Conservation

Isolation and characterization of 21 novel polymorphic microsatellite loci in the Chinese soft-shelled turtle Pelodiscus sinensis

X. J. Bu, Liu, L., Wang, L., and Nie, L. W., “Isolation and characterization of 21 novel polymorphic microsatellite loci in the Chinese soft-shelled turtle Pelodiscus sinensis”, vol. 10. pp. 1006-1010, 2011.

Twenty-one novel polymorphic microsatellite loci were isolated from the Chinese soft-shelled turtle, Pelodiscus sinensis (Trionychidae). This is a commonly consumed Asian species, especially in China, where it is reared in large numbers on farms. We screened 34 unrelated individuals from Wuhu of Anhui province in China and detected high levels of polymorphism for all 21 loci, with the number of alleles/locus ranging from 5 to 23 (mean 15.67). The expected and observed heterozygosities ranged from 0.421 to 0.946 and from 0.324 to 0.941, respectively.

Isolation and characterization of novel microsatellite markers in commercial selected golden Malaysian arowana fish, Scleropages formosus (Osteoglossidae)

B. Manoharan, Sulaimen, Z., Omar, F., Othman, R. Y., Mohamed, S. Z., and Bhassu, S., “Isolation and characterization of novel microsatellite markers in commercial selected golden Malaysian arowana fish, Scleropages formosus (Osteoglossidae)”, vol. 10. pp. 712-716, 2011.

Malaysian arowana (dragonfish; Scleropages formosus) is an ancient osteoglossid fish from southeast Asia. Due to the high demand of the ornamental fish trade and because of habitat loss, the species is close to extinction. We isolated and characterized 10 polymorphic microsatellites of this species, using 5'-anchored PCR. The number of alleles at the 10 microsatellite loci ranged from 2 to 28, with a mean of 7.8/locus. The observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.03 to 0.93 (mean: 0.39), whereas the expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.03 to 0.94 (mean: 0.46).

Genetic assessment of the Atlantic Forest bristle porcupine, Chaetomys subspinosus (Rodentia: Erethizontidae), an endemic species threatened with extinction

C. G. Oliveira, Martinez, R. A., Giné, G. A. F., Faria, D. M., and Gaiotto, F. A., “Genetic assessment of the Atlantic Forest bristle porcupine, Chaetomys subspinosus (Rodentia: Erethizontidae), an endemic species threatened with extinction”, vol. 10, pp. 923-931, 2011.

The bristle-spined porcupine, Chaetomys subspinosus, an endemic rodent from Atlantic Forest, was considered to be abundant in the recent past, but population reductions due to habitat loss and expansion of human activities caused this species to be included in the “vulnerable” category of the World Conservation Union Red List. We performed the first genetic assessment in natural populations of this focal species along its geographical distribution.

Isolation and characterization of microsatellite loci in the fish Coilia mystus (Clupeiformes: Engraulidae) using PCR-based isolation of microsatellite arrays

J. - Q. Yang, Zhou, X. - D., Liu, D., Liu, Z. - Z., and Tang, W. - Q., “Isolation and characterization of microsatellite loci in the fish Coilia mystus (Clupeiformes: Engraulidae) using PCR-based isolation of microsatellite arrays”, vol. 10. pp. 1514-1517, 2011.

Coilia mystus is the most important harvested fish species in China; it inhabits quite different water environments during the different life history stages. Populations of C. mystus have dropped sharply due to overharvesting and water pollution. We developed eight microsatellite loci in C. mystus for conservation genetics studies. These new markers were tested in 20 individuals from the Min River in ChangLe. The number of alleles ranged from 3 to 8, the expected heterozygosity from 0.621 to 0.853 and the observed heterozygosity from 0.473-0.800.

Non-invasive sex identification of the white-bellied sea eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster) through genetic analysis of feathers

D. M. Naim, Nor, S. A. M., and Baharuddin, M. H., “Non-invasive sex identification of the white-bellied sea eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster) through genetic analysis of feathers”, vol. 10. pp. 2505-2510, 2011.

The white-bellied sea eagle, Haliaeetus leucogaster, displays reversed sexual size dimorphism and is monomorphic for adult plumage coloration. Early attempts to identify sex in sexually monomorphic birds were based on morphological or chromosomal characters, but since avian W-specific DNA sequences were identified, PCR amplification has become commonly used for molecular sexing. We used a PCR test employing primers that amplify two homologous fragments of both the CHD-W gene, unique to females, and the CHD-Z gene, occurring in both sexes.

Genetic diversity analysis of an indigenous Chinese buffalo breed and hybrids based on microsatellite data

W. C. Yang, Tang, K. Q., Mei, J., Zeng, W. B., and Yang, L. G., “Genetic diversity analysis of an indigenous Chinese buffalo breed and hybrids based on microsatellite data”, vol. 10, pp. 3421-3426, 2011.

Chinese native buffaloes have faced the threat of extinction, along with an increase in crossbreeding with domesticated river buffaloes; consequently, conservation of local buffalo genetic resources has become a priority. A Chinese native breed, Jianghan, is often crossed intentionally and unintentionally with imported breeds from India and Pakistan, Murrah, and Nili-Ravi. A total of 128 buffaloes of the breeds Jianghan, Murrah, and Nili-Ravi and their presumed hybrid offspring were genotyped for 10 microsatellite markers.

Transferability of microsatellite primers developed for stingless bees to four other species of the genus Melipona

M. V. C. Viana, Miranda, E. A., de Francisco, A. K., Carvalho, C. A. L., and Waldschmidt, A. M., “Transferability of microsatellite primers developed for stingless bees to four other species of the genus Melipona”, vol. 10, pp. 3942-3947, 2011.

Microsatellite markers are a useful tool for ecological monitoring of natural and managed populations. A technical limitation is the necessity for investment in the development of primers. Heterologous primers can provide an alternative to searching for new loci. In bees, these markers have been used in populational and intracolonial genetic analyses. The genus Melipona has the largest number of species among bee genera, about 70, occurring throughout the Neotropical region. However, only five species of the genus Melipona have specific microsatellite markers.

High genetic differentiation of Aegla longirostri (Crustacea, Decapoda, Anomura) populations in southern Brazil revealed by multi-loci microsatellite analysis

M. L. Bartholomei-Santos, Roratto, P. A., and Santos, S., “High genetic differentiation of Aegla longirostri (Crustacea, Decapoda, Anomura) populations in southern Brazil revealed by multi-loci microsatellite analysis”, vol. 10, pp. 4133-4146, 2011.

Species with a broad distribution rarely have the same genetic make-up throughout their entire range. In some cases, they may constitute a cryptic complex consisting of a few species, each with a narrow distribution, instead of a single-, widely distributed species. These differences can have profound impacts for biodiversity conservation planning.

Population genetic structure of the blue-fronted Amazon (Amazona aestiva, Psittacidae: Aves) based on nuclear microsatellite loci: implications for conservation

K. C. E. Leite, Seixas, G. H. F., Berkunsky, I., Collevatti, R. G., and Caparroz, R., “Population genetic structure of the blue-fronted Amazon (Amazona aestiva, Psittacidae: Aves) based on nuclear microsatellite loci: implications for conservation”, vol. 7, pp. 819-829, 2008.

The blue-fronted Amazon (Amazona aestiva) is a widely distributed Neotropical parrot and one of the most captured parrots in nature to supply the illegal trade of wild animals. The objectives of the present study were to analyze the genetic structure of A. aestiva to identify management units and support conservation planning and to verified if A. aestiva populations have undergone a recent bottleneck due to habitat loss and capture for the pet trade. The genetic structure was accessed by analyzing six microsatellite loci in 74 individuals of A.

Gender identification of five genera of stingless bees (Apidae, Meliponini) based on wing morphology

T. M. Francoy, Silva, R. A. O., Nunes-Silva, P., Menezes, C., and Imperatriz-Fonseca, V. L., “Gender identification of five genera of stingless bees (Apidae, Meliponini) based on wing morphology”, vol. 8, pp. 207-214, 2009.

Currently, the identification of pollinators is a critical necessity of conservation programs. After it was found that features extracted from patterns of wing venation are sufficient to discriminate among insect species, various studies have focused on this structure. We examined wing venation patterns of males and workers of five stingless bee species in order to determine if there are differences between sexes and if these differences are greater within than between species.

Pages

Subscribe to Conservation