Tetranucleotide microsatellite loci from eastern bluebirds Sialia sialis

We describe primers and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) conditions to amplify 18 tetranucleotide microsatellite DNA loci in eastern bluebirds (Sialia sialis). The primers were tested using individuals from two study sites in Georgia and South Carolina. Among individuals from the Georgia population (n = 23), the primer pairs developed in this study yielded an average of 6.6 alleles per locus (range 2–12), an average observed heterozygosity of 0.56 (range 0.24–0.96) and an average polymorphic information content of 0.65 (range 0.3–0.86). Among individuals from the South Carolina population (n = 19), the primer pairs yielded an average of 5.8 alleles per locus (range 2–9), an average observed heterozygosity of 0.56 (range 0.05–0.86) and an average polymorphic information content of 0.63 (range 0.29–0.83).     

Thirty polymorphic microsatellite loci from the critically endangered kakapo (Strigops habroptilus)

Thirty polymorphic microsatellite loci were developed from the critically endangered kakapo (Strigops habroptilus), using an enriched genomic library. Characterization of loci using 90 kakapo revealed an average of 3.3 alleles per locus (range: 2–5) and an average expected heterozygosity of 0.47 (range: 0.17–0.70). The probability of identity (7.2 × 10^?15) and probability of exclusion (0.999999) demonstrate that these loci are a highly informative marker set that can aid the genetic management of the kakapo.     

New microsatellite loci for the endangered scalloped hammerhead shark, Sphyrna lewini

We isolated 15 microsatellite markers for the scalloped hammerhead shark, Sphyrna lewini. Loci were tested on 80 specimens of S. lewini from four Eastern Pacific samples. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 6 to 31 (mean = 14). Observed and expected levels of heterozygosity per locus ranged from 0.39 to 0.91 (mean = 0.70) and from 0.54 to 0.90 (mean = 0.76), respectively. No pairs of loci were in gametic disequilibrium after Bonferroni correction of α. One locus showed significantly lower heterozygosity than expected under Hardy–Weinberg proportions in two populations, possibly caused by null alleles.     

Tetranucleotide microsatellites from the loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta)

We describe primers and polymerase chain reaction conditions to amplify 15 tetranucleotide microsatellite loci from the loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta). The primers were tested on 30 individuals that nested along the Georgia, USA coast. The primer pairs developed in this study yielded an average of 13.9 alleles per locus (range of 10–21), an average observed heterozygosity of 0.91 (range 0.79–1.00), and an average polymorphic information content of 0.88 (range 0.84–0.92).     

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).     

Development of microsatellite loci for population studies of the pink ling,Genypterus blacodes (Teleostei: Ophidiidae)

Fifteen microsatellite loci were developed for pink ling (Genypterus blacodes), a fish of significant commercial importance to Australasia. Nine loci were examined in samples from five regions of Australia’s South East Fishery. All nine were highly polymorphic; numbers of alleles per locus ranged from 11 to 52 in total samples of 270–306 individuals. The average observed heterozygosity per locus per sample (0.823) was a little lower than the average Hardy–Weinberg expected heterozygosity per sample (0.895), perhaps reflecting the possible presence of null alleles at two loci. There was no significant evidence of genetic stock heterogeneity.     

Characterization of 24 microsatellite loci in delta smelt, Hypomesus transpacificus, and their cross-species amplification in two other smelt species of the Osmeridae family

We characterized 24 polymorphic tetranucleotide microsatellite loci for delta smelt (Hypomesus transpacificus) endemic to the San Francisco Bay Estuary, CA, USA. Screening of samples (n = 30) yielded two to 26 alleles per locus with observed levels of heterozygosity ranging from 0.17 to 1.0. Only one locus deviated from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium, suggesting these individuals originate from a single panmictic population. Linkage disequilibrium was found in two pairs of loci after excluding the locus out of Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. Twenty‐two primer pairs cross‐amplified in wakasagi smelt (Hypomesus nipponensis), and 15 primer pairs cross‐amplified in longfin smelt (Spirinchus thaleichthys).     

Microsatellite loci isolation in the Canarian common chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs) and their utility in other Canarian finches

The taxonomic classification of the common chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs) that inhabits the Canary Islands has been under debate for decades, mainly due to the absence of nuclear DNA analyses. In this study we describe the isolation and characterization of ten microsatellite loci (AAAG, AAAT and GT) from a La Palma specimen using an enrichment protocol. Two loci were monomorphic in the populations analysed (La Gomera and La Palma), but the remaining ones presented 2 or more alleles, with an average of 11.63 alleles per locus and an average observed heterozygosity of 0.735 (n = 44). All loci were tested for their utility in other Canarian populations and other finch species.     

Microsatellite development suggests evidence of polyploidy in the social sponge-dwelling snapping shrimp Zuzalpheus brooksi

We isolated and characterized 33 novel, polymorphic microsatellite loci from the social sponge‐dwelling snapping shrimp Zuzalpheus brooksi. We screened all 33 loci in approximately 31 individuals from a population of Z. brooksi from the Florida Keys, USA and found an average of 16 alleles per locus. Approximately 25% of the loci showed more than two bands per individual, suggesting evidence of high gene duplication, or more likely, polyploidy, which is common in crustaceans. The 25 disomic loci had an observed heterozygosity of 0.57 (range = 0.03–1.00) and will be useful for studying the social organization in Zuzalpheus shrimp.     

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.     

Microsatellite loci transferability from Theobroma cacao to Theobroma grandiflorum

Theobroma grandiflorum (cupuassu) is an important fruit tree native to the Brazilian Amazon. Forty‐eight microsatellite loci developed for the congener Theobroma cacao were tested in cupuassu, and 29 (60.4%) produced robust alleles. The analyses of 216 cupuassu accessions using the 21 polymorphic microsatellite loci revealed a total of 113 alleles. The number of alleles per polymorphic locus ranged from two to 11, with an average of 5.38 alleles per locus. The average observed heterozygosity was 0.343, while the mean expected heterozygosity was 0.614. The successful transferability of T. cacao microsatellite primers to cupuassu was consistent with currently accepted phylogeny.     

Isolation and characterization of variable microsatellite loci in Lilium philadelphicum (Liliaceae)

Here we describe the characterization of six polymorphic microsatellite loci for Lilium philadelphicum (Liliaceae). Polymorphism levels ranged from 7 to 30 alleles per locus with a mean number of 15 alleles per locus. Observed heterozygosity (H_O) ranged from 0.17 to 0.82 and did not deviate from Hardy–Weinberg expectations in the three western Montana populations included in the analysis. These loci are proving useful in studying gene flow between populations of this species distributed across its range in North America.     

Isolation of microsatellite markers in Cannabis sativa L. (marijuana)

We have identified 15 variable microsatellite loci in Cannabis sativa. In 48 samples from five fibre crop seed accessions, we detected an average of 10 alleles per locus (range 2–28) with mean heterozygosity of 0.68 (range 0.28–0.94). Significant genetic differentiation was found between accessions (F_ST = 0.12, P < 0.001). These markers have utility for characterizing genetic diversity in cultivated and naturalized Cannabis populations.     

Tetranucleotide and dinucleotide microsatellite loci from the northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus)

We describe polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers and conditions to amplify eight dinucleotide, one trinucleotide and 14 tetranucleotide microsatellite DNA loci isolated from the northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus). The PCR primers were tested on 16 individuals collected from a population located within the Red Hills region of south Georgia and north Florida. The 23 primer pairs developed in this study yielded an average of 6.5 alleles per locus (range 2–11), an average observed heterozygosity of 0.47 (range 0.06–0.94) and average polymorphic information content of 0.60 (range 0.06–0.85).     

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).     

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.     

Isolation of microsatellite loci from the endangered plant Galium catalinense subspecies acrispum (Rubiaceae)

Galium catalinense subspecies acrispum (Rubiaceae) is a state‐endangered perennial shrub endemic to San Clemente Island. Eight polymorphic microsatellite loci were isolated from G. catalinense ssp. acrispum. These loci show high levels of variability, averaging 6.5 alleles per locus and an expected heterozygosity of 0.550. One locus exhibited significant deviations from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium (P < 0.01) and one pair of loci exhibited significant linkage disequilibrium.     

Characterization of 26 new microsatellite loci in the dugong (Dugong dugon)

Twenty‐six microsatellite loci have been isolated from a dugong (Dugong dugon). The average heterozygosity was 0.52 with two to 10 alleles per locus surveyed from 50 individuals. The markers are suitable for genetic mark–recapture (P_ID = 5 × 10^?16) in dugongs and they could also be used to quantify physical tag loss, estimate relatedness, assign paternity, elucidate population structure and identify migrants. The loci also amplified in Florida manatees (22/26) and Asian elephants (6/26).     

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.     

Polymorphic tetranucleotide microsatellite markers in the Caribbean spiny lobster,Panulirus argus

Ten tetranucleotide microsatellite loci are described for the Caribbean spiny lobster Panulirus argus. Loci were polymorphic (4–15 alleles per locus) and exhibited high levels of expected (0.553–0.921) and observed heterozygosity (0.469–0.906) from samples caught off Belize and Puerto Rico coasts. No significant departure from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium conditions were observed for any locus. All microsatellite loci should be useful for assessing population discrimination for this valuable marine animal currently subjected to excessive fishing efforts.