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Isolation and development of 12 polymorphic tetranucleotide microsatellite markers for the eastern hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis alleganiensis)

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Abstract

In order to analyze population genetic structure at multiple spatial scales, 12 polymorphic microsatellite loci were developed for the eastern hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis alleganiensis). The number of alleles per locus ranged from 6 to 12 (mean of 9.25 per locus) and the observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.645 to 0.935 among 31 individuals. Two loci exhibited significant deviations from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. No evidence for linkage disequilibrium was detected between pairs of loci. These markers will be used to examine population genetic structure across the geographic range of this declining species.

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Acknowledgments

We thank N. Burgmeier and numerous technicians for help with the collection of samples, and our colleagues in the FNR genetics lab for assistance in the laboratory. Animals were collected under permits issued by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources and the Purdue University Animal Care and Use Committee. Financial support for this project was provided by the Indiana Division of Fish and Wildlife, Wildlife Diversity Section state wildlife improvement grant (E2-07-WD0007) and Purdue University.

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Correspondence to Shem D. Unger.

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Unger, S.D., Fike, J.A., Sutton, T. et al. Isolation and development of 12 polymorphic tetranucleotide microsatellite markers for the eastern hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis alleganiensis). Conservation Genet Resour 2, 89–91 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12686-009-9170-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12686-009-9170-0

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