title: Isolation and characterization of 10 microsatellite loci in the common dormouse Muscardinus avellanarius.
abstract: To assess the level and spatial pattern of genetic diversity of the common dormouse, Muscardinus avellanarius, we developed polymorphic microsatellite loci from partial genomic libraries enriched for microsatellite motifs. Ten dinucleotide polymorphic microsatellites were isolated and levels of genetic diversity were assessed in 139 individuals from Bontuchel, (Denbighshire, Wales). We observed high levels of heterozygosity (mean H(O)  = 0.792 ± 0.077; mean H(E)  = 0.730 ± 0.084) and a large number of alleles (N(a)  = 6-17). There was no evidence of deviations from Hardy-Weinberg conditions, or genotypic disequilibrium between any pairs of loci. This is the first description of microsatellite primers from a common dormouse and these loci are currently being used to quantify dormouse spatial genetic structure.
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, Biosciences Building, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, L69 7ZB Liverpool, UK, School of Biological Science, University of Sciences, Malaysia, 11800 Minden, Penang, Malaysia, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Liverpool, L69 3BX Liverpool, UK.
authors.forename: Darlina Md
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Naim
authors.forename: Stephen J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Kemp
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Telfer
authors.forename: Phillip C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Watts