Microsatellite loci for great white herons and great blue herons (Aves,Ardeidae, Ardea herodias)

We used an enrichment technique to isolate 60 microsatellite loci in Ardea herodias. We developed primers for 17 loci, screened for variation in A. herodias and attempted to amplify these loci in three closely related species (A. alba, A. cinerea and A. cocoi). Fifteen loci were polymorphic in A. herodias. Observed heterozygosities ranged from 0.10 to 0.81. Two loci appeared to be monomorphic in A. herodias, but exhibited variation in product size among species within the genus. Our ability to amplify polymorphic products in closely related species suggests that these markers may be useful in other herons.     

Isolation and characterization of five microsatellite loci in Dolichopoda cave crickets (Orthoptera Rhaphidophoridae)

Five microsatellite loci are described for the cave cricket genus Dolichopoda. Preliminary data on allelic variation of these loci are presented for one population of D. schiavazzii and one population of D. laetitiae to test their usefulness in fine‐scale studies of the genetic aspect of cave colonization. Cross‐species amplifications were carried out in four other Dolichopoda species and in two species belonging to another cave cricket genus (Troglophilus) to test the potential use of these microsatellite markers in studies of both congeneric species and species belonging to the same family.     

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 polymorphic microsatellites in the tropical plant‐ant Cataulacus mckeyi (Formicidae: Myrmicinae)

Eleven microsatellite loci were isolated from the plant‐ant Cataulacus mckeyi (Hymenoptera: Myrmicinae) and their polymorphism was characterized. High levels of within‐population variation were observed at most loci, with number of alleles ranging from one to 16, and heterozygosity from 0 to 0.929 per population sample. Cross‐species amplification of these loci was also tested in four other species of the ant genus Cataulacus.     

Characterization of microsatellite loci in neotropical Heliconius butterflies

The Heliconius butterflies offer exceptional opportunities for the study of the ecology and evolution of mimicry. Despite previous reports of difficulties in the development of microsatellite loci in Lepidoptera, we characterize 15 polymorphic loci in H. erato that show promise for genetic mapping and population studies in this and other species. Levels of variation were high, in both numbers and size ranges of alleles. The loci showed broad amplification success across the genus and in two other genera. All loci that amplified in a population of H. melpomene were polymorphic.     

Characterization of polymorphic microsatellites in the castration parasite plant‐ant Allomerus octoarticulatus cf. demerarae (Formicidae: Myrmicinae)

Fifteen microsatellite loci were isolated from the Peruvian tropical plant‐ant Allomerus octoarticulatus cf. demerarae (Hymenoptera: Myrmicinae) and their polymorphism was characterized. High levels of within‐population variation were observed at most loci, with number of alleles ranging from one to 21, and heterozygosity from 0 to 1 per population sample. Cross‐species amplification of these loci was also tested in one other species of the ant genus Allomerus (Allomerus decemarticulatus), displaying similar life history.     

Isolation and characterization of polymorphic microsatellite loci in Acanthoscelides obtectus Say (Coleoptera: Bruchidae)

Six microsatellite loci were isolated from the bruchid Acanthoscelides obtectus Say (Coleoptera: Bruchidae). Each locus was polymorphic, with the number of alleles ranging from 3 to 18. We found high levels of within‐population variation at most loci, with heterozygosities ranging from 0 to 0.75. Cross‐species amplification of these loci was tested in two other species of the genus Acanthoscelides, A. obvelatus Bridwell and A. argillaceus Sharp.     

Isolation and characterization of polymorphic microsatellite loci in Acanthoscelides obvelatus Bridwell (Coleoptera: Bruchidae)

Five microsatellite loci were isolated from the bruchid Acanthoscelides obvelatus Bridwell (Coleoptera: Bruchidae). Each locus was polymorphic, with the number of alleles ranging from two to 15. We found high levels of within‐population variation at most loci, with heterozygosity ranging from 0.182 to 0.900. Cross‐species amplification of these loci was tested in two other species of the genus Acanthoscelides, A. obtectus Say and A. argillaceus Sharp.     

Identification of microsatellite markers from Cicer reticulatum: molecular variation and phylogenetic analysis

Microsatellite sequences were cloned and sequenced from Cicer reticulatum, the wild annual progenitor of chickpea (C. arietinum L.). Based on the flanking sequences of the microsatellite motifs, 11 sequence-tagged microsatellite site (STMS) markers were developed. These markers were used for phylogenetic analysis of 29 accessions representing all the nine annual Cicer species. The 11 primer pairs amplified distinct fragments in all the annual species demonstrating high levels of sequence conservation at these loci. Efficient marker transferability (97%) of the C. reticulatum STMS markers across other species of the genus was observed as compared to microsatellite markers from the cultivated species. Variability in the size and number of alleles was obtained with an average of 5.8 alleles per locus. Sequence analysis at three homologous microsatellite loci revealed that the microsatellite allele variation was mainly due to differences in the copy number of the tandem repeats. However, other factors such as (1) point mutations, (2) insertion/deletion events in the flanking region, (3) expansion of closely spaced microsatellites and (4) repeat conversion in the amplified microsatellite loci were also responsible for allelic variation. An unweighted pairgroup method with arithmetic averages (UPGMA)-based dendrogram was obtained, which clearly distinguished all the accessions (except two C. judaicum accessions) from one another and revealed intra- as well as inter-species variability in the genus. An annual Cicer phylogeny was depicted which established the higher similarity between C. arietinum and C. reticulatum. The placement of C. pinnatifidum in the second crossability group and its closeness to C. bijugum was supported. Two species, C. yamashitae and C. chorassanicum, were grouped distinctly and seemed to be genetically diverse from members of the first crossability group. Our data support the distinct placement of C. cuneatum as well as a revised classification regarding its placement.     

Isolation and characterization of di‐ and tetranucleotide microsatellite loci in the yellow‐spotted night lizard Lepidophyma flavimaculatum (Squamata: Xantusiidae)

We report the development of 17 di‐ and tetranucleotide microsatellite markers in the Yellow‐Spotted Night Lizard Lepidophyma flavimaculatum. Levels of heterozygosity ranged from 0 to 100%. Several loci also amplify in other Lepidophyma species and several species of the sister genus Xantusia. High levels of variation at some loci indicate that they will be useful for parentage assessment and population genetic studies, whereas the 15 loci that amplify across multiple Lepidophyma species suggest these will be useful in determining the origin of parthenogenetic populations.     

Microsatellite primers for the Atlantic coastal killifish,Fundulus heteroclitus,with applicability to related Fundulus species

The mummichog (Fundulus heteroclitus), a common Atlantic coastal killifish, is a model vertebrate species for the study of molecular genetic variation in natural populations and of environmental toxicology. We report the development of a set of 20 microsatellite loci in this species. Average expected heterozygosity across all loci was 0.84 (range: 0.60–0.97), revealing a high level of variability at most loci. A survey of seven additional Fundulus species yielded one or two robust amplification products in over half (63%) of the species–primer combinations tested. Therefore, many of these loci will also prove useful in studies of other members of the genus Fundulus.     

Microsatellites reveal high genetic diversity within colonies of Camponotus ants

In order to characterize the sociogenetic structure of colonies in the carpenter ants Camponotus herculeanus and C. ligniperda, we have developed microsatellite markers. The three loci studied were either fixed for different alleles in the two species or showed different patterns of polymorphisms. Genotyping of workers and males showed that the broods of C. ligniperda include several matrilines, a rare phenomenon in the genus. Five alleles from a locus polymorphic in both species were sequenced from the respective PCR-products. A part of the length variation appeared to be due to changes outside the repeat sequence, and some PCR products of an equal length had a different number of dinucleotide repeats.     

Identification of polymorphic microsatellite loci in the mud crab Scylla serrata (Brachyura: Portunidae)

Five microsatellite loci are identified and characterized from the genome of Scylla serrata, a widespread and commercially important species of coastal marine crab. The loci were detected by randomly screening for di‐ and tri‐nucleotide repeat units within a partial genomic library developed for the species. The five loci consist of dinucleotide repeats and are both co‐dominant and polymorphic within the species. A sample (N = 36) of S. serrata from one Australian population has an average observed heterozygosity of 0.875 and provides no evidence of either linkage among loci or significant deviation from random mating expectations across loci. PCR products for each of the five loci were also observed from a small sample of three other species within the Scylla genus. These markers may provide genetic information that will be useful for both aquaculture and studies of natural populations of the genus.     

Linkage group IV of fish of the genus Xiphophorus (Poeciliidae): Assignment of loci coding for pyruvate kinase-1, glucosephosphate isomerase-1, and isocitrate dehydrogenase-1

Electrophoretic variation ascribable to three enzyme loci, coding for a pyruvate kinase (PK1), a glucose phosphate isomerase (GPI1), and an isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH1), was observed in three species of fish of the genus Xiphophorus. Electrophoretic patterns in F₁ hybrid heterozygotes confirmed the dimeric structures of GPI and IDH, and indicated a multimeric structure for pyruvate kinase. Variant alleles at the three loci exhibited normal Mendelian segregation in backcross hybrids. Linkage analyses indicate a gene order and estimated recombination of PK1—10%—GPI1—41%—IDH1. No significant interference or sex- or population-specific recombination difference was detected. This group (designated linkage group IV) was shown to assort independently from the nine loci comprising linkage groups I, II, and III and from 23 other informative markers, within the limits of the data. No conclusions with respect to homology of linkage relationships could be reached, due to the presence of presumably duplicated loci in these fish coding for isozymes whose homology with enzymes in other vertebrate species is as yet unestablished.This work was supported in part by Public Health Service Research Grant CA-28909.     

Isolation of polymorphic microsatellite loci in the genus Clusia (Clusiaceae)

Microsatellite flanking region sequences may provide phylogenetically useful information. We isolated 13 polymorphic microsatellite loci from two species, Clusia minor (five loci) and Clusia nemorosa (eight loci), to aid in the determination of phylogenetic relationships within the genus Clusia. Eleven loci amplified across all 17 Clusia species tested, while two loci amplified in 10 out of 17 species. The extensive cross‐species amplification suggests that these loci may be useful for an examination of phylogenetic relationships in this genus.     

Spatial and ecological population genetic structures within two island‐endemic Aeonium species of different niche width

The Crassulacean genus Aeonium is a well‐known example for plant species radiation on oceanic archipelagos. However, while allopatric speciation among islands is documented for this genus, the role of intra‐island speciation due to population divergence by topographical isolation or ecological heterogeneity has not yet been addressed. The aim of this study was to investigate intraspecific genetic structures and to identify spatial and ecological drivers of genetic population differentiation on the island scale. We analyzed inter simple sequence repeat variation within two island‐endemic Aeonium species of La Palma: one widespread generalist that covers a large variety of different habitat types (Ae. davidbramwellii) and one narrow ecological specialist (Ae. nobile), in order to assess evolutionary potentials on this island. Gene pool differentiation and genetic diversity patterns were associated with major landscape structures in both species, with phylogeographic implications. However, overall levels of genetic differentiation were low. For the generalist species, outlier loci detection and loci–environment correlation approaches indicated moderate signatures of divergent selection pressures linked to temperature and precipitation variables, while the specialist species missed such patterns. Our data point to incipient differentiation among populations, emphasizing that ecological heterogeneity and topographical structuring within the small scales of an island can foster evolutionary processes. Very likely, such processes have contributed to the radiation of Aeonium on the Canary Islands. There is also support for different evolutionary mechanisms between generalist and specialist species.     

Strong correlation between cross-amplification success and genetic distance across all members of 'True Salamanders' (Amphibia: Salamandridae) revealed by Salamandra salamandra-specific microsatellite loci

The unpredictable and low cross-amplification success of microsatellite loci tested for congeneric amphibian species has mainly been explained by the size and complexity of amphibian genomes, but also by taxonomy that is inconsistent with phylogenetic relationships among taxa. Here, we tested whether the cross-amplification success of nine new and 11 published microsatellite loci cloned for an amphibian source species, the fire salamander (Salamandra salamandra), correlated with the genetic distance across all members of True Salamanders (genera Chioglossa, Lyciasalamandra, Mertensiella and Salamandra that form a monophyletic clade within the family of Salamandridae) serving as target species. Cross-amplification success varied strongly among the species and showed a highly significant negative relationship with genetic distance and amplification success. Even though lineages of S. salamandra and Lyciasalamndra have separated more than 30 Ma, a within genus amplification success rate of 65% was achieved for species of Lyciasalamandra thus demonstrating that an efficient cross-species amplification of microsatellite loci in amphibians is feasible even across large evolutionary distances. A decrease in genome size, on the other hand, paralleled also a decrease in amplified loci and therefore contradicted previous results and expectations that amplification success should increase with a decrease in genome size. However, in line with other studies, our comprehensive dataset clearly shows that cross-amplification success of microsatellite loci is well explained by phylogenetic divergence between species. As taxonomic classifications on the species and genus level do not necessarily mirror phylogenetic divergence between species, the pure belonging of species to the same taxonomic units (i.e. species or genus) might be less useful to predict cross-amplification success of microsatellite loci between such species.     

Differentiation in DNA fingerprinting among species of the genus Acer L. in Campania (Italy)

Abstract

Natural populations of species in the Acer genus occurring in Campania (southern Italy) were surveyed by screening seven microsatellite loci. Primer pairs for Acer pseudoplatanus L. microsatellite loci were analysed in six different species: Acer lobelii Ten., Acer campestre L., Acer pseudoplatanus L., Acer obtusatum W. et K., Acer neapolitanum Ten. and Acer monspessulanum L. The aim of the present study was to survey the genetic variability and genetic structure of natural populations of the Acer genus in Campania. The high degree of polymorphism observed in six different species of Acer makes these markers useful for investigating genetic variation at various spatial scales, and for the analysis of gene flow and of the mating system.     

Characterization of microsatellite loci in Spartina species (Poaceae)

The cordgrasses in the genus Spartina have become model organisms for studying biological invasions from both ecological and genetic perspectives. Here we characterize 11 disomic loci in Spartina alterniflora that show promise for population studies and for studying hybridization events between S. alterniflora and S. foliosa. Comparisons among invasive and native S. alterniflora populations showed that levels of allelic variation are lower in invasive populations. In addition, nearly all loci that amplified in S. foliosa populations and in a swarm of S. alterniflora×foliosa hybrids were polymorphic. We also found that several loci amplified successfully in other Spartina species.     

Genetic distinctness of three widespread and morphologically variable species of Drupella (Gastropoda,Muricidae)

Corallivorous gastropods of the genus Drupella have caused considerable damage to corals at widely separated reefs in the Indo-Pacific. Morphological variability of Drupella species within and between areas has caused taxonomic confusion. To clarify the relationships, we examined allozyme variation at 16 gene loci in samples from Western Australia, Queensland and Japan. Within sites, the species D. cornus, D. rugosa and D. fragum were distinguishable individually by each of 9 to 11 loci, with average genetic identities of about 0.25. The differences extended across sites, whereas the conspecific genetic identities over distances up to 6000 km were 0.86 to 1.00, supporting the view that there are three widespread species of Drupella. Nevertheless, there is much variation within species for allozymes, size, shape and colour.