Brian M. Guzzetti
Judy R. Gust
G. Kevin Sage
Robert E. Gill Jr.
T. Lee Tibbitts
Sarah A. Sonsthagen
Sandra L. Talbot
I. Williams
2012
We developed microsatellite loci for demographic assessments of shorebirds, a group with limited markers. First, we isolated five dinucleotide repeat microsatellite loci from the Black Oystercatcher (Haematopodidae: Haematopus bachmani), and three from the Bristle-thighed Curlew (Scolopacidae: Numenius tahitiensis); both species are of conservation concern. All eight loci were polymorphic in their respective target species. <i>Hbaμ</i> loci were characterized by two to three alleles with observed heterozygosity ranging from 0.07 to 0.33, and two to nine alleles were detected for <i>Nut</i> loci with observed heterozygosity ranging from 0.08 to 0.72. No linkage disequilibrium or departures from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium were observed. The eight loci were also tested for cross-species amplification in 12 other species within Charadriidae and Scolopacidae, and the results demonstrated transferability across several genera. We further tested all 14 species at 12 additional microsatellite markers developed for other shorebirds: Dunlin (Calidris alpina; four loci) and Ruff (Philomachus pugnax; eight loci). Two markers (<i>Hbaμ</i>4 and <i>Ruff</i>6) were polymorphic in 13 species, while two (<i>Calp</i>6 and <i>Ruff</i>9) were monomorphic. The remaining eight markers revealed polymorphism in one to nine species each. Our results provide further evidence that locus <i>Ruff</i>10 is sex-linked, contrary to the initial description. These markers can be used to enhance our understanding of shorebird biology by, for example, helping to determine migratory connectivity among breeding and wintering populations and detecting relatedness among individuals.
application/pdf
10.1007/s10336-011-0811-1
en
Springer
Polymorphic microsatellite loci identified through development and cross-species amplification within shorebirds
article