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Novel microsatellite loci for studies of Thamnophis Gartersnake genetic identity and hybridization

Brian L. Sloss·Gregor W. Schuurman·Rori A. Paloski·Owen D. Boyle·Joshua M. Kapfer
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Abstract

Butler’s Gartersnakes (BGS; Thamnophis butleri ) are confined to open and semi-open canopy wetlands and adjacent uplands, habitats under threat of development in Wisconsin. To address issues of species identity and putative hybridization with congeneric snakes, a suite of 18 microsatellite loci capable of cross-species amplification of Plains Gartersnakes ( T. radix ) and Common Gartersnakes ( T. sirtalis ) was developed. All loci were polymorphic in BGS with mean number of alleles per locus of 16.11 (range = 3–41) and mean observed heterozygosity of 0.659 (range = 0.311–0.978). Loci amplified efficiently in the congeneric species with high levels of intra- and inter-specific variation. These loci will aid ongoing efforts to effectively identify and manage BGS in Wisconsin.

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Brian L. Sloss, Gregor W. Schuurman, Rori A. Paloski, Owen D. Boyle, Joshua M. Kapfer. 2011-11-08. Novel microsatellite loci for studies of Thamnophis Gartersnake genetic identity and hybridization. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12686-011-9555-8

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