Electrophoretic identification of Ambystoma laterale and Ambystoma texanum as well as their diploid and triploid interspecific hybrids (Amphibia: Caudata) on Pelee Island, Ontario

Abstract

Ambystoma salamanders from Pelee Island, Ontario, were compared with mainland populations of A. jeffersonianum, A. laterale, and A. texanum using erythrocyte area measurements, chromosome counts, and electrophoretic analysis of proteins coded by 32 loci. The mainland species are characterized by relatively low heterozygosity (H = 0.053–0.11) and high Nei's genetic distances (D = 0.896–1.067). Nine diagnostic loci were found in A. jeffersonianum and five in each of A. laterale and A. texanum. Two loci (SOD-1 and GOT-1) diagnose all three mainland species and provide gene dosage for assessing genome contributions of A. laterale and A. texanum in Pelee Island salamanders. Diploid and triploid female A. texanum × A. laterale hybrids as well as A. laterale and A. texanum occur on Pelee Island.