Isolation and characterization of 17 polymorphic microsatellite loci for the three-toed woodpecker (Picoides tridactylus)

We describe primers and polymerase chain reaction conditions to amplify 17 di‐, tri‐ and tetranucleotide microsatellite loci from the three‐toed woodpecker (Picoides tridactylus). The primers were tested on 26 to 30 individuals from a single population breeding in southern Finland. The developed primer pairs yielded an average of 7.6 alleles per locus (range two to 15), an average observed heterozygosity of 0.69 (range 0.07 to 0.97), and an average polymorphic information content of 0.68 (range 0.06 to 0.90).     

Characterization of microsatellite loci in the Kaka,Nestor meridionalis

Eight microsatellite loci were characterized from the Kaka (Nestor meridionalis), a New Zealand parrot, using a polymerase chain reaction‐based isolation technique. Locus‐specific primers were used to genotype nine Kaka populations and tested on 25 other species of parrot. The number of alleles observed within Kaka ranged from one to 16 in the 12–126 individuals screened and two loci exhibited greater than 60% heterozygosity. Furthermore, these primers are likely to be useful in population‐level studies of two other New Zealand parrots.     

Microsatellite primers for the Western Pebble‐mound Mouse (Pseudomys chapmani) that show cross amplification for other species of Australian rodent

We describe 12 dinucleotide and one tetranucleotide microsatellite loci for the Western Pebble‐mound Mouse (Pseudomys chapmani) that can be amplified with the polymerase chain reaction. All primers produced clear and highly polymorphic amplification patterns containing between seven and 14 alleles and with high expected heterozygosities. The amplification of these primers across seven related conspecifics makes them useful for population genetic studies and conservation work in several of these species.     

Polymorphic dinucleotide microsatellite loci in the clonal ascidian Diplosoma listerianum: predominance of compound and highly interrupted imperfect repeats

We report the isolation of the first dinucleotide microsatellite loci from the clonal ascidian, Diplosoma listerianum. Most repeats were compound and highly interrupted, with flanking sequences containing many small interspersed repetitive regions. Consequently, most primers detected polymerase chain reaction products outside the expected size range, and only five out of 15 primers detected polymorphic single‐locus markers. Characterization of five variable loci from two UK populations revealed three to seven alleles per locus, with observed heterozygosity of 0.00–0.86 and expected heterozygosity of 0.10–0.66. Three loci showed significant heterozygote deficits either because of inbreeding, population substructure or the presence of null alleles.     

Isolation and characterization of microsatellite loci in a marine fish species,the tusk (Brosme brosme)

We developed polymerase chain reaction primers for nine dinucleotide microsatellite loci in the marine deep‐sea fish, the tusk (Brosme brosme). All markers were obtained from a partial genomic DNA library, and characterized in 100 unrelated individuals from one putative population. The number of alleles ranged from two to 60 with an average of 15/locus. The observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.020 to 0.826 (average 0.438). Several of the markers amplified multiple alleles from the two other gadoid species tested.     

Seven polymorphic microsatellite DNA loci from the red‐spotted newt (Notophthalmus viridescens)

We describe polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers and amplification conditions for seven microsatellite DNA loci isolated from the red‐spotted newt (Notophthalmus viridescens). Primers were tested on 16 individuals from two populations on the Savannah River Site in Aiken County, South Carolina. We detected six to 10 alleles per locus and an overall observed heterozygosity range of 0.31–0.81. Despite low heterozygosity at two of the seven loci, the high polymorphic information contents (from 0.54 to 0.85) of these markers render them useful for future studies of the behavioural and population ecology of this common salamander.     

Dinucleotide microsatellite loci isolated from flowering dogwood (Cornus florida L.)

We report eight variable dinucleotide microsatellite loci cloned from flowering dogwood (Cornus florida L.) using a biotin enrichment protocol. Degenerate oligonucleotide primer‐polymerase chain reaction (DOP‐PCR) was used to generate a population of DNA fragments, from which adenine‐cytosine dinucleotide (AC) and adenine‐guanine dinucleotide (AG) repeats were captured using biotinylated probes and streptavidin coated magnetic particles. The captured fragments were cloned into plasmids, and the plasmid library was screened for microsatellites using a simple PCR technique. Selected plasmids were sequenced, and PCR primers were designed and optimized using a thermal‐gradient thermocycler. The loci reported are highly variable with an average of 9.25 allele per locus and an average heterozygosity of 0.84.     

Development of microsatellite markers in Rhizophora stylosa using a dual‐suppression‐polymerase chain reaction technique

Rhizophora stylosa is an ecologically important mangrove tree species that is found in tropical and subtropical regions. We isolated five polymorphic microsatellite loci from R. stylosa using a dual‐suppression‐polymerase chain reaction technique. These loci provided microsatellite markers with polymorphism of four alleles in each locus for overall population. The mean expected heterozygosities ranged from 0.113 to 0.473.     

Eleven microsatellite loci in the sociobiologically enigmatic ant Lasius austriacus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

We describe the isolation and characterization of 11 microsatellite loci in the sociobiologically enigmatic ant Lasius austriacus. The polymerase chain reaction primers were tested on a population in East Austria. The number of alleles ranged from four to 19 and the observed heterozygosity from 0.200 to 0.900. Cross‐species amplification tests were performed, with some loci polymorphic in all species tested, for the closely related invasive species Lasius neglectus, three further Lasius species, another formicine, Formica polyctena, and the invasive myrmicine species Tetramorium tsushimae.     

Microsatellite markers for eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis)

We describe polymerase chain reaction primer pairs and reaction conditions for amplification of 15 microsatellite loci from eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis). The primers were tested on 23 individuals from a natural population in southwestern North Carolina, USA. These primers yielded an average of 5.9 alleles per locus (range of 2-14), an average observed heterozygosity of 0.45 (range 0.14-0.73), and an average polymorphic information content of 0.54 (range 0.28-0.86). In addition, eight of the primer pairs were found to amplify microsatellite loci in one or more additional species of Tsuga.     

Polymorphic microsatellite DNA markers from the Oriental Fruit Fly Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel)

Six polymorphic microsatellite loci are isolated from the Oriental fruit fly Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel), an agricultural pest in Asia, including Taiwan. To assess their potential utility as high‐resolution genetic markers, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers, amplification conditions, and an automated fluorescence detection protocol were developed. In analyses of 71 individual flies from six different areas of Taiwan, allele numbers ranged from five to 25 were detected for each locus. The observed heterozygosity ranged between 0.268 and 0.737 among these loci. No linkage disequilibrium was found. These microsatellite markers have potential utility to population structure and gene flow studies of B. dorsalis (Hendel).     

The highly polymorphic microsatellite markers for the greater long‐tailed hamster (Tscherskia triton)

We isolated 25 dinucleotide microsatellite loci from the greater long‐tailed hamster (Tscherskia triton) populations in North China. We developed the amplification conditions of polymerase chain reaction for producing high‐resolution genetic markers for each locus. We found 10 microsatellite loci were highly polymorphic in 90 individual hamsters from three areas of North China, and the number of alleles in each locus varied from three to 11. These markers are potential tools for studying the genetic variation of the natural populations of this species.     

Characterization of seven polymorphic microsatellite loci in the Common Loon (Gavia immer)

We describe polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers and conditions to amplify seven microsatellite DNA loci isolated from the Common Loon (Gavia immer). The PCR primers were tested on 83 individuals from 10 locations in North America, including breeding, migration stopover, and wintering areas. Between two and seven alleles were observed to segregate at the seven microsatellite loci, with observed heterozygosities ranging from 0.048 to 0.695.     

Microsatellite DNA loci from the Diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin)

We describe polymerase chain recation (PCR) primers and conditions to amplify one dinucleotide and five tetranucleotide microsatellite DNA loci isolated from the Diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin). The PCR primers were tested on 21 terrapins from Cape Romain, SC, USA. The microsatellite primers developed yielded a high number of alleles (8–14) and high observed heterozygosities (0.57–1.0).     

Characterization of microsatellite loci for the Argentine ant,Linepithema humile,and their potential for analysis of colony structure in invading Hawaiian populations

We developed primers for five polymorphic microsatellite loci to analyse the genetic structure of colonies in an invading Argentine ant population located in Haleakala National Park on the island of Maui, Hawaii. Microsatellite loci were isolated using both a polymerase chain reaction‐based and a cloning‐based method. With a range of 3–18 alleles and expected levels of heterozygosity of 0.46–0.77, these loci provide useful markers for the detection of colony and population structure in new or expanding populations of this species.     

Isolation and characterization of 145 polymorphic microsatellite loci for the common frog (Rana temporaria)

We describe primers and polymerase chain reaction conditions to amplify 145 di‐, tri‐ and tetranucleotide microsatellite loci from the common frog (Rana temporaria), a species commonly used as a model in ecological and evolutionary research. Primers were tested on 46 individuals from two Fennoscandian populations and yielded an average of six to nine alleles per locus (range = 1–30) depending on the population. Average observed heterozygosities in the two populations were 0.16 (range = 0–0.91) and 0.36 (range = 0–1).     

Tetranucleotide microsatellite DNA loci from the dollar sunfish (Lepomis marginatus)

We describe polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers and conditions to amplify one dinucleotide and eight tetranucleotide microsatellite DNA loci isolated from the dollar sunfish (Lepomis marginatus). The PCR primers were tested on 20 or more individuals from five populations. The dollar sunfish microsatellite primers developed yielded a high number of alleles (4 to 14 per locus), and high observed heterozygosities (0.500–0.857).     

Polymorphic tetranucleotide microsatellite DNA loci from the southern dusky salamander (Desmognathus auriculatus)

We describe polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers and amplification conditions for seven tetranucleotide microsatellite DNA loci isolated from the southern dusky salamander (Desmognathus auriculatus). Primers were tested on 16 individuals from one population in Aiken County, South Carolina. We detected an average of 6.57 alleles per locus, an observed heterozygosity range of 0.44–0.94, and high polymorphic information contents (mean of 0.68).     

Development and characterization of ten new microsatellite markers in a mangrove tree species Bruguiera gymnorrhiza (L.)

Bruguiera gymnorrhiza is an ecologically and somewhat economically important mangrove tree species. We isolated 10 polymorphic microsatellite loci from B. gymnorrhiza using a dual‐suppression polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique. These loci provided microsatellite markers with polymorphism of two to five alleles per locus within 216 individuals from nine natural populations of B. gymnorrhiza on Iriomote Island, the Sakishima Islands, Japan. The expected and observed heterozygosities ranged from 0.220 to 0.720 and from 0.104 to 0.447, respectively.     

Isolation and characterization of polymorphic microsatellite markers from Australia short-finned eel (Anguilla australis Richardson)

Seventeen microsatellite DNA loci from the Australian short‐finned eel (Anguilla australis Richardson) were isolated and their amplification characteristics were described. The polymerase chain reaction primers were tested on 40 eel individuals. The primers amplified loci with relatively high numbers of alleles, ranging from five to 14 with an average of nine per locus. Mean observed heterozygosity (H_O) and expected heterozygosity (H_E) were 0.6779 and 0.7374, respectively, indicating that these markers would be useful for population studies. No loci deviated significantly from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium (P = 0.05) and no evidence was found for genotypic disequilibrium among loci at a 5% significance level.