title: Tetranucleotide microsatellite loci from the black bear (Ursus americanus).
abstract: We describe primers and polymerase chain reaction conditions to amplify 21 tetranucleotide microsatellite DNA loci in black bears (Ursus americanus). We tested primers using individuals from two populations, one each in Georgia and Florida. Among individuals from Georgia (n = 29), primer pairs yielded an average of 2.9 alleles (range, one to four) and an average observed heterozygosity (H(O) ) of 0.50 (range, 0.00 to 0.79). Among individuals from Florida (n = 19), primer pairs yielded an average of 5.7 alleles (range, one to 14) and an H(O) of 0.55 (range, 0.00 to 1.00). A comparison of previously developed markers with individuals from Georgia suggests that bear populations in Georgia and Florida have reduced allelic diversity relative to other populations.
authors.affiliation: D. B. Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA, USGS, Georgia Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, D.B. Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, Athens, GA 30602, USA.
authors.forename: Jamie Skvarla
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Sanderlin
authors.forename: Brant C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Faircloth
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Shamblin
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Conroy