Department of Energy under Award Number DE-FC09-07SR22506 to the University of Georgia Research Foundation.Ĭompeting interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist. This research was partially supported by U. įunding: We thank the Science and Innovation Fund of the province of Saskatchewan, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, the Canada Research Chairs Program, the University of Regina, the Royal Saskatchewan Museum, Friends of the Royal Saskatchewan Museum, Saskatchewan Parks, the Parks Canada Agency and Grasslands National Park, the Canadian Museum of Nature, the Canadian Wildlife Federation, and Agriculture and Agri-food Canada and Environment Canada’s Inter-Departmental Recovery Fund for financial support. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.ĭata Availability: Microsatellite genotypes and associated site information have been uploaded to Dryad: DOI. Received: JAccepted: OctoPublished: November 2, 2017Ĭopyright: © 2017 Somers et al. PLoS ONE 12(11):Įditor: Tzen-Yuh Chiang, National Cheng Kung University, TAIWAN (2017) Conservation genetics of the eastern yellow-bellied racer ( Coluber constrictor flaviventris) and bullsnake ( Pituophis catenifer sayi): River valleys are critical features for snakes at northern range limits. Our findings highlight the importance of major river valleys for snakes at the northern extent of their ranges, and raise the possibility that populations in each river valley may warrant separate management strategies.Ĭitation: Somers CM, Graham CF, Martino JA, Frasier TR, Lance SL, Gardiner LE, et al. Finer-scale subdivision of populations within river valleys was not apparent based on our data, but is a topic that should be investigated further. Bayesian assignment (STRUCTURE) and ordination (DAPC) strongly supported genetically differentiated groups in the geographically distinct river valleys. Fixation indices (F ST) showed that populations in river valleys were significantly differentiated for both species (racers, F ST = 0.096, P = 0.001 bullsnakes F ST = 0.045–0.157, P = 0.001). To test this hypothesis, we used 10 microsatellite loci to examine the population structure of two species of conservation concern in Canada: the eastern yellow-bellied racer ( Coluber constrictor flaviventris) and bullsnake ( Pituophis catenifer sayi) in 3 major river valleys in southern Saskatchewan. Independent colonization histories for the river valleys and barriers to gene flow caused by the lack of suitable habitat between them may have produced genetically differentiated snake populations. ![]() Mating occurs in the spring, and a clutch of approximately 30 eggs is laid typically in the month of May, to hatch mid summer.On the North American Great Plains, several snake species reach their northern range limit where they rely on sparsely distributed hibernacula located in major river valleys. The tan racer prefers habitats of pine flatwoods. It is fast moving, and generally seeks to use its speed to escape if approached. Its diet consists of a wide variety of prey, but primarily includes rodents, and lizards. ![]() Like all racers, the tan racer is diurnal and highly active. It has large eyes, with round pupils, and excellent vision. 75 – 1.5 m (30 to 60 inches) in total length (including tail). The underside is typically gray or white, sometimes with yellow spotting. Juveniles have a pattern of dark brown dorsal blotches, which fade to solid tan at about a year of age. The tan racer, as its name implies, is typically a solid tan in color. The subspecific name or epithet, etheridgei, is in honor of the American zoologist and paleontologist Richard Emmett Etheridge. ![]() etheridgei is found in Louisiana and Texas.
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