title: Characterization of highly informative cross-species microsatellite panels for the Australian dugong (Dugong dugon) and Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris) including five novel primers.
abstract: The Australian dugong (Dugong dugon) and Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris) are threatened species of aquatic mammals in the order Sirenia. Sirenian conservation and management actions would benefit from a more complete understanding of genetic diversity and population structure. Generally, species-specific microsatellite markers are employed in conservation genetic studies; however, robust markers can be difficult and costly to isolate. To increase the number of available markers, dugong and manatee microsatellite primers were evaluated for cross-species amplification. Furthermore, one manatee and four dugong novel primers are reported. After polymerase chain reaction optimization, 23 (92%) manatee primers successfully amplified dugong DNA, of which 11 (48%) were polymorphic. Of the 32 dugong primers tested, 27 (84%) yielded product in the manatee, of which 17 (63%) were polymorphic. Dugong and manatee primers were compared and the most informative markers were selected to create robust and informative marker-panels for each species. These cross-species microsatellite marker-panels can be employed to assess other sirenian populations and can provide beneficial information for the protection and management of these unique mammals.
authors.affiliation: Sirenia Project, Florida Integrated Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, 2201 NW 40th Terrace, Gainesville, FL 32605, USA.
authors.forename: Margaret Kellogg
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Hunter
authors.forename: Damien
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Broderick
authors.forename: Jennifer R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Ovenden
authors.forename: Kimberly Pause
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Tucker
authors.forename: Robert K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Bonde
authors.forename: Peter M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: McGuire
authors.forename: Janet M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lanyon