SREL Reprint #3215

Fourteen novel microsatellite markers for the gopher frog, Lithobates capito (Amphibia: Ranidae)

Schyler O. Nunziata1,2, Stephen C. Richter1, Robert D. Denton1, John M. Yeiser1, Danielle E. Wells1, Kenneth L. Jones3, Cris Hagen2, and Stacey L. Lance2

1Department of Biological Sciences, Moore 235, Eastern Kentucky University, 521 Lancaster Avenue, Richmond, KY 40475, USA
2Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, Aiken, SC 29803, USA
3University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA

Abstract: We isolated and characterized a total of 14 microsatellite loci from gopher frogs, Lithobates capito. This species is of conservation concern because most populations have gone locally extinct across the geographic distribution. Loci were screened for 21 individuals from a single population in Florida. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 7 to 17, observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.667 to 0.947, and the probability of identity values ranged from 0.011 to 0.077. These new loci provide tools for examining the genetic diversity and population structure of L. capito populations and addressing factors associated with their decline.

Keywords: Lithobates, Rana, Ranidae, Gopher frog, Microsatellite, PCR primers, SSR, STR.

SREL Reprint #3215

Nunziata, S. O., S. C. Richter, R. D. Denton, J. M. Yeiser, D. E. Wells, K. L. Jones, C. Hagen, and S. L. Lance. 2012. Fourteen novel microsatellite markers for the gopher frog, Lithobates capito (Amphibia: Ranidae). Conservation Genetic Resources 2012(4): 201-203.

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