Development of six microsatellite loci for black mangrove (Avicennia germinans)

We developed six new microsatellite loci for the black mangrove (Avicennia germinans), an important member of wetland communities worldwide. Loci showed moderate to high polymorphism and a survey of four locations [Puerto Rico (Jobos Bay and Luquillo), Mexico, French Guyana] revealed clear regional (and local) population structure. All populations were genetically distinct and the two continental populations showed much higher diversity than the two insular Puerto Rican locations. These loci complement those recently published by Nettel et al. (2005 ) and promise to be valuable for characterizing local and regional population dynamics in the black mangrove.