title: Microsatellite primers for relatedness and population structure in great frigatebirds (Pelecaniformes: Fregatidae).
abstract: Eighteen moderately polymorphic microsatellite loci were isolated and characterized for great frigatebirds Fregata minor. Polymorphism for the 12 dinucleotide and six tetranucleotide markers was assessed in 23 birds from a Hawaii population. Allelic diversity ranged from two to 12 (mean 5.9), with observed heterozygosity from 0.304 to 0.956 (mean 0.637). Three loci showed homozygote excess, possibly due to null alleles. One additional pair of loci exhibited strong gametic disequilibrium. Thus, at least 14 loci will be useful for studies of relatedness and population structure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Program in Animal Behaviour, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA 17837, USA, Center for Conservation and Evolutionary Genetics, National Zoological Park and National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, PO Box 37012 MRC 5503, Washington, DC 20013-7012, USA.
authors.forename: Donald C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Dearborn
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hailer
authors.forename: Robert C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Fleischer