Judith M. Rhymer

Associate Professor of Wildlife Ecology

I am particularly interested in the application of genetic techniques to the conservation and management of a wide variety of wildlife species, i.e. conservation genetics.  One of the first steps in conservation genetics is to resolve any taxonomic uncertainties and to delineate potential management units within species.  Projects in my lab have addressed taxonomic concerns in birds, small mammals, and invertebrates asking the question “does current taxonomy adequately reflect actual patterns of diversity in nature?”  In some cases, small differences among populations have been given formal taxonomic status when they are virtually identical.  In other cases, real differences among populations have been ignored, a situation that can inadvertently lead to the extinction of more cryptic species.  Molecular genetic analyses can also contribute to conservation by determining genetic structure of populations, determining the extent of hybridization of introduced species with native taxa,  aiding detection of illegal trade, and by providing essential information on unknown aspects of species’ ecology.  Genetic analyses are also invaluable if translocations are considered as a management option.  Other examples of graduate student research in my lab are the use of genetic markers: to determine the link between breeding and wintering populations of birds and also to study their mating behavior; to identify the area of origin of rare turtles illegally collected for the pet trade; and to study the effect of habitat fragmentation on rare freshwater mussel populations.  Ecological field work is an important component of these types of studies.

Selected Publications

Shafer, A. B. A., F. W. Scott, S. D. Peterson, J. M. Rhymer, and D. T. Stewart. 2008. Following the SINEs: a taxonomic revision of the of the long-tailed shrew complex, Sorex dispar and S. gaspensis. Journal of Mammalogy, in press.

Rhymer, J. M.  2008.  Evolutionary change in conserved taxa: extinction through hybridization or introgression. Chapter 9 in Conservation Biology: Evolution in Action, (S. P. Carroll and C. W. Fox Eds.). Oxford University Press, Oxford.  In press.

Kneeland, S. C. and J. M. Rhymer.  2008.  Determination of fish host use by wild populations of rare freshwater mussels using a molecular identification key to identify glochidia.  Journal of the North American Benthological Society 27(1): 150-160.

Kneeland, S. C. and J. M. Rhymer.  2007.  A molecular identification key for freshwater mussel glochidia encysted on naturally parasitized fish hosts in Maine, USA.  Journal of Molluscan Studies 73:279-282.

Kurth, J., C. Loftin, J. Zydlewski and J. Rhymer.  2007.  PIT tags increase effectiveness of freshwater mussel recaptures.  Journal of the North American Benthological Society 26: 253-260.

Rhymer, J. M. 2006. Extinction by hybridization and introgression in Anatinae ducks.  Acta Zoologica Sinica 52 (Supplement):  583-585.

Rehfish, M., J. Allan, B. Hughes, J. Rhymer, P. Robertson, K. Shaw, and M. Williams.  2006.  Competition and hybridization from introduced waterbirds:  a rising political issue.  Acta Zoologica Sinica 52 (Supplement):  570-571.

Kelly, M. W. and J. M. Rhymer.  2005.  Population genetic structure of a rare unionid (Lampsilis cariosa) in a recently glaciated landscape.  Conservation Genetics 6: 789-802.

Rhymer, J. M., D. G. McAuley, and H. L. Ziel.  2005.  Phylogeography of the American Woodcock (Scolopax minor): are management units based on band recovery data reflected in genetically based management units?  Auk 122: 1149-1160.

Rhymer, J. M., M. J. Williams, and R. Kingsford. 2004. Implications of phylogeography and population genetics for subspecies taxonomy of  Grey (Pacific Black) Duck (Anas superciliosa) and its conservation  in New Zealand. Pacific Conservation Biology 10:57-66.

Rhymer, J. M., J. M. Barbay, and H. L. Givens. 2004. Taxonomic relationships between Sorex gaspensis and S. dispar: inferences from mitochondrial DNA sequences. Journal of Mammalogy 85: 331-337.

Compton, B., J. Rhymer, M. McCollough.  2002.  Habitat selection by wood turtles: an application of paired logistic regression.  Ecology 83: 833-843.

Rhymer, J.M.  2002.  Defining species.  pp. 38-39 in Fundamentals of Conservation  Biology 2nd edition, M.L. Hunter Jr.  Blackwell Science, Inc. Williston, VT.

Rhymer, J., M. Fain, J. Austin, D. Johnson and C. Krajewski.  2001.  Mitochondrial       phylogeography, subspecific taxonomy, and conservation genetics of Sandhill Cranes (Grus canadensis; Aves: Gruidae).  Conservation Genetics 2: 203-218.

Rhymer, J.M.  2001.  Evolution and conservation of Hawaiian anatids. In  Symposium on “The status, ecology and conservation of the Hawaiian avifauna”.  Studies in Avian Biology: No.22.  61-67.

O’Connor, R.J., R.B. Owen, and J.M. Rhymer.  2000.  Best practices in endangered Species recovery planning: lessons for the conservation of Maine’s Atlantic salmon.  Maine Policy Review 9(2): 72-89.

Longcore, J., D. McAuley, G. Hepp, and J. Rhymer.  2000. American Black Duck.  In The Birds of North America (A. Poole ed.). Philadelphia: The Academy of Natural Sciences; Washington, DC; The American Ornithologists’ Union. 97 pp.

Remley, M. and J.M. Rhymer.  1999.  Wood Turtle (Clemmys insculpta)  in (Hunter, Calhoun and McCollough, eds.)  The Amphibians and Reptiles of Maine.  University of Maine Press.

Rhymer, J.M.  1998.  Populations.  Unit 3. in  Biology, A Community Approach, (W.H. Leonard and J.E. Penick eds.)  South-Western Educational Publ., Cincinnati, OH.

Young, H.G. and J.M. Rhymer.  1998.  Meller’s Duck:  a threatened species receives recognition at last.  Biodiversity and Conservation 7: 1313-1323.

Stutchbury, B.J.M., W.H. Piper, D.L. Neudorf, S.A. Tarof, J.M. Rhymer, G. Fuller and R.C. Fleischer.  1997.  Correlates of extra-pair fertilization success in Hooded Warblers.  Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 40: 119-126.

Rhymer, J.M. and D.S. Simberloff.  1996.  Genetic extinction through hybridization and introgression.  Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics 27: 83-109.

Cooper, A., J. Rhymer, H. James, S. Olsen, C. McIntosh, M. Sorenson and R. Fleischer. 1996.  Ancient DNA and island endemics.  Nature 381: 484.