PARENT SESSION
Poster Session 26: Reptiles and Amphibians
Thursday, August 11, 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM, Exhibit Hall 220 A-E, Level 2, Palais des congrès de Montréal
Nice and easy identification of Ambystoma hybrids.
Dumoulin, Jeanne*,1, Noël, Sarah1, Ouellet, Martin1, Galois, Patrick1, Lapointe, François-Joseph1, 1 Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada
ABSTRACT- Populations of unisexual salamanders of the genus Ambystoma can be found in eastern North America, and are usually composed of females only. These unisexual salamanders arose from ancestral hybridization events, by incorporating the nuclear genomes of four bisexual species, and show different levels of ploidy. Although bisexual species are easily differentiated morphologically, hybrids can be difficult to discriminate visually because they may possess intermediate characters, or morphological traits from either of their diploid counterparts. Therefore, identification methods based on allozyme or chromosome data are often required to tell apart hybrids from bisexual species. In the present study, we introduce a novel way to discriminate between bisexual and unisexual salamanders based on species-specific primers designed in the mitochondrial cytochrome b region. This molecular approach provides a simple, rapid, non-invasive and efficient method, using a single PCR and small tissue samples that can easily be obtained from live specimens. This method allows for a quick identification of hybrid populations. Because of their reproduction mode (parthenogenesis, gynogenesis or hybridogenesis), unisexual populations are more vulnerable to the loss of genetic diversity and are therefore more susceptible to local extinction if their habitat is fragmented or altered. It is thus of primary importance to identify hybrid populations to protect their habitat.
Key words: Ambystoma, hybridization, species-specific primers, unisexual salamanders