Margaret Hunter, Ph.D.
Margaret Hunter is a Research Geneticist at the USGS Wetland and Aquatic Research Center.
Margaret Hunter attended the University of Florida where she received a B.Sc. in Microbiology and Cellular Sciences and minored in Chemistry and Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology. Following her bachelor degree, she received a PhD in Veterinary Medical Sciences researching Sirenia (manatee and dugong) cytogenetics and conservation genetics. Affiliations: USGS Sirenia Project USGS Genetics and Genomics Research Courtesy Assistant Professor, University of Florida, College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences Affiliated faculty member, University of Florida Aquatic Animal Health Program Affiliated faculty member, University of Florida Genetics Institute.
Education and Certifications
Ph.D., Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Florida
B.S., Microbiology and Cell Sciences (Minor: Chemistry, Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology), University of Florida
Science and Products
The Coalition for Conservation Genetics: Working across organizations to build capacity and achieve change in policy and practice
Novel insights on aquatic mammal MHC evolution: Evidence from manatee DQB diversity
Biology: Integrating core to essential variables (Bio-ICE) task team report for marine mammals
Environmental DNA surveys of Burmese pythons in the Greater Everglades Ecosystem
Diet composition of the African manatee: Spatial and temporal variation within the Sanaga River Watershed, Cameroon
Genome-wide SNP analysis of three moose subspecies at the southern range limit in the contiguous United States
Strategic considerations for invasive species managers in the utilization of environmental DNA (eDNA): Steps for incorporating this powerful surveillance tool
Genetic analysis of red lionfish Pterois volitans from Florida, USA, leads to alternative North Atlantic introduction scenarios
Genome-wide SNP analysis reveals multiple paternity in Burmese pythons invasive to the Greater Florida Everglades
Strategic considerations for invasive species managers in the utilization ofenvironmental DNA (eDNA): Steps for incorporating this powerful surveillance tool
Opportunities and challenges of macrogenetic studies
Range-wide population genetic analysis of Seaside Sparrows (Ammospiza maritima) supports at least five distinct population segments that do not align with current subspecies descriptions
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The Coalition for Conservation Genetics: Working across organizations to build capacity and achieve change in policy and practice
The Coalition for Conservation Genetics (CCG) brings together four eminent organizations with the shared goal of improving the integration of genetic information into conservation policy and practice. We provide a historical context of conservation genetics as a field and reflect on current barriers to conserving genetic diversity, highlighting the need for collaboration across traditional dividesAuthorsFrancine Kershaw, Michael W. Bruford, W. Chris Funk, Catherine E. Grueber, Sean M. Hoban, Margaret Hunter, Linda Laikre, Anna J. MacDonald, Mariah H. Meek, Cinnamon Mittan, David O´Brien, Rob Ogden, Robyn E. Shaw, Cristiano Vernesi, Gernot SegelbacherNovel insights on aquatic mammal MHC evolution: Evidence from manatee DQB diversity
The low diversity in marine mammal major histocompatibility complex (MHC) appears to support the hypothesis of reduced pathogen selective pressure in aquatic systems compared to terrestrial environments. However, the lack of characterization of the aquatic and evolutionarily distant Sirenia precludes drawing more generalized conclusions. Therefore, we aimed to characterize the MHC DQB diversity ofAuthorsAndré L.A. de Sá, Pamela K.B. Baker, Breanna Breaux, Jairo M. Oliveira, Alex G.C. de Macedo Klautau, Kristian Legatzki, Fábia de Oliveira Luna, Fernanda L.N. Attademo, Margaret Hunter, Michael F. Criscitiello, Maria P. Schneider, Leonardo SenaBiology: Integrating core to essential variables (Bio-ICE) task team report for marine mammals
Marine mammals are wide-ranging, relatively long-lived organisms that play a crucial role in maintaining healthy ocean ecosystems. Often referred to as ecosystem engineers and sentinel species in marine ecosystems, these charismatic megafauna feed at a variety of trophic levels, affecting food web dynamics and cycling of chemicals and nutrients in the water column as well as in benthic habitats, bAuthorsSamantha E. Simmons, Abigail Benson, Matthew Biddle, Gabrielle Canonico, Maggie Chory, Kruti Desai, Masha Edmondson, Jason Gedamke, Stacie K. Hardy, Margaret Hunter, Anu Kumar, Laura Lorenzoni, Brian D. Melzian, Keith Mullin, Kim M. Parsons, James Price, Shannon Rankin, Patricia E. Rosel, Heather R. Spence, Sofie M. van Parijs, Michael J. WeiseEnvironmental 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. HunterDiet composition of the African manatee: Spatial and temporal variation within the Sanaga River Watershed, Cameroon
The present study aimed to investigate the diet of African manatees in Cameroon to better inform conservation decisions within protected areas. A large knowledge gap on diet and seasonal changes in forage availability limits the ability to develop informed local management plans for the African manatee in much of its range. This research took place in the Sanaga River Watershed, which includes twoAuthorsAristide Takoukam Kamla, Dylan G. E. Gomes, Cathy Beck, Lucy W. Keith-Diagne, Margaret Hunter, Ruth Francis-Floyd, Robert K. BondeGenome-wide SNP analysis of three moose subspecies at the southern range limit in the contiguous United States
Genome-wide evaluations of genetic diversity and population structure are important for informing management and conservation of trailing-edge populations. North American moose (Alces alces) are declining along portions of the southern edge of their range due to disease, species interactions, and marginal habitat, all of which may be exacerbated by climate change. We employed a genotyping by sequeAuthorsJason Ferrante, Chase H. Smith, Laura Thompson, Margaret HunterStrategic considerations for invasive species managers in the utilization of environmental DNA (eDNA): Steps for incorporating this powerful surveillance tool
Invasive species surveillance programs can utilize environmental DNA sampling and analysis to provide information on the presence of invasive species. Wider utilization of eDNA techniques for invasive species surveillance may be warranted. This paper covers topics directed towards invasive species managers and eDNA practitioners working at the intersection of eDNA techniques and invasive species sAuthorsJeffrey Morisette, Stanley Burgiel, Kelsey Brantley, Wesley M. Daniel, John Darling, Jeanette Davis, Thomas W. Franklin, Keith Gaddis, Margaret Hunter, Richard Lance, Tracy Leskey, Yale Passamaneck, Antoinette J. Piaggio, Brian Rector, Adam J. Sepulveda, Melissa Smith, Carol A Stepien, Taylor WilcoxGenetic 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 HunterStrategic considerations for invasive species managers in the utilization ofenvironmental DNA (eDNA): Steps for incorporating this powerful surveillance tool
Invasive species surveillance programs can utilize environmental DNA sampling and analysis to provide information on the presence of invasive species. Wider utilization of eDNA techniques for invasive species surveillance may be warranted. This paper covers topics directed towards invasive species managers and eDNA practitioners working at the intersection of eDNA techniques and invasive species sAuthorsJeffrey Morisette, Stanley Burgiel, Kelsey Brantley, Wesley Daniel, John Darling, Jeanette Davis, Thomas W. Franklin, Keith Gaddis, Margaret Hunter, Richard Lance, Tracy Leskey, Yale Passamaneck, Antoinette J. Piaggio, Brian Rector, Adam J. Sepulveda, Melissa Smith, Carol A Stepien, Taylor WilcoxOpportunities and challenges of macrogenetic studies
The rapidly emerging field of macrogenetics focuses on analysing publicly accessible genetic datasets from thousands of species to explore large-scale patterns and predictors of intraspecific genetic variation. Facilitated by advances in evolutionary biology, technology, data infrastructure, statistics and open science, macrogenetics addresses core evolutionary hypotheses (such as disentangling enAuthorsDeborah M. Leigh, Charles B. van Rees, Katie L Millette, Martin F Breed, Chloé Schmidt, Laura D. Bertola, Brian K. Hand, Margaret Hunter, Evelyn L. Jensen, Francine Kershaw, Libby Liggins, Gordon Luikart, Stéphanie Manel, Joachim Mergeay, Joshua M. Miller, Gernot Segelbacher, Sean M. Hoban, Ivan Paz-VinasRange-wide population genetic analysis of Seaside Sparrows (Ammospiza maritima) supports at least five distinct population segments that do not align with current subspecies descriptions
As an obligate salt marsh species, Seaside Sparrows (Ammospiza maritima) are vulnerable to numerous threats including climate change, coastal erosion, sea-level rise, and both natural and anthropogenic disasters. Of the 9 recognized subspecies, 2 are extinct and 1 is endangered. Previous genetic analyses of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and microsatellite loci showed that current taxonomy does not accAuthorsKathryn E.C. Davis, Amie E. Settlecowski, Mackenzie R. Roeder, Carolyn Enloe, Thomas Virzi, Margaret Hunter, Stefan Woltmann, Sabrina S. Taylor - News