Development of 16 microsatellite loci for the endangered sandhill dunnart (Sminthopsis psammophila)

• Published in: Conservation genetics resources Vol. 6; no. 2; pp. 323 - 326
• Main Authors: McLean, Amanda L, Cooper, Steven J. B, Lancaster, Melanie L, Carthew, Susan M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer-Verlag 01.06.2014; Springer Netherlands; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Animal Genetics and Genomics; Biodiversity; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Conservation Biology/Ecology; Ecology; Evolutionary Biology; Genetic analysis; genetic techniques and protocols; Life Sciences; Linkage disequilibrium; loci; Microsatellite Letters; microsatellite repeats; null alleles; Plant Genetics and Genomics; Sminthopsis psammophila; South Australia; 454 sequencing; Endangered marsupial; Microsatellites
• ISSN: 1877-7252; 1877-7260
• DOI: 10.1007/s12686-013-0084-5

Sixteen polymorphic microsatellite loci were developed using a 454 sequencing approach, and three loci, developed for Sminthopsis douglasi, were optimized for the endangered sandhill dunnart, Sminthopsis psammophila. Nineteen loci (16 S. psammophila and three S. douglasi) were tested on 38 individual S. psammophila from two populations in South Australia. Three loci deviated from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium, possibly due to null alleles. No evidence of linkage disequilibrium was detected. We recommend a final panel of 17 loci for future genetic analyses of S. psammophila, which will aid in conservation management of this poorly understood and nationally endangered marsupial.