Mr. Prosser et al., Microgeographic population genetic structure in the northern water snake, Nerodia sipedon sipedon detected using microsatellite DNA loci, MOL ECOL, 8(2), 1999, pp. 329-333
We describe the isolation and genetic characterization of eight microsatell
ite DNA loci from the northern water snake, Nerodia sipedon sipedon and use
these loci to analyse levels of genetic differentiation between local (< 2
km apart) populations of these snakes in Ontario. These loci are variable,
with expected heterozygosities ranging from 0.28 to 0.91, and can correctl
y exclude nonsires in parentage analyses with a high probability (0.998). P
opulation analyses reveal significant deviation from expected heterozygosit
y levels for one population, probably a result of a null allele(s) at a sin
gle locus and small but significant levels of genetic differentiation among
all three populations. This demonstrates that microgeographic genetic stru
cture exists in this species, possibly due to limited dispersal.