A Non-lethal Method for Identification of the Cotton Mouse, \u3ci\u3ePeromyscus gossypinus\u3c/i\u3e (LeConte,1853)

The cotton mouse (Peromyscus gossypinus) is on the northern periphery of its range in southwestern Kentucky, southeastern Missouri, and southern Illinois. Little information is available on the life history of cotton mice in Illinois, in part because of difficulty in differentiating them from white-footed mice (P. leucopus). Current identification is often based on lethal sampling, including collection of internal tissues for allozyme electrophoresis or measurement of skull characters. Here we describe a reliable, non-lethal method for distinguishing between cotton mice and white-footed mice using a diagnostic allozyme locus, glucose-6-phosphate isomerase (GPI-1) from toe-clips. This technique will enhance conservation efforts by making identification of P. gossypinus and P. leucopus easier in areas of sympatry

Isolation and Characterization of Microsatellite loci for Alligator Gar (\u3ci\u3eAtractosteus spatula\u3c/i\u3e) and their Variability in Two Other Species (\u3ci\u3eLepisosteus oculatus\u3c/i\u3e and \u3ci\u3eL. osseus\u3c/i\u3e) of Lepisosteidae

We report on the isolation of 17 polymorphic microsatellite loci from alligator gar (Atractosteus spatula), a large-bodied species that has experienced population declines across much of its range. These loci possessed 2-19 alleles and observed heterozygosities of 0-0.974. All loci conformed to Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium expectations, and none exhibited linkage disequilibrium. Nine and eight of these loci were found to be polymorphic in the related species Lepisosteus oculatus and L. osseus, respectively. These microsatellite loci should prove useful in conservation efforts of A. spatula through the study of population structure and hatchery broodstock management

Isolated frogs in a crowded world: effects of human-caused habitat loss on frog heterozygosity and fluctuating asymmetry

It is important to develop research methods that will detect deterioration in population health before severe declines occur. Amphibian population declines are widespread; the main causes are anthropogenic and include habitat fragmentation due to agriculture, mining, fires, and urban development. Brazil is the richest country in species of amphibians, and the Brazilian regions with the greatest amphibian diversity are experiencing relatively high rates of habitat destruction. We tested the use of measurements of fluctuating asymmetry (FA) taken on adult frogs, as well as heterozygosity estimates in frog populations, to detect anthropogenic stress. We hypothesized that greater human occupancy in the landscape might result in more stressful conditions for amphibians, which would be reflected in high FA levels and/or reduced heterozygosity. We conducted this study at the Espinhaço mountain range in southeastern Brazil, using an endemic species (Bokermannohyla saxicola, Hylidae) as a model. We found that adult frog FA levels differed among localities but did not find significant correlations between human modification of the landscape and FA levels. In the subsample of localities for which we had genetic data, heterozygosity was significantly inversely correlated with FA in adult frogs, and heterozygosity decreased with increasing human occupancy in the landscape, except for populations with marginal distribution within the species range that already had very low heterozygosity. Our major finding was that reduced heterozygosity may be caused by population isolation resulting from human occupancy (among other causes) and is correlated with increased fluctuating asymmetry, so that either may indicate higher levels of stress in populations of B. saxicola

The genetic composition of wild recruits in a recovering lake trout population in Lake Michigan

Strain performance evaluations are vital for developing successful fishery management and restoration strategies. Here, we utilized genotypes from 36 microsatellites to investigate hatchery strain contribution to collections of naturally produced lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) sampled across Lake Michigan. Strain composition varied by area, with recoveries of Seneca Lake strain exceeding expectations based on stocking records in northern Lake Michigan but performing similarly to other strains in southern Lake Michigan. Interstrain hybrids were present at moderate frequencies similar to expectations based on simulations, suggesting that strains are interbreeding randomly. We hypothesize that the superior performance of the Seneca Lake strain in northern Lake Michigan is partially due to adaptive advantages that facilitate increased survival in areas with high mortality from sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) predation, such as northern Lake Michigan. However, when this selective pressure is lessened, the Seneca Lake strain performs similarly to other strains. Our study demonstrates that strain performance can vary across small spatial scales and illustrates the importance of conducting thorough strain evaluations to inform management and conservation.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author