Fine scale population genetic structure of Euphlyctis karaavali (Amphibia: Anura) using newly developed microsatellite markers

Amphibian genus Euphlyctis Fitzinger, 1843 from the family Dicroglossidae (Anderson, 1871) contains eight species. Euphlyctis karaavali, an edible frog, was described in 2016 from Sanikatta, a coastal village in Karnataka and extended up to Kerala, the southwestern part of India. This species was included in IUCN Red list conservation status as Near Threatened in India. We studied this species´ genetic diversity and population structure using eleven newly developed microsatellite loci. Highly polymorphic microsatellite loci were mined using Next Generation Sequencing method. Population clustering, heterozygosity and fine-scale genetic analysis were performed on E. karaavali populations across Kerala state. We identified and characterized 11 polymorphic microsatellite loci, including three di- and tri- repeats, four tetra, and one penta repeats. Analyses with these loci resulted in two genetically non- bottlenecked population clusters with high heterozygosity (0.8-1) and significant genetic differentiation. No inbreeding depression was observed. Low population sizes (< 50) with high allelic richness (4.7–7.9) were also observed. The population structure of E. karaavali in Kerala is currently stable and expanding and conservation plans should implemented to protect the species from future genetic loss.