Four independent electrophoretic markers in spadefoot toads

Four enzyme-encoding genes (Idh-1, Idh-2, Ldh-1, and Mdh-1), with alleles diagnostic for the spadefoot toads Scaphiopus multiplicatus and Scaphiopus bombifrons, were investigated in order to characterize their inheritance and linkage relationships. Electrophoretic phenotypes in the offspring of natural crosses exhibit Mendelian segregation, behaving as genotypes produced by alternative alleles at four independently assorting loci. These phenotypes are useful markers of genetic identity and the degree of genetic admixture in the analyses of hybrid zone dynamics for these two species. Concurrent use of a morphological index verified the diagnostic value of the markers. The morphological index is useful for the identification of parental species and many F1 hybrids, however offspring of backcrosses usually express parental species characteristics. Electrophoretic typing allows the identification of all hybrids and 87 percent of the offspring from backcrosses. It also facilitates the identification of tadpoles, which are extremely difficult to distinguish morphologically. The technique is useful for the assessment of introgression and the evaluation of reproductive interaction in these species, even though it slightly underestimates backcross offspring.