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Development of tetranucleotide microsatellite loci and a non-invasive DNA sampling method for Texas horned lizards (Phrynosoma cornutum)

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Abstract

We developed a non-invasive DNA sampling method and 15 tetranucleotide microsatellite markers for Texas horned lizards (Phrynosoma cornutum). Swabbing the cloaca with a small cotton swab and preserving the cells in lysis buffer was an effective method to obtain tissue for DNA extraction. Loci were highly polymorphic with 8–25 alleles and observed heterozygosity was high (0.71–0.96). Some of these loci can also be used for round-tailed horned lizards (P. modestum).

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by a Wildlife Diversity Conservation Grant from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) and an Andrews Institute Research Award, TCU to DAW and AMH. We thank Gad Perry for suggesting the use of cloacal swabs, and Chip Ruthven, members of the Horned Lizard Conservation Society, and TPWD personnel for collecting samples. Research was conducted with a permit from TPWD and IACUC approval from TCU.

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Author notes

  1. Emmanuela Mujica

    Present address: Department of Biology, University of Texas at Arlington, 701 South Nedderman Drive, Arlington, TX, 76019, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Texas Christian University, 2955 S. University Dr., Fort Worth, TX, 76129, USA

    Dean A. Williams, Cory Leach, Amanda M. Hale, Kristopher B. Karsten & Emmanuela Mujica

  2. Fort Worth Zoo, 1989 Colonial Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX, 76110, USA

    Diane Barber

  3. Wildlife Diversity Program, Texas Parks and Wildlife, 200 Hoots Holler Rd., Wimberley, TX, 78676, USA

    Lee Ann Linam

  4. Texas Parks and Wildlife, 917 Hemphill Dr., Cleburne, TX, 76033, USA

    Nathan Rains

Authors
  1. Dean A. Williams
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  2. Cory Leach
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  3. Amanda M. Hale
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  4. Kristopher B. Karsten
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  5. Emmanuela Mujica
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  6. Diane Barber
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  7. Lee Ann Linam
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  8. Nathan Rains
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Dean A. Williams.

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Williams, D.A., Leach, C., Hale, A.M. et al. Development of tetranucleotide microsatellite loci and a non-invasive DNA sampling method for Texas horned lizards (Phrynosoma cornutum). Conservation Genet Resour 4, 43–45 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12686-011-9469-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12686-011-9469-5

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