Maureen B. Peters

Strong Founder Effects and Low Genetic Diversity in Introduced Populations of Coqui Frogs

The success of non‐native species may depend on the genetic resources maintained through the invasion process. The Coqui (Eleutherodactylus coqui), a frog endemic to Puerto Rico, was introduced to Hawaii in the late 1980s via the horticulture trade, and has become an aggressive invader. To explore whether genetic diversity and population structure changed with the introduction, we assessed individuals from 15 populations across the Hawaiian Islands and 13 populations across Puerto Rico using six to nine polymorphic microsatellite loci and five dorsolateral colour patterns. Allelic richness (RT) and gene diversity were significantly higher in Puerto Rico than in Hawaii populations. Hawaii also had fewer colour patterns (two versus three to five per population) than Puerto Rico. We found no isolation by distance in the introduced range, even though it exists in the native range. Results suggest extensive mixing among frog populations across Hawaii, and that their spread has been facilitated by humans. Like previous research, our results suggest that Hawaiian Coquis were founded by individuals from sites around San Juan, but unlike previous research the colour pattern and molecular genetic data (nuclear and mtDNA) support two separate introductions, one on the island of Hawaii and one on Maui. Coquis are successful invaders in Hawaii despite the loss of genetic variation. Future introductions may increase genetic variation and potentially its range.

Five Hundred Microsatellite Loci for Peromyscus

Mice of the genus Peromyscus, including several endangered subspecies, occur throughout North America and have been important models for conservation research. We describe 526 primer pairs that amplify microsatellite DNA loci for Peromyscus maniculatus bairdii, 467 of which also amplify in Peromyscus polionotus subgriseus. For 12 of these loci, we report diversity data from a natural population. These markers will be an important resource for future genomic studies of Peromyscus evolution and mammalian conservation.

Isolation and characterization of microsatellite DNA loci from Ambystoma salamanders

Dean A. Croshaw* Nancy A. Schable Maureen B. Peters & Travis C. Glenn Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, Drawer E, Aiken, SC 29802, USA; Department of Biological Sciences, University of New Orleans, New Orleans, LA 70148, USA; Department of Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA (*Corresponding author: Phone: +803-725-5873; Fax: +803-725-3309; E-mail: croshaw@srel.edu)

Isolation and characterization of microsatellite loci in the Guanacaste tree, Enterolobium cyclocarpum

We isolated nine microsatellite loci from the Guanacaste tree (Enterolobium cyclocarpum) and optimized them for future research on breeding populations of this species. Loci were screened across 53 individuals from one population and were shown to be variable with the number of alleles per locus ranging from five to 15. Polymorphic information content ranged from 0.420 to 0.900 and observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.547 to 0.906.

Characterization of 10 microsatellite loci in an avian louse, Degeeriella regalis (Phthiraptera: Ischnocera: Philopteridae)

We isolated and characterized 10 polymorphic microsatellite loci in an ischnoceran louse, Degeeriella regalis, which parasitizes the threatened Galápagos hawk (Buteo galapagoensis) and other falconiform birds. The loci were screened across 30 individuals from two island populations in the Galápagos Islands. The number of alleles per locus ranged from two to 28. Polymorphic information content ranged from 0.14 to 0.94 and observed heterozygosity ranged from 0 to 0.67. These markers will be valuable in comparative population genetics studies in this species, which is the focus of a long‐term population and disease ecology research program.

Fifteen microsatellite loci for the jungle perch, Kuhlia rupestris

We developed and optimized 15 polymorphic microsatellite loci in the jungle perch, Kuhlia rupestris. Loci were screened in a single population (n = 24) from Fraser Island, Queensland, Australia. Number of alleles per locus ranged from 3 to 19 and observed heterozygosity from 0.25 to 1. No significant linkage disequilibrium was detected between any pair of loci. Genotype proportions for these loci in the population sampled were in Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium.

Eight polymorphic microsatellite markers isolated from the widespread avian louse Colpocephalum turbinatum (Phthiraptera: Amblycera: Menoponidae).

We report eight novel microsatellite loci for Colpocephalum turbinatum, a parasitic louse of the endangered Galápagos hawk (Buteo galapagoensis). Two island populations of C. turbinatum (N = 30) were genotyped for each locus. We found between two and 12 alleles per locus, polymorphic information content from 0.268 to 0.798, observed heterozygosity from 0.067 to 0.667 and no linkage disequilibrium was detected between loci. These markers will be useful in understanding contemporary gene flow of C. turbinatum among islands in the Galápagos and in understanding transmission dynamics between B. galapagoensis hosts, within and between social groups. Because this louse is unusually widespread among avian host taxa, parasitizing at least 53 bird species in the Falconiformes, Strigiformes and Columbiformes, these markers are likely to be useful outside the context of the Galápagos Islands.

Comparing the performance of analytical techniques for genetic PARENTAGE of half-sib progeny arrays.

The prevalence of female multiple mating in natural populations is important for many questions in mating system evolution. Several statistical techniques use genetic data to estimate the number of fathers that contribute gametes to broods, but they have not been widely compared to assess the magnitude of differences in their performance. With a combination of new data and reanalysis of previously published data, we compared five analytical approaches: (1) allele-counting, (2) parental reconstruction in GERUD, (3) a Bayesian probability model to estimate the frequency of multiple mating (FMM), (4) computer simulations based on population allele frequencies in HAPLOTYPES and (5) Bayesian parental reconstruction in PARENTAGE. The results show that choice of analysis technique can significantly affect estimates of sire number. Estimates from GERUD conformed exactly to results obtained from strict exclusion of potential sires in an experimental context. However, estimates yielded by HAPLOTYPES and PARENTAGE sometimes exceeded the numbers from GERUD by as much as 120 and 55%, respectively. We recommend GERUD over these other approaches for most purposes because of its accuracy and consistency in this analysis. Our novel genetic data set allowed us to investigate the extent and frequency of multiple paternity in a marbled salamander (Ambystoma opacum) population in South Carolina, USA. A. opacum contrasted with other salamander species by having relatively low levels of multiple paternity (only 31-54% compared with 71-96%). Although A. opacum had the lowest level of multiple paternity under all analytical approaches used here, the magnitude of differences among species varied.

Development and characterization of microsatellite loci in the American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos)

We isolated and characterized nine microsatellite loci from the American white pelican, Pelecanus erythrorhynchos. The loci were screened in 23 individuals from the eastern and western populations of North America and were polymorphic, with the number of alleles per locus ranging from two to eight. Polymorphic information content ranged from 0.185 to 0.820 and observed heterozygosity from 0.217 to 0.957. These new loci will provide tools for studies of population structure in this species, thereby aiding conservation planning.

Isolation of Microsatellite Loci From the Coqui Frog, Eleutherodactylus Coqui

Thirteen microsatellite loci were isolated from the coqui frog (Eleutherodactylus coqui) and optimized for future research. The loci were screened across 37 individuals from two Puerto Rican populations. Loci were variable with the number of alleles per locus ranging from three to 38. Polymorphic information content ranged from 0.453 to 0.963 and observed heterozygosity for each population ranged from 0.320 to 0.920.