Development, Characterization, and Utility of 13 Polymorphic Microsatellite Loci in Praticolella (Gastropoda: Polygyridae) Species from South Texas, U.S.A.

Abstract: We developed and characterized 13 polymorphic microsatellite loci in South Texas species of Praticolella von Martens, 1892 (Gastropoda: Polygyridae), some of which have restricted distributions and can be difficult to identify using traditional shell characters. To make this genomic tool more broadly useful in these species, instead of characterizing loci in many individuals of a single species, we tested them across five populations of four different species. Twelve loci amplified in all four species tested, and eleven loci showed deviations from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. These loci will be valuable in assessing species identity and population genetic connectivity among South Texas Praticolella.