Molecular Variation
in the Bog Turtle, Clemmys muhlenbergii

GEORGE D. AMATO,1 JOHN L. BEHLER,1 BERN W. TRYON,2 and DENNIS W. HERMAN 3

1 Wildlife Conservation Society, 185th St. and Southern Blvd., Bronx, NY 10460, USA
Amato e-mail: gamato1@aol.com   Behler e-mail: jbehler@wcs.org

2 Knoxville Zoological Gardens, P.O. Box 6040, Knoxville, TN 37914, USA  e-mail: btryon@knoxville-zoo.com

3 North Carolina State Museum of Natural Sciences, P.O. Box 29555, Raleigh, NC 27626-0555, USA
e-mail: Dennis_Herman@mail.ehnr.state.nc.us

        ABSTRACT:  In this study, we preliminarily explored mitochondrial (mt) DNA variation in geographically separated populations of the bog turtle, Clemmys muhlenbergii.  Portions of the 16S ribosomal mitochondrial gene were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and directly sequenced for 20 individuals.  The sequences were assessed for diagnostic characters that would support designation as separate conservation units for northern and southern populations.  Additionally, the same region was sequenced in representatives of the three congenerics, C. guttata, C. insculpta, and C. marmorata, and two outgroup taxa, Chrysemys picta and Chelydra serpentina, to determine whether this genomic region contained phylogenetic information for closely related species.



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