Abstract
Amphibians are experiencing worldwide population declines and many species are becoming extinct, endangered, or threatened (Pechmann and Wake 1997; Alford and Richards 1999). Destruction, alteration, and fragmentation of suitable habitat are likely major factors contributing to these declines (e.g., Petranka et al. 1993; Delis et al. 1996; Hecnar and M’Closkey 1996; Semlitsch and Bodie 1998; Vos and Chardon 1998). Assessing the impacts of such changes in landscape ecology requires knowledge of population genetic structure and metapopulation dynamics at a small geographic scale. For example, it is important for conservation managers to understand patterns of gene flow among populations and their relationship to landscape-level habitat heterogeneity. Genetic markers may be used to detect population subdivision and interconnection and can provide useful information for theoretical population biologists and applied conservationists.
