Microsatellite DNA markers for Australian geckos

Nine highly polymorphic microsatellite markers were developed for Gehyra variegata from an enriched library screened for tetranucleotide repeats. An average of 19.44 alleles per locus and an average observed heterozygosity of 0.86 were found in 81 samples from fragmented populations in the Western Australian wheatbelt. Different gecko species exhibit varying rates of extinction in fragmented landscapes and the genetic markers were developed to test whether these difference are due to different rates of dispersal. The loci were tested for their ability to cross amplify in 12 species of Australian Gekkonidae and Pygopodidae, in an attempt to identify species which might be amenable to population genetic analysis using these microsatellite markers.