Microsatellite DNA markers applied to detection of multiple paternity in Caiman latirostris in Santa Fe, Argentina

Abstract

Detecting multiple paternity in wild populations of the broad-snouted caiman (Caiman latirostris) has important implications for conservation efforts. We have applied microsatellite markers to examine genetic variation in C. latirostris and also have provided the first data concerning detection of multiple paternity in wild populations of this species. Blood samples from four nest-guarding C. latirostris females and their hatchlings were obtained from Santa Fe Province, Argentina. Amplified products were analyzed by electrophoresis on 10% polyacrylamide gels and visualized with silver staining. Four out of the eight markers tested reliably amplified and yielded useful data. Using polyacrylamide gels with silver staining provides high enough resolution to obtain individual genotypes. In order to assess the presence or absence of more than two parents in each nest, we used the single locus Minimum Method, and applied Cervus 3.0 and Gerud 2.0 software in parentage analyses. Our results indicate more than one father in at least two families. This behavior could be the consequence of high habitat variability in the area where our population was sampled. The ability to understand mating systems is important for maintaining viable populations of exploited taxa like C. latirostris.

Mating system and population analysis of the broad-snouted caiman (Caiman latirostris) using microsatellite markers

“…We determined that in family 8 there appeared to be more than one compatible mother, which corresponded to the inconsistency found using Cervus 3.0. In two families the clutch had an assignment minimum of two fathers (families 3 and 5), verifying evidence of multiple paternity, in agreement with our previous results (Amavet et al, 2008). In the rest of the families, the clutch had an assignment minimum of one father.…”

“…Zucoloto et al (2009) applied SSR analysis to assess parentage among individuals from a captive colony of C. latirostris. In relation to mating system analyses in the wild, preliminary results obtained in our laboratory using SSRs in paternity analysis found evidence of multipaternity in one of four families analyzed (Amavet et al, 2008). Although these results were based on a small sampling, they were consistent with findings on different crocodilian species (Davis et al, 2001;McVay et al, 2008;Hu and Wu, 2010).…”

Size of nesting female Broad-snouted Caimans (Caiman latirostris Daudin 1802)

“…Females were caught at their nests in the wild with a steel cable noose and immobilized manually, then sexed by cloacal palpation (Verdade, 1997;Portelinha et al, 2015). We assumed that a female caiman attending a nest was the maternal parent of the clutch in that nest (Amavet et al, 2008). Once caught, we measured TL and SVL (from beginning of snout to beginning of cloaca) with a measuring tape (± 1 mm) and body mass (BM) with a scale (± 0.1 kg).…”

Parentage and relatedness in captive and natural populations of the Roseate Spoonbill (Aves: Ciconiiformes) based on microsatellite data

“…Moreover, copulations are very difficult to observe directly in nature and the lack of sexual dimorphism complicates sex-differentiating observations. One alternative to unravel aspects of a mating system in cases like this is to deduct reproductive behavior from molecular information on maternity and paternity (Avise, 2004), as performed in many recent studies (for example: Amavet et al, 2008). As a first approach to clarifying the mating system in the Roseate Spoonbill we investigated genetic relationships among 67 supposed siblings from 28 nests sampled in wild Brazilian breeding colonies.…”