Polymerase chain reaction primers for polymorphic microsatellite loci in the ant Pseudomyrmex gracilis (Formicidae: Pseudomyrmecinae)

The elongate twig ant Pseudomyrmex gracilis is widely distributed in the New World ranging from southern USA to Brazil and northern Argentina. To investigate its within-colony relatedness, we developed primers for nine polymorphic microsatellite loci. High levels of within-population variation were observed, with number of alleles ranging from two to 13, and heterozygosity from 0.28 to 0.90. The loci showed no deviations from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and no linkage disequilibrium.     

Isolation and characterization of five microsatellite loci in the ponerine ant Pachycondyla inversa (Hymenoptera,Formicidae)

We characterized five polymorphic DNA microsatellite loci for the neotropical ponerine ant Pachycondyla inversa. The variability was initially tested in 19 workers from nine colonies from a Brazilian population. We found five to 12 alleles per locus, with observed heterozygosities between 0.72 and 0.95. The allele size ranged from 73 to 197 bp. The primers also successfully amplified DNA at all five loci in the closely related species P. villosa.     

Isolation and characterization of microsatellite loci in the ant Myrmica scabrinodis

Five polymorphic microsatellite loci were developed for the ant Myrmica scabrinodis using a magnetic bead hybridization selection protocol. The number of alleles per locus varied between three and six. Cross‐species amplification of four of the loci yielded positive amplification products in four Myrmica species, suggesting their general suitability for microsatellite analysis within this taxonomic group.     

PCR primers for polymorphic microsatellite loci in the plant‐ant Azteca ulei cordiae (Formicidae: Dolichoderinae)

Twelve microsatellite loci were isolated from the Peruvian tropical plant‐ant, Azteca ulei cordiae (Hymenoptera: Dolichoderinae). High levels of within‐population variation were observed at most loci, with number of alleles ranging from four to 18, and heterozygosity from 0.118 to 1 per population sample. Cross‐species amplification of these loci was also successfully tested in several other species of the same ant genus Azteca.     

Isolation and characterization of microsatellite loci in the bee Ceratina flavipes

Polymorphic microsatellite markers can provide essential information on genetic analyses of sociality and mating behaviour of insects. We developed eight microsatellite loci in the small carpenter bee, Ceratina flavipes, using a magnetic bead hybridization enrichment protocol. These loci showed two to eight alleles with expected heterozygosity of 0.21–0.87, and also seemed useful to such congeneric species as Ceratina okinawana distributed in southern Japan. By using these loci, the sociality and mating systems in Ceratina species, that are still controversial, are possible to be analysed.     

Isolation and characterization of 10 microsatellite loci in the magnetic termite,Amitermes meridionalis (Isoptera: Termitidae)

The elongated mounds of the ‘magnetic termite’, Amitermes meridionalis are a prominent feature of the Northern Territory in Australia. They are restricted to habitat patches of seasonally flooded plains which are largely isolated from each other. To investigate the population structure of A. meridionalis, we developed 10 polymorphic microsatellite loci. We tested the variability of the markers on at least 20 individuals from two populations. We found three to 12 alleles per locus with a level of heterozygosity at each locus ranging from 0.05 to 0.74.     

PCR primers for polymorphic microsatellite loci in the facultatively polygynous plant‐ant Petalomyrmex phylax (Formicidae)

Fourteen microsatellite loci were isolated and their level of polymorphism characterized in two populations of the facultatively polygynous plant‐ant Petalomyrmex phylax (Formicinae). High levels of within‐population variation were observed at most loci, with number of alleles ranging from two to 15, and heterozygosity from 0.050 to 0.925. Cross‐species amplification of these loci was also tested in four plant‐ant species belonging to three other genera, Aphomomyrmex, Cladomyrma (both Formicinae) and Cataulacus (Myrmicinae).     

Isolation and characterization of microsatellite loci from two inbreeding bark beetle species (Coccotrypes)

We developed 14 microsatellite markers in Coccotrypes carpophagus and 14 in C. dactyliperda. These loci will be used for studying genetic structure and the level of inbreeding in populations in the Canary Islands and Madeira. As a result of long‐term inbreeding, genetic variability is relatively low in these bark beetle species. We found one to five alleles per locus in 29 C. carpophagus and 41 C. dactyliperda from various localities. Eleven of the markers developed for C. carpophagus amplified in C. dactyliperda and seven of the markers developed for C. dactyliperda amplified in C. carpophagus.     

Polymorphic microsatellite markers for the symbiotic fungi cultivated by leaf cutter ants (Attini, Formicidae)

We developed 23 polymorphic microsatellite markers for the symbiotic fungi cultivated by leaf cutter ants, then assessed allelic variation in North American leafcutter-fungus populations (Mexico, Cuba, USA). Polyploidy was indicated by 21 of the 23 loci, consistent with the multinucleate nature of leafcutter fungi. Microsatellite fingerprinting can now assess fungal genetic variation within leafcutter nests to test for monoculture of the cultivated fungi.     

Spatio-temporal variation influences the division of labour in Pseudomyrmex concolor Smith (Formicidae: Pseudomyrmecinae)

Journal of Ethology - Pseudomyrmex concolor is an Amazonian ant that works as an induced biotic defence of its host plant. Nevertheless, there is no information about the division of labour in P....     

Polymorphic microsatellite loci in the ponerine ant,Hypoponera opacior (Hymenoptera,Formicidae)

The ant genus Hypoponera, with its high diversity of alternative reproductive tactics, is of particular interest in studies on sexual selection. In the species Hypoponera opacior, winged and wingless males and queens co‐occur and molecular markers are essential to study the reproductive success of these sexual tactics. Primers were developed for five polymorphic microsatellite loci isolated from H. opacior. Their variability was tested on 34 colonies from a population in the United States. Nine to 21 alleles per locus were found with observed heterozygosities between 0.1 and 0.7. A significantly positive F_IS value suggests inbreeding in this ant with predominant intracolonial matings.     

Isolation and characterization of 11 new microsatellite markers for Macaranga (Euphorbiaceae)

We provide primer sequences for 11 new polymorphic microsatellite markers developed in the tropical ant-plant genus Macaranga (Euphorbiaceae), after enrichment cloning of Macaranga tanarius and Macaranga hypoleuca. Allele numbers per locus ranged from two to 16 among 20 accessions of M. tanarius, and from three to 10 among 22 accessions of M. hypoleuca. Observed and expected heterozygosities ranged from 0.150 to 0.900 and from 0.375 to 0.894 in M. tanarius, and from 0.545 to 1.000 and from 0.434 to 0.870 in M. hypoleuca, respectively. Six of the 11 primer pairs successfully cross-amplified polymorphic polymerase chain reaction products in Macaranga winkleri.     

Isolation and characterization of microsatellite loci from the invasive ant Pheidole megacephala

We report the characterization of eight microsatellite markers in the big-headed ant Pheidole megacephala, a pest ant registered in the list of '100 of the world's worst invasive alien species'. An enrichment protocol was used to isolate microsatellite loci, and polymorphism was explored with 36 individuals collected in an invasive population from Australia and 20 individuals collected in a population from the native mainland location in South Africa. These primers showed a number of alleles per locus ranging from two to 10, and expected heterozygosities ranging from 0.083 to 0.826. Moreover, results of cross-species amplification are reported in five other Pheidole species and in seven other ants of the subfamily Myrmicinae.     

Isolation of 15 polymorphic microsatellite loci in Acacia hybrid (Acacia mangium×Acacia auriculiformis)

This study reports the isolation of 15 microsatellites in Acacia hybrid (Acacia mangium×Acacia auriculiformis) based on the 5′ anchored polymerase chain reaction technique. Polymorphism of these loci was evaluated in a sample of 24 hybrid individuals. The level of polymorphism ranged from two to eight alleles with an observed heterozygosity ranging from 0.083 to 0.875. These loci were also characterized in both the parental species. The number of alleles ranged from two to six for both A. mangium and A. auriculiformis with the observed heterozygosity values ranging from 0.167 to 0.625 and 0.042 to 0.458 respectively. Five of these loci demonstrated Mendelian inheritance in a segregating F₁ population; four presented a distorted ratio and the remaining six did not segregate in progenies as they were homozygous in both parents.     

Isolation and characterization of 10 microsatellite loci in the Ponerinae ant Pachycondyla luteipes (Hymenoptera; Formicidae)

We developed 10 polymorphic microsatellite loci for the Ponerinae ant Pachycondyla luteipes using the magnetic particle method. Nine of the 10 loci tested were highly polymorphic, having four to eight alleles in P. luteipes with expected heterozygosity of 0.38–0.73, and also appeared to be applicable to other related species such as Pachycondyla chinensis. These loci can be used to test the hypotheses on the population genetic structures, such as if this ant is unicolonial or not.     

Isolation and characterization of eight microsatellite loci in two morphotypes of the Southeast Asian army ant,Aenictus laeviceps

Eight polymorphic microsatellite markers were developed from morphotype L1 of the Southeast Asian army ant, Aenictus laeviceps in Borneo, and characterized for morphotypes L1 and L2. The number of alleles per locus ranged from nine to 24 (average 15) in morphotype L1 and two to 16 (average 9.8) in L2. Observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.75 to 0.96 in morphotype L1 and from 0.08 to 0.96 in L2. All loci were in Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. One pair of loci showed linkage disequilibrium in morphotype L1. All markers successfully amplified in morphotype S, and some markers amplified in other Aenictus species.     

Isolation and characterization of microsatellite loci in Pseudoplatystoma corruscans (Siluriformes: Pimelodidae) and cross‐species amplification

A total of five polymorphic microsatellites loci from Pseudoplatystoma corruscans were isolated and characterized. A population survey involving 43 specimens resolved a large number of alleles (range seven to eight among loci) and high observed heterozygosity (0.500–0.615), indicating its usefulness in population genetics studies. Cross‐species amplification was successful in four other Pimelodidae species.     

New microsatellite loci for Narcissus papyraceus (Amarillydaceae) and cross-amplification in other congeneric species

? Premise of the study: Microsatellite loci from a genomic library of the species Narcissus papyraceus were optimized and characterized for studies of population genetics. ? Methods and Results: Eleven markers that were successfully amplified showed polymorphism when tested on 50 individuals from two populations in southern Spain and northern Morocco. Overall, the number of alleles per locus ranged between 4 and 15. Between 8 and 11 loci successfully amplified in other eight Narcissus species. ? Conclusions: These markers will enable genetic diversity studies of N. papyraceus across its distribution range and conduct paternity analyses among individuals differing in flower morphology.     

Isolation and characterization of microsatellite loci for the blackstripe topminnow Fundulus notatus and their variability in two closely related species

A total of 17 polymorphic microsatellite loci were isolated from the blackstripe topminnow Fundulus notatus. In a sample of 29 individuals, these loci were found to possess two to 19 alleles with expected heterozygosity values ranging from 0·212 to 0·919 and all but one of the loci conformed to Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium expectations. Many of these loci were polymorphic in the closely related species Fundulus olivaceus and Fundulus euryzonus providing a set of markers that should prove useful in future ecological and evolutionary studies of members of this species complex.