Isolation and characterization of microsatellite loci in the deep-sea marine fish, the roundnose grenadier (Coryphaenoides rupestris)

We developed polymerase chain reaction primers for eight dinucleotide microsatellite loci in the marine deep sea fish, roundnose grenadier (Coryphaenoides rupestris). All markers were obtained from a partial genomic DNA library, and characterized in 90 unrelated individuals from one putative population sampled on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The number of alleles ranged from two to 61 with an average of 21 per locus. The observed heterozygosity levels ranged from 0.301 to 0.987 with an average of 0.672. Several of the markers amplified multiple alleles from either the Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) or the deep-sea fish roughhead grenadier (Macrourus berglax).     

Nine new microsatellite loci for the roundnose grenadier (Coryphaenoides rupestris) with four showing cross-amplification in the shortbeard grenadier (C. brevibarbis)

We isolated nine new microsatellites for the deep-sea fish Coryphaenoides rupestris. These loci are highly polymorphic, with allele number ranging from 14 to 42 and heterozygosity ranging from 0.647 to 0.965. Four of these loci also amplified in C. brevibarbis.     

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.     

Eight microsatellite loci in Phaedranassa schizantha Baker (Amaryllidaceae) and cross-amplification in other Phaedranassa species

Phaedranassa schizantha is a species endemic to Ecuador from which eight polymorphic microsatellite loci were isolated from an enriched genomic library. A total of 31 alleles with an average of four alleles per locus were detected across 29 individuals from a single natural population of P. schizantha. Observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.05 to 0.68. Most of the eight loci were successfully amplified in six Phaedranassa species. Five of those species are either “Vulnerable” or “Endangered” under IUCN criteria. These loci will be used to investigate patterns of inter- and intraspecific variation of Phaedranassa species, which will contribute data relevant to their conservation status.     

Isolation and characterization of microsatellite loci for the collared pika (Ochotona collaris) and their cross-amplification in five other Ochotona species

We developed primers for eight polymorphic microsatellite loci isolated from the collared pika, Ochotona collaris, and also tested nine loci previously developed for the American pika, O. princeps, for use in O. collaris. Forty-six individuals from an O. collaris population in the southern Yukon were genotyped using all 17 loci. The average number of alleles per locus was six and the average observed heterozygosity was 0.59. All loci were tested for use in four Asian pika species and all but two loci amplified reliably in these species.     

Isolation and characterization of ten polymorphic microsatellite loci in Ixodes arboricola, and cross-amplification in three other Ixodes species

We characterized ten polymorphic microsatellite loci from the tree-hole tick, Ixodes arboricola. Loci were screened in 11–18 individuals from three Belgian populations and five to ten alleles were found at each locus. Seven loci did not show deviations from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium conditions and there were no indications for null alleles at these loci. The three other loci showed significant heterozygote deficiencies in at least one population, and a high potential for the occurrence of null alleles. We observed no effect of potential host DNA on the scoring of the microsatellites. Cross-amplification of the microsatellites was tested in eight specimens of three congeneric species: I. ricinus, I. hexagonus and I. frontalis. Depending on the species, six or seven of the loci were amplified in ≥4 of the 8 specimens and were polymorphic in each of these species (except for Ixaf 11 in I. frontalis and I. ricinus). These loci thus provide a tool for population genetic analysis of I. arboricola. The suitability of these markers needs to be further investigated in its congeners.     

Isolation and characterization of polymorphic microsatellite loci for the three-toed box turtle (Terrapene carolina triunguis) and cross-amplification in other Terrapene species

We isolated and characterized eight polymorphic microsatellite loci for a Texas population of three-toed box turtle, Terrapene carolina triunguis, using a refined hybridization capture procedure. All eight primer pairs amplified successfully at all loci in seven Texas ornate box turtles (T. ornata ornata). Due to the decline and conservation concerns of North American box turtles, these isolated microsatellites may be a most valuable tool for evaluating baseline population genetic structure for threatened box turtle populations.     

Isolation, characterization and cross-amplification of polymorphic microsatellite loci in Laelia speciosa (Orchidaceae)

Laelia speciosa is an endangered epiphytic orchid endemic to central Mexico. Here, we report on the development of 14 perfect and imperfect microsatellite repeat loci for this species. Numbers of alleles ranged from two to 16 and levels of observed heterozygosities among the 14 loci ranged from 0.28 to 1.00 across two widely divergent populations. All loci were also tested for cross-amplification in four other Laelia species and other selected genera of the subtribe Laeliinae.     

Development of microsatellite loci for Pelophylax plancyi and cross-amplification in other ranid species

Thirteen polymorphic microsatellite loci were obtained from the gold-striped pond frog, Pelophylax plancyi. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 5 to 13 with an average of 8.38. The observed and expected heterozygosities (H _O and H _E) ranged from 0.533 to 0.890 and from 0.620 to 0.897, with averages of 0.686 and 0.751, respectively. In order to assess interspecific amplification, all primer pairs were tested with the same PCR conditions on three other Pelophylax species: Pelophylax hubeiensis, Pelophylax fukienensis, Pelophylax nigromaculata and two species from the genus Hylarana and Hoplobatrachus, respectively. All of these loci can be amplified successfully in the Pelophylax species, with eight loci amplified in all species tested.     

Isolation, characterization, and cross-amplification of polymorphic microsatellite loci in Guaiacum coulteri (Zygophyllaceae)

Guaiacum coulteri is a dry forest hardwood species of conservation concern endemic to the Pacific coast of Mexico. Fifteen microsatellite markers were developed which show high levels of polymorphism across two populations with the number of alleles ranging from four to 21. Most loci additionally exhibited consistent multiple banding patterns, indicating the likely polyploidy of this species. All loci were tested for cross-amplification with most found to amplify well across the genus Guaiacum, although amplification in other related genera of the Zygophyllaceae was limited.     

Isolation and characterisation of 11 tetranucleotide microsatellite loci in the common genet (Genetta genetta)

We report the isolation and characterization of 11 polymorphic tetranucleotide microsatellite loci in the common genet (Genetta genetta) from genomic libraries enriched for (AAAG) _n and (AGAT) _n repeat sequences. We chose to develop tetranucleotide repeats because they can be scored less ambiguously. In a sample of 25 individuals, we observed between four and thirteen alleles per locus and their observed and expected heterozygosities ranged from 0.60 to 0.84 and from 0.68 to 0.92, respectively. All genotypic frequencies conformed to Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium expectations and there were no instances of linkage disequilibrium detected between pairs of loci. These loci will be of use in studies of population genetics, historical demography, and molecular ecology of the common genet.     

Polymorphic microsatellite loci for the genetic analysis of Lycoris radiata (Amaryllidaceae) and cross-amplification in other congeneric species

Lycoris radiata is a perennial herb that has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for a long time and has two main medicinal components in its bulb, lycorine and galanthamine. However, the original microsatellite loci have not been developed for any species of Lycoris. Total genomic DNA was extracted from fresh bulbs using a modified CTAB protocol. We isolated 10 microsatellite loci from 21 L. radiata individuals of a natural population from Yellow Mountain in Anhui Province, China. The number of alleles ranged from two to nine. The observed and expected heterozygosities ranged from 0.238 to 0.952 and from 0.455 to 0.784, respectively. One locus significantly deviated from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and no significant linkage disequilibrium was found between pairs of loci. Cross-species amplification of these microsatellite loci was characterized in additional five species (L. sprengeri, L. anhuiensis, L. albiflora, L. longituba, and L. chinensis) of Lycoris. The results suggest that these microsatellite markers would contribute to the population genetic studies of L. radiata and other related species.     

Isolation and characterization of eighteen polymorphic microsatellite loci in Schizopygopsis younghusbandi Regan and cross-amplification in three other schizothoracinae species

Eighteen polymorphic microsatellite loci were isolated from Schizopygopsis younghusbandi Regan and the characterization of these loci was assessed in 46 individuals collected from the Yarlung Tsangpo River in Tibet, China. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 2 to 14. The expected heterozygosity and Shannon-Wiener diversity index ranged from 0.022 to 0.879 and from 0.059 to 2.313, respectively. The cross-species amplification and applicability of these loci were tested in three other Schizothoracinae species belonging to Schizothorax and Oxygymnocypris. These loci will be useful for the evaluation of genetic diversity and population genetic structure in S. younghusbandi and other related species.     

Isolation and characterisation of 26 microsatellite loci from a widespread tropical hydrozoan,Macrorhynchia phoenicea (Leptothecata,Aglaopheniidae), and cross-amplification in closely related species

We isolated and characterized 26 microsatellite loci for Macrorhynchia phoenicea (Busk, 1852), a rather common tropical hydrozoan from the Indo-Pacific. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 4 to 24. The observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.000 to 0.970 and the expected heterozygosity from 0.029 to 0.833. Ten loci were at Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. No pair of loci presented linkage disequilibrium. Transferability of up to 18 loci was positive across four other Aglaopheniidae species from different genera. These loci will be used in studying reef population connectivity for these particular species at the scale of the Indo-Pacific, a promising but little explored research field.     

Isolation and characterization of microsatellite loci in Pitcairnia albiflos (Bromeliaceae), an endemic bromeliad from the Atlantic Rainforest, and cross-amplification in other species

Eight microsatellite markers were isolated from Pitcairnia albiflos, an endangered endemic bromeliad species restricted to 'inselberg' rock outcrops in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The number of alleles observed for each locus ranged from two to 12. Average observed and expected heterozygosities were 0.408 and 0.663, respectively. The cross-amplification test in 16 taxa suggests that the markers will be useful in numerous related bromeliad species. The loci will be used to study genetic structure and reproductive biology in fragmented inselberg populations and the origin and maintenance of barriers to gene flow between sympatric Pitcairnia species.     

A new species of the deep-sea fish genus Coryphaenoides Gunnerus (Macrouridae) from the tropical eastern North Atlantic and its relationship with C. (Coryphaenoides) marshalli Iwamoto, 1970

A new species of macrourid, Coryphaenoides paramarshalli is described from mid to lower slope waters (l 13–160 m) off West Africa, in the area 04°S-21°N and 10°E-18°W. The species is very closely related to C. marshalli . Indeed, two of the paratypes of that species are incorporated among the paratypes of C. paramarshalli , as they are referrable to the new species. The features distinguishing the two species are discussed in conjuction with those separating C. paramarshalli from other related species.     

Isolation and characterization of microsatellite loci in Polytremis nascens (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae) and their cross-amplification in related species

Twelve polymorphic microsatellite loci were isolated and characterized from a Chinese endemic species Polytremis nascens Leech. The isolated loci in 53 individuals from six regional populations in China had 3–12 alleles. Analyses revealed that 53 individuals had different multilocus genotypes, with the expected heterozygosity ranging from 0.61 to 0.90 and observed heterozygosity ranging from 0.33 to 0.71. Eleven loci showed no deviation from Hardy–Weinberg proportions, and eight were amplified successfully in at least one of the eight related species. The described isolated markers will facilitate the study of population genetic structure and gene flow in P. nascens as well as in congeneric and related species.