Identifying genetic groups in the Eastern populaion of the toad species group

The tasks to be performed under this agreement are as follows: Obtain nuclear gene sequence data from 25-40 samples representing all known species and divergent mtDNA lineages within the entire geographic distribution of the boreal toad species group. Obtain sequence data from the most informative nuclear genes from about 100 samples (already entirely or largely in-hand) representing the full known distribution of the Eastern Population and toads immediately surrounding the Eastern population in Wyoming, Idaho, Utah and Nevada. A third round of data collection and analyses from an estimated 100 samples will be conducted to refine the geographic boundaries of the major groups as needed, to confirm the divergence of specific groups of interest (e.g. SRM population, southern Utah), and to confirm divergence of any additional groups that may be discovered with the previous analyses in Objectives 1 and 2.