Lauren M. Besenhofer and John L. Carr

The type of mating system exhibited by a species has significant conservation implications with respect to maintenance of genetic diversity. In particular, evidence of multiple paternity within clutches is important because it may help slow the loss of genetic variability through drift in small populations. The Alligator Snapping Turtle (Macrochelys temminckii) has undergone significant declines in population size throughout its range and is considered a species of special concern, thus determining whether or not Macrochelys exhibits this mode of reproduction is relevant to its management and recovery. This study used microsatellite regions in DNA to assess the paternity of 14 clutches of Macrochelys collected from 2003-2005 at Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge in northeast Louisiana. A total of 316 individuals from the 14 clutches (5–42/clutch), along with 31 other adults and juveniles from the population, has been genotyped. Preliminary assessment of variation at two loci, MteB103 and MteC112, indicates the presence of seven alleles at each locus in the population. The number of alleles present within a clutch at both loci is in all 14 cases below the threshold needed to indicate multiple fathers. These preliminary data are consistent with a hypothesis of single paternity.
Macrochelys Session Oral

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