Abstract

The Virgin Islands Boa (Chilabothrus granti) is a species of conservation concern and is restricted to the Puerto Rico Bank, which encompasses the island of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands Archipelago to the east. The species is endangered because of increased anthropogenic activity, invasive rat populations, feral cat predation, and threats to habitat stability related to climate change. I obtained 96 samples of Virgin Island boas from researchers studying the species over the last 20 years, representing samples from a total of four island populations. I extracted and purified the DNA, then amplified and sequenced each sample at the mitochondrial gene cytochromeB. I also sent samples for genome-wide 3RAD genotyping-by-sequencing. From the mitochondrial dataset I estimated six haplotypes, with each island having only a single haplotype present except for a translocated population in the USVI. For the 3RAD dataset I used a depth of sequencing plot to examine data quality, then used Discriminant Analysis of Principal Components to visualize population genetic relationships. Together these data show that the VI boa retains less genetic diversity as a species compared to almost all other snakes in the Caribbean with the particularly troubling lack of mtDNA diversity in remaining island populations. Despite the fact that a translocated population retains higher levels of genetic diversity, I expect that this will decline through time owing to strong genetic drift in the small population. These data will be useful for designing genetically-informed conservation strategies for the species.

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