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We characterize thirteen polymorphic microsatellite loci isolated from Naja atra genomic libraries, which were enriched for AC-motif microsatellites. The thirteen loci were screened on a group of 48 individuals from two populations, one in Yong'an and the other in Ganzhou. These markers revealed a relatively high degree of genetic diversity (4-12 alleles per locus) and heterozygosity (Ho ranged from 0.213-0.854 and He ranged from 0.301-0.838). Tests for departure from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and for linkage disequilibrium were conducted for each of the two populations separately. After sequential Bonferroni correction, none of the 13 loci showed significant departures from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Hierarchical analysis of molecular variance indicated that a small but significant (P < 0.001) proportion (16.0%) of the total variation in the microsatellite DNA data were attributable to differences among populations, indicating geographical structuring and restricted gene flow. It could be attributable to the Wuyi mountains in the area having a sufficiently isolating effect to significantly reduce gene flow. Our microsatellite data also showed a low N(m) (1.31) value in the two populations from mainland China. Thus, the Yong'an and Ganzhou populations could be treated as distinct evolutionarily significant units (ESUs). The high level of polymorphism revealed by these microsatellite markers will be useful for the study of gene flow, population structure and evolutionary history of N. atra.

Background: A priority for conservation is the identification of endemic populations. We developed microsatellite markers for common raven (Corvus corax), a bird species with a Holarctic distribution, to identify and assess endemic populations in Alaska. Results: From a total of 50 microsatellite loci, we isolated and characterized 15 loci. Eight of these loci were polymorphic and readily scoreable. Eighteen to 20 common ravens from Fairbanks, Alaska were genotyped showing the following variability: 3-8 alleles per locus, 0.25-0.80 observed heterozygosity (Ho), and 0.30-0.80 expected heterozygosity (He). All loci were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and linkage equilibrium and many loci amplified and were polymorphic in related taxa. Conclusions: These loci will be used to identify endemic populations of common raven and assess their genetic diversity and connectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We characterize thirteen polymorphic microsatellite loci isolated from Naja atra genomic libraries, which were enriched for AC-motif microsatellites. The thirteen loci were screened on a group of 48 individuals from two populations, one in Yong'an and the other in Ganzhou. These markers revealed a relatively high degree of genetic diversity (4-12 alleles per locus) and heterozygosity (Ho ranged from 0.213-0.854 and He ranged from 0.301-0.838). Tests for departure from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and for linkage disequilibrium were conducted for each of the two populations separately. After sequential Bonferroni correction, none of the 13 loci showed significant departures from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Hierarchical analysis of molecular variance indicated that a small but significant (P < 0.001) proportion (16.0%) of the total variation in the microsatellite DNA data were attributable to differences among populations, indicating geographical structuring and restricted gene flow. It could be attributable to the Wuyi mountains in the area having a sufficiently isolating effect to significantly reduce gene flow. Our microsatellite data also showed a low Nm (1.31) value in the two populations from mainland China. Thus, the Yong'an and Ganzhou populations could be treated as distinct evolutionarily significant units (ESUs). The high level of polymorphism revealed by these microsatellite markers will be useful for the study of gene flow, population structure and evolutionary history of N. atra. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We developed and tested 14 new polymorphic microsatellite loci for dreissenid mussels, including the two species that have invaded many freshwater habitats in Eurasia and North America, where they cause serious industrial fouling damage and ecological alterations. These new loci will aid our understanding of their genetic patterns in invasive populations as well as throughout their native Ponto-Caspian distributions. Eight new loci for the zebra mussel Dreissena polymorpha polymorpha and six for the quagga mussel D. rostriformis bugensis were compared with new results from six previously published loci to generate a robust molecular toolkit for dreissenid mussels and their relatives. Taxa tested include D. p. polymorpha, D. r. bugensis, D. r. grimmi, D. presbensis, the 'living fossil' Congeria kusceri, and the dark false mussel Mytilopsis leucophaeata (the latter also is invasive). Overall, most of the 24 zebra mussel ( N = 583) and 13 quagga mussel ( N = 269) population samples conformed to Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium expectations for the new loci following sequential Bonferroni correction. The 11 loci (eight new, three previously published) evaluated for D. p. polymorpha averaged 35.1 alleles and 0.72 mean observed heterozygosity per locus , and 25.3 and 0.75 for the nine loci (six new, three previously published) developed for D. r. bugensis. All but three of these loci successfully amplified the other species of Dreissena, and all but one also amplified Congeria and Mytilopsis. All species and populations tested were significantly divergent using the microsatellite data, with neighbour-joining trees reflecting their evolutionary relationships; our results reveal broad utility for resolving their biogeographic, evolutionary, population and ecological patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Twenty-one nuclear-encoded microsatellites were isolated from an enriched genomic DNA library of coney, Cephalopholis fulva, and characterized in both C. fulva and red hind, Epinephelus guttatus. The microsatellites include 16 dinucleotide repeats, two trinucleotide repeats, and three tetranucleotide repeats. An additional 11 microsatellites, isolated originally from an enriched genomic DNA library of E. guttatus, were characterized in both E. guttatus and C. fulva. Both grouper species support important commercial and recreational fisheries in the western Atlantic along the coasts of North, Central, and South America. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mice of the genus Peromyscus, including several endangered subspecies, occur throughout North America and have been important models for conservation research. We describe 526 primer pairs that amplify microsatellite DNA loci for Peromyscus maniculatus bairdii, 467 of which also amplify in Peromyscus polionotus subgriseus. For 12 of these loci, we report diversity data from a natural population. These markers will be an important resource for future genomic studies of Peromyscus evolution and mammalian conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We isolated and characterized 19 microsatellite loci from the endangered seaside alder, Alnus maritima. Loci were screened in 24 individuals of A. maritima and four individuals of its congener the hazel alder, A. serrulata. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 2 to 6, observed heterozygosity ranged from 0 to 0.952, and the probability of identity values ranged from 0.126 to 0.850. These new loci provide tools for characterizing the population genetics of this rare tree. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We isolated and characterized 15 microsatellite loci from the endemic Jamaican streamertail hummingbird Trochilus polytmus. Loci were screened in 12 individuals of both T. polytmus and its sister species T. scitulus, also a Jamaican endemic. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 2 to 10, observed heterozygosity ranged from 0 to 1, and the probability of identity values ranged from 0.038 to 0.663. These new loci provide tools for characterizing the narrow hybrid zone between the two species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We developed and tested eight polymorphic microsatellite loci for Ponto-Caspian ‘neogobiin’ gobies, many of which are invasive in Eurasia and North America, whose study will aid understanding of the population genetics underlying their success. We tested samples from one to two locations from 12 taxa in the recently revised genera Babka, Benthophilus, Mesogobius, Neogobius =  Apollonia, Ponticola and Proterorhinus; including the bighead, Caspian, knout, monkey, racer, round, tadpole and tubenose gobies; and taxa from introduced vs. native populations, those diverging between fresh and marine waters, and those differentiated between the Black and Caspian Seas. Populations conformed to Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium expectations, averaging five to 15 alleles per locus and 0.11 to 0.67 mean heterozygosity. Allelic variation significantly differentiated among all taxa and populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe polymerase chain reaction primers and amplification conditions for 13 microsatellite DNA loci isolated from two bisexual species of whiptail lizards Aspidoscelis costata huico and Aspidoscelis inornata. Primers were tested on either 16 or 48 individuals of A. c. huico and/or 26 individuals of A. inornata. Ten of the 13 primers were also tested against a panel of 31 additional whiptail taxa. We detected three to nine alleles per locus in A. c. huico and four to 19 alleles per locus in A. inornata, with observed heterozygosity ranging from 0.60 to 0.87 and from 0.15 to 1.00, respectively. These primers will be an important resource for surveys of genetic variation in these lizards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

* Premise of the study: We isolated and characterized microsatellite markers in Polygonum cespitosum Blume, an herbaceous annual plant species introduced into North America from Asia that has recently become invasive. * Methods and Results: A total of 12 polymorphic and 3 monomorphic loci were screened in 1-2 individuals from each of 20 populations from the introduced and native range, for a total of 24 samples. The number of alleles per locus in the polymorphic loci ranged from 3 to 9, and expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.156 to 0.838. * Conclusions: These new loci will provide tools for examining genetic relatedness among introduced and native populations of this and other related species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We isolated and characterized eight polymorphic microsatellite DNA markers from the Korean field mouse, Apodemus peninsulae. The primers developed in this study yielded an average polymorphic information content of 0.78 (range 0.44-0.90), with an average of 10.9 alleles per locus (range 5-16). Observed and expected heterozygosities ranged from 0.46 to 1.00 and from 0.49 to 0.93, respectively. These polymorphic loci may provide useful tools for understanding the species' genetic structure and ecology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We isolated and characterized 12 microsatellite loci from the endangered Red Hills salamander, Phaeognathus hubrichti. Loci were screened in 24 individuals of P. hubrichti. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 2 to 16, observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.130 to 0.750, and the probability of identity values ranged from 0.012 to 0.778. These new loci provide tools for examining the population genetics of this federally threatened salamander. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yuccas and their pollinator moths are a textbook example of mutualism, yet we lack sufficiently variable markers to properly study the population genetics of the plants. We characterized 13 polymorphic microsatellite loci for Yucca filamentosa by screening primers derived from an expressed sequence tag database. We found four to 13 alleles per locus and the observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.31 to 1. These markers will be useful in future ecological studies of Y. filamentosa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We developed 11 novel microsatellite loci for Sprague's pipit (Anthus spragueii), a songbird endemic to the Northern Great Plains of central North America. These loci were screened in 21 individuals from southern Saskatchewan, Canada. All 11 loci were polymorphic, with the number of alleles per locus ranging from five to 23, polymorphic information content from 0.312 to 0.947, and observed heterozygosity from 0.476 to 0.900. These loci will be suitable for a wide variety of studies on pipit natural history, ecology, and conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We developed 12 polymorphic microsatellite markers for the rice stem borer Chilo suppressalis (Walker). These loci were screened for 96 individuals from eight populations across China. The total number of alleles ranged from 3 to 33 and the expected heterozygosity at these loci ranged from 0.131 to 0.671. These molecular markers will be useful for fully investigating the population structure and host preference of C. suppressalis at fine spatial scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within the anuran amphibians, dendrobatoids (poison-arrow frogs) are renowned for their parental care, but the lack of highly variable DNA markers so far precluded precise and comprehensive measurements of their genetic mating system. Here we present 10 polymorphic microsatellites for Allobates femoralis, a widespread dendrobatoid from the Amazon basin. In 24 field-collected individuals, we found between seven and 15 alleles per locus, without deviations from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium or linkage disequilibrium. The loci will be employed to quantify reproductive success in view of male territoriality and female mate choice, as well as to determine the fine-scale genetic structure of local populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe primers and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) conditions to amplify 14 tri- and tetranucleotide microsatellite loci for the Mojave desert tortoise ( Gopherus agassizii). Across three populations (87 individuals) located in the Mojave Desert, USA, the markers yielded a range of four to 33 alleles and an average observed heterozygosity of 0.733 (range 0.433 to 0.933). We neither detected linkage disequilibrium between any pair of loci nor did we find a consistent pattern of deviation from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. These microsatellites are designed for PCR multiplexing, and provide higher throughput capacity to aid in conservation genetics studies for this threatened species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We developed 15 polymorphic microsatellite loci from the Hawaiian tree Metrosideros polymorpha. These loci were screened against two varieties from several populations and from 23 individuals from one mid-elevation population on Hawaii Island. Loci were variable with the number of alleles per locus ranging from three to 24. Polymorphic information content ranged from 0.222 to 0.941, and observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.261 to 0.955. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have developed eight high-quality microsatellite DNA loci for the saltmarsh sharp-tailed sparrow and one additional locus with evidence of null alleles. In a sample of 250–350 individuals, the average number of alleles per locus was 14.7 and average observed heterozygosity was 0.80. These loci were tested in three additional species of emberizid sparrows, indicating that more than half of the loci could be useful in other sparrows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have isolated and characterized five microsatellite loci from Rhizopogon occidentalis and six loci from Rhizopogon vulgaris (Boletales, Basidiomycota). Microsatellite variation was assessed using 32 R. occidentalis and 48 R. vulgaris individuals from four populations in California. The number of alleles across populations ranged from two to 10 for R. occidentalis and three to eight for R. vulgaris. Expected heterozygosity values within populations ranged from 0.00 to 0.85 for R. occidentalis and 0.00 to 0.75 for R. vulgaris. These are the first microsatellite loci isolated for R. occidentalis and R. vulgaris and will be useful in the examination of their population genetic structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two multiplex PCR amplifications were performed to analyse six microsatellite loci of Schlegel's black rockfish, Sebastes schlegeli, an important commercial fish in the northern part of Japan and an important species for the stock enhancement program in this area. We analysed 67 wild samples from Yamada Bay, Iwate Prefecture, Japan. The observed genotype frequencies agreed with the Hardy-Weinberg expectations at all loci, and the observed heterozygosities ranged from 0.072 to 0.897. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We isolated 11 microsatellites from the Pacific sardine Sardinops sagax sagax. The number of alleles and HE among 30 individuals from a single population ranged from four to 24 and from 0.606 to 0.959, respectively. Pacific sardines are a vital economic resource in the northeastern Pacific Ocean, but insufficiently polymorphic loci have limited inferences about its stock structure and genetic variation. The level of variability of these new markers will prove useful in testing hypotheses on the stock-structure and long-term genetic integrity of the species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]