title: Isolation and characterization of microsatellite loci in the whale shark (Rhincodon typus).
abstract: In preparation for a study on population structure of the whale shark (Rhincodon typus), nine species-specific polymorphic microsatellite DNA markers were developed. An initial screening of 50 individuals from Holbox Island, Mexico found all nine loci to be polymorphic, with two to 17 alleles observed per locus. Observed and expected heterozygosity per locus ranged from 0.200 to 0.826 and from 0.213 to 0.857, respectively. Neither statistically significant deviations from Hardy-Weinberg expectations nor statistically significant linkage disequilibrium between loci were observed. These microsatellite loci appear suitable for examining population structure, kinship assessment and other applications.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biotechnology of Marine Organisms, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste, Mar Bermejo 195, Col. Playa Palo de Santa Rita, 23090 La Paz, B.C.S., Mexico Northern Appalachian Research Laboratory, Leetown Science Center, United States Geological Survey, Wellsboro, PA 16901, USA Department of Fisheries, Centro Interdisciplinario de Ciencias Marinas, Avenue, Instituto Politécnico Nacional s/n Col. Playa Palo de Santa Rita, 23096 La Paz, B.C.S., Mexico.
authors.forename: Dení
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ramírez-Macías
authors.forename: Kristine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.forename: Rocky
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ward
authors.forename: Felipe
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Galván-Magaña
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vázquez-Juárez