Caitlin is a Biologist at the Wetland and Aquatic Research Center in Gainesville, FL.
Science and Products
Molecular and distributional data used to investigate misidentifications, population genetic diversity, and spatiotemporal trends in distribution for Pleurobema riddellii to help guide ESA listing decisions
We provide genetic and distribution data for the Louisiana Pigtoe, Pleorubema riddellii, to guide decisions related to federal protection for the species under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. Our final dataset includes 125 COI sequences generated as part of our study representing P. riddellii from eight North American river basins. This includes the COI sequence we generated from a museum specime
Mitochondrial and microsatellite genetic data from Cape Sable seaside sparrow feather samples collected 2011-2018
The federally endangered Cape Sable seaside sparrow (Ammospiza maritima mirabilis) is endemic to the Greater Everglades ecosystem in southern Florida. The subspecies inhabits the fragmented freshwater marl prairies and contains six subpopulations (A-F), named for management purposes, since genetic information is lacking. To evaluate genetic connectivity and inform management decisions, feather sam
Molecular resources for investigating relationships among freshwater mussels (Bivalvia: Unionoida) with a focus on the genus Alasmidonta
Longstanding taxonomic uncertainties have limited conservation efforts for species currently assigned to the freshwater mussel genus Alasmidonta. Here, we present mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequence data needed to assess the genus- and species-level taxonomy of Alasmidonta. These molecular data allowed us to test whether cryptic diversity exists within Alasmidonta and whether A. triangulata and
Droplet digital PCR data for environmental DNA surveys of Burmese pythons in the Greater Everglades Ecosystem
Environmental DNA water samples were collected in the Greater Everglades Ecosystem between May 20-22, 2019 and analyzed to estimate Burmese python (Python bivittatus) occurrence. Twenty-eight sites were sampled in the Greater Everglades Ecosystem, with 5 field replicate samples per site, for a total of 140 water samples collected. Python eDNA was detected at 25 of the 28 sampling sites using Dropl
Red Lionfish DNA data collected from Florida, USA and around the invasive distribution from 2007 to 2016
Red lionfish (Pterois volitans) have become a successful invasive predator across the Northwestern Atlantic, Caribbean, and Gulf of Mexico (GoM). Previous investigations have identified the southeast coast of Florida as the original site of introduction, but no region-wide genetic study has directly addressed the question of introduction location(s). This dataset includes previously unpublished re
SARS-CoV-2 Data from National Wastewater Surveillance System Surge Capacity Sampling, September 2021
Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) is used to determine the consumption of, or exposure to, chemicals or pathogens in human populations, and is conducted by collecting representative samples of untreated wastewater (influent) to quantify pathogens shed in the population served by the sampled wastewater system. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the US Department of Health an
Molecular data validate historical and contemporary distributions of Pleurobema riddellii (Bivalvia: Unionidae) and help guide conservation and recovery efforts
Accurate taxonomic and distributional information are arguably the most critical components of conservation status assessments but can be greatly affected by misidentifications. The Louisiana pigtoe Pleurobema riddellii is a freshwater mussel proposed as threatened under the US Endangered Species Act. The species belongs to the tribe Pleurobemini, which includes multiple taxa that are inherently c
Authors
Nathan Johnson, Caitlin Beaver, Alexander H. Kiser, Matthew A. Duplessis, Matthew D. Wagner, Robert J. Ellwanger, Clinton R. Robertson, Sean D. Kinney, Beau B. Gregory, Steve Wolverton, Charles R. Randklev, Paul D. Hartfield, James D. Williams, Chase H. Smith
Genetic analysis of federally endangered Cape Sable seaside sparrow subpopulations in the Greater Everglades, USA
The federally endangered Cape Sable seaside sparrow (Ammospiza maritima mirabilis) is endemic to the Greater Everglades ecosystem in southern Florida, inhabiting fragmented marl prairies in six individual subpopulations. The subspecies is threatened by loss of breeding habitat from fire and water management. Genetic information is severely limited for the subspecies but could help inform decisions
Authors
Caitlin Beaver, Thomas Virzi, Margaret Hunter
Hidden in the hills: Phylogeny of the freshwater mussel genus Alasmidonta (Bivalvia: Unionidae) and description of a new species
Inaccurate taxonomy can lead to species in need of conservation being overlooked, which makes revisionary systematics crucially important for imperilled groups. The freshwater mussel genus Alasmidonta is one such group in need of study. Here, we take a multilocus phylogenetic approach to assess species-level taxonomy of Alasmidonta and test monophyly of this genus. Phylogenetic inference resulted
Authors
Nathan V. Whelan, Nathan Johnson, Ashantye' S. Williams, Michael A. Perkins, Caitlin E. Beaver, Jason W. Mays
Environmental DNA surveys of Burmese pythons in the Greater Everglades Ecosystem
Improving the probability of detecting invasive giant snakes is vital for the management of emerging or established populations. Burmese pythons occupy thousands of square kilometers of mostly inaccessible habitats in Florida. Environmental DNA (eDNA) methods have been shown to be time and cost effective in a number of systems and may be preferable to traditional detection methods for constrictor
Authors
Caitlin E. Beaver, Gaia Meigs-Friend, Margaret E. Hunter
Novel insights into the genetic population connectivity of transient whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) in Pacific Panama provide crucial data for conservation efforts
The whale shark (Rhincodon typus) is an endangered and highly migratory species, of which solitary individuals or aggregations are observed in oceans worldwide and for which conservation efforts are hindered by a lack of comprehensive data on genetic population connectivity. Tissue samples were collected from wandering whale sharks in Pacific Panama to determine genetic diversity, phylogeographic
Authors
Héctor M. Guzmán, Caitlin Beaver, Edgardo Díaz-Ferguson
Genetic analysis of red lionfish Pterois volitans from Florida, USA, leads to alternative North Atlantic introduction scenarios
The red lionfish Pterois volitans is a successful invasive predator across the western North Atlantic, Caribbean, and Gulf of Mexico. The southeast coast of Florida (USA) has been identified as the original introduction location, but genetic analyses including Florida lionfish have yet to investigate introduction scenarios. Here, we assessed the potential lionfish invasion pathways using 1795 sequ
Authors
Margaret Hunter, Caitlin Beaver, Nathan A. Johnson, Eleanor K. Bors, Antonio A. Mignucci-Giannoni, Brian R. Silliman, Dayne Buddo, Linda Searle, Edgardo Díaz-Ferguson
Genome-wide SNP analysis reveals multiple paternity in Burmese pythons invasive to the Greater Florida Everglades
Reproductive strategies are an essential component of invasion ecology that influence invasion success and rates of population growth. Burmese Pythons (Python bivittatus) are large constrictor snakes that were introduced to the Greater Everglades Ecosystem of southern Florida, USA, from Asia. Since their introduction, these giant constrictors have spread throughout wetlands of southern Florida whi
Authors
James Skelton, Ian A. Bartoszek, Caitlin Beaver, Kristen Hart, Margaret Hunter
Genetics as a tool for conservation and management of West Indian manatee populations in Brazil
A study conducted by the National Center for Research and Conservation of Aquatic Mammals (CMA), United States Geological Survey Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, and partner researchers found that the marine Antillean manatee (Trichechus manatus manatus) has low genetic diversity in regions where there are territorial interfaces with the Amazonian manatee (Trichechus inunguis). The study was p
Authors
Fabia Luna, Caitlin Beaver, Coralie Nourisson, Robert Bonde, Fernanda L. N. Attademo, Adriana V. Miranda, Juan P. Torres-Florez, Glaucia P. de Sousa, José Z. Passavante, Margaret Hunter
Genetic connectivity of the West Indian manatee in the southern range and limited evidence of hybridization with Amazonian manatees
The Antillean subspecies of the West Indian manatee is classified as endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. In Brazil, the manatee population is listed as endangered with an estimated population size of 500–1,000. Historic hunting, recent habitat degradation, and fisheries bycatch have decreased the population size. The Amazonian manatee is listed as
Authors
Fabia O. Luna, Caitlin Beaver, Coralie Nourisson, Robert Bonde, Fernanda L. N. Attademo, Adriana V. Miranda, Juan P. Torres-Florez, Glaucia P. de Sousa, Jose Z. Passavate, Margaret Hunter
Standardizing a non-lethal method for characterizing the reproductive status and larval development of freshwater mussels (Bivalvia: Unionoida)
Actively monitoring the timing, development, and reproductive patterns of endangered species is critical when managing for population recovery. Freshwater mussels are among the most imperiled organisms in the world, but information about early larval (glochidial) development and brooding periods is still lacking for many species. Previous studies have focused on the complex life history stage when
Authors
Caitlin Beaver, Susan Geda, Nathan Johnson
Science and Products
- Data
Molecular and distributional data used to investigate misidentifications, population genetic diversity, and spatiotemporal trends in distribution for Pleurobema riddellii to help guide ESA listing decisions
We provide genetic and distribution data for the Louisiana Pigtoe, Pleorubema riddellii, to guide decisions related to federal protection for the species under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. Our final dataset includes 125 COI sequences generated as part of our study representing P. riddellii from eight North American river basins. This includes the COI sequence we generated from a museum specimeMitochondrial and microsatellite genetic data from Cape Sable seaside sparrow feather samples collected 2011-2018
The federally endangered Cape Sable seaside sparrow (Ammospiza maritima mirabilis) is endemic to the Greater Everglades ecosystem in southern Florida. The subspecies inhabits the fragmented freshwater marl prairies and contains six subpopulations (A-F), named for management purposes, since genetic information is lacking. To evaluate genetic connectivity and inform management decisions, feather samMolecular resources for investigating relationships among freshwater mussels (Bivalvia: Unionoida) with a focus on the genus Alasmidonta
Longstanding taxonomic uncertainties have limited conservation efforts for species currently assigned to the freshwater mussel genus Alasmidonta. Here, we present mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequence data needed to assess the genus- and species-level taxonomy of Alasmidonta. These molecular data allowed us to test whether cryptic diversity exists within Alasmidonta and whether A. triangulata andDroplet digital PCR data for environmental DNA surveys of Burmese pythons in the Greater Everglades Ecosystem
Environmental DNA water samples were collected in the Greater Everglades Ecosystem between May 20-22, 2019 and analyzed to estimate Burmese python (Python bivittatus) occurrence. Twenty-eight sites were sampled in the Greater Everglades Ecosystem, with 5 field replicate samples per site, for a total of 140 water samples collected. Python eDNA was detected at 25 of the 28 sampling sites using DroplRed Lionfish DNA data collected from Florida, USA and around the invasive distribution from 2007 to 2016
Red lionfish (Pterois volitans) have become a successful invasive predator across the Northwestern Atlantic, Caribbean, and Gulf of Mexico (GoM). Previous investigations have identified the southeast coast of Florida as the original site of introduction, but no region-wide genetic study has directly addressed the question of introduction location(s). This dataset includes previously unpublished reSARS-CoV-2 Data from National Wastewater Surveillance System Surge Capacity Sampling, September 2021
Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) is used to determine the consumption of, or exposure to, chemicals or pathogens in human populations, and is conducted by collecting representative samples of untreated wastewater (influent) to quantify pathogens shed in the population served by the sampled wastewater system. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the US Department of Health an - Multimedia
- Publications
Molecular data validate historical and contemporary distributions of Pleurobema riddellii (Bivalvia: Unionidae) and help guide conservation and recovery efforts
Accurate taxonomic and distributional information are arguably the most critical components of conservation status assessments but can be greatly affected by misidentifications. The Louisiana pigtoe Pleurobema riddellii is a freshwater mussel proposed as threatened under the US Endangered Species Act. The species belongs to the tribe Pleurobemini, which includes multiple taxa that are inherently cAuthorsNathan Johnson, Caitlin Beaver, Alexander H. Kiser, Matthew A. Duplessis, Matthew D. Wagner, Robert J. Ellwanger, Clinton R. Robertson, Sean D. Kinney, Beau B. Gregory, Steve Wolverton, Charles R. Randklev, Paul D. Hartfield, James D. Williams, Chase H. SmithGenetic analysis of federally endangered Cape Sable seaside sparrow subpopulations in the Greater Everglades, USA
The federally endangered Cape Sable seaside sparrow (Ammospiza maritima mirabilis) is endemic to the Greater Everglades ecosystem in southern Florida, inhabiting fragmented marl prairies in six individual subpopulations. The subspecies is threatened by loss of breeding habitat from fire and water management. Genetic information is severely limited for the subspecies but could help inform decisionsAuthorsCaitlin Beaver, Thomas Virzi, Margaret HunterHidden in the hills: Phylogeny of the freshwater mussel genus Alasmidonta (Bivalvia: Unionidae) and description of a new species
Inaccurate taxonomy can lead to species in need of conservation being overlooked, which makes revisionary systematics crucially important for imperilled groups. The freshwater mussel genus Alasmidonta is one such group in need of study. Here, we take a multilocus phylogenetic approach to assess species-level taxonomy of Alasmidonta and test monophyly of this genus. Phylogenetic inference resultedAuthorsNathan V. Whelan, Nathan Johnson, Ashantye' S. Williams, Michael A. Perkins, Caitlin E. Beaver, Jason W. MaysEnvironmental DNA surveys of Burmese pythons in the Greater Everglades Ecosystem
Improving the probability of detecting invasive giant snakes is vital for the management of emerging or established populations. Burmese pythons occupy thousands of square kilometers of mostly inaccessible habitats in Florida. Environmental DNA (eDNA) methods have been shown to be time and cost effective in a number of systems and may be preferable to traditional detection methods for constrictorAuthorsCaitlin E. Beaver, Gaia Meigs-Friend, Margaret E. HunterNovel insights into the genetic population connectivity of transient whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) in Pacific Panama provide crucial data for conservation efforts
The whale shark (Rhincodon typus) is an endangered and highly migratory species, of which solitary individuals or aggregations are observed in oceans worldwide and for which conservation efforts are hindered by a lack of comprehensive data on genetic population connectivity. Tissue samples were collected from wandering whale sharks in Pacific Panama to determine genetic diversity, phylogeographicAuthorsHéctor M. Guzmán, Caitlin Beaver, Edgardo Díaz-FergusonGenetic analysis of red lionfish Pterois volitans from Florida, USA, leads to alternative North Atlantic introduction scenarios
The red lionfish Pterois volitans is a successful invasive predator across the western North Atlantic, Caribbean, and Gulf of Mexico. The southeast coast of Florida (USA) has been identified as the original introduction location, but genetic analyses including Florida lionfish have yet to investigate introduction scenarios. Here, we assessed the potential lionfish invasion pathways using 1795 sequAuthorsMargaret Hunter, Caitlin Beaver, Nathan A. Johnson, Eleanor K. Bors, Antonio A. Mignucci-Giannoni, Brian R. Silliman, Dayne Buddo, Linda Searle, Edgardo Díaz-FergusonGenome-wide SNP analysis reveals multiple paternity in Burmese pythons invasive to the Greater Florida Everglades
Reproductive strategies are an essential component of invasion ecology that influence invasion success and rates of population growth. Burmese Pythons (Python bivittatus) are large constrictor snakes that were introduced to the Greater Everglades Ecosystem of southern Florida, USA, from Asia. Since their introduction, these giant constrictors have spread throughout wetlands of southern Florida whiAuthorsJames Skelton, Ian A. Bartoszek, Caitlin Beaver, Kristen Hart, Margaret HunterGenetics as a tool for conservation and management of West Indian manatee populations in Brazil
A study conducted by the National Center for Research and Conservation of Aquatic Mammals (CMA), United States Geological Survey Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, and partner researchers found that the marine Antillean manatee (Trichechus manatus manatus) has low genetic diversity in regions where there are territorial interfaces with the Amazonian manatee (Trichechus inunguis). The study was pAuthorsFabia Luna, Caitlin Beaver, Coralie Nourisson, Robert Bonde, Fernanda L. N. Attademo, Adriana V. Miranda, Juan P. Torres-Florez, Glaucia P. de Sousa, José Z. Passavante, Margaret HunterGenetic connectivity of the West Indian manatee in the southern range and limited evidence of hybridization with Amazonian manatees
The Antillean subspecies of the West Indian manatee is classified as endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. In Brazil, the manatee population is listed as endangered with an estimated population size of 500–1,000. Historic hunting, recent habitat degradation, and fisheries bycatch have decreased the population size. The Amazonian manatee is listed asAuthorsFabia O. Luna, Caitlin Beaver, Coralie Nourisson, Robert Bonde, Fernanda L. N. Attademo, Adriana V. Miranda, Juan P. Torres-Florez, Glaucia P. de Sousa, Jose Z. Passavate, Margaret HunterStandardizing a non-lethal method for characterizing the reproductive status and larval development of freshwater mussels (Bivalvia: Unionoida)
Actively monitoring the timing, development, and reproductive patterns of endangered species is critical when managing for population recovery. Freshwater mussels are among the most imperiled organisms in the world, but information about early larval (glochidial) development and brooding periods is still lacking for many species. Previous studies have focused on the complex life history stage whenAuthorsCaitlin Beaver, Susan Geda, Nathan Johnson