SREL Reprint #3159

Development and characterization of 16 microsatellite markers for the Louisiana pine snake, Pituophis ruthveni, and two congeners of conservation concern

Matthew A. Kwiatkowski1, Christopher M. Somers2, Ray G. Poulin2,3, D. Craig Rudolph4,
Jessica Martino2, Tracey D. Tuberville5, Cris Hagen5, and Stacey L. Lance5

1Department of Biology, Miller Science Building, Stephen F. Austin State University,
PO Box 13003, SFA Station, Nacogdoches, TX 75962, USA
2Department of Biology, University of Regina, Regina, SK S4S 0A2, Canada
3Royal Saskatchewan Museum, Life Sciences, 2340 Albert St., Regina, SK S4P 2V7, Canada
4Wildlife and Habitat Silviculture Laboratory, Southern Research Station,
USDA Forest Service, Nacogdoches, TX 75962, USA
5Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, Drawer E, Aiken, SC 29802, USA

Abstract: We isolated and characterized 16 microsatellite loci from the Louisiana pine snake, Pituophis ruthveni. Loci were screened in 24 individuals from locations throughout its distribution in Louisiana and Texas. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 4 to 12, observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.200 to 0.875, and the probability of identity ranged from 0.043 to 0.298. We examined cross-species amplification at these loci in P. catenifer (bullsnakes and gopher snakes) and P. melanoleucus (pine snakes). These new markers provide tools for examining the conservation genetics of this species complex. Louisiana pine snakes face numerous threats: population densities are extremely low and their natural habitat has been severely altered and fragmented. In southern Canada, P. catenifer is at the northern extreme of its range and limited by the availability of suitable over-wintering sites.

Keywords: Pituophis, Bullsnake, Pine snake, Louisiana pine snake, Microsatellite, PCR primers, SSR, STR

SREL Reprint #3159

Kwiatkowski, M. A., C. M. Somers, R. G. Poulin, D. C. Rudolph, J. Martino, T. D. Tuberville, C. Hagen, and S. L. Lance. 2010. Development and characterization of 16 microsatellite markers for the Louisiana pine snake, Pituophis ruthveni, and two congeners of conservation concern. Conservation Genetics Resources 2010(2): 163-166.

This information was provided by the University of Georgia's Savannah River Ecology Laboratory (srel.uga.edu).