, Amy G. VandergastMetabarcoding of fecal samples to determine herbivore diets: A case study of the endangered Pacific pocket mouse
Understanding the diet of an endangered species illuminates the animal’s ecology, habitat requirements, and conservation needs. However, direct observation of diet can be difficult, particularly for small, nocturnal animals such as the Pacific pocket mouse (Heteromyidae: Perognathus longimembris pacificus). Very little is known of the dietary habits of this federally endangered rodent, hindering mAuthorsDeborah D. Iwanowicz, Amy G. Vandergast, Robert S. Cornman, Cynthia R. Adams, Joshua R. Kohn, Robert N. Fisher, Cheryl S. Brehme - Web Tools
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