title: Characterization of 38 microsatellite loci in the European blackbird, Turdus merula (Turdidae, AVES).
abstract: We characterized 38 microsatellite loci in the European blackbird, Turdus merula. Thirty-seven loci were identified by testing 242 loci that had been originally isolated in other avian species. One additional locus was isolated from a European blackbird genomic library. All loci were characterized in 20-29 blackbirds from a population in the Czech Republic and displayed between two and 16 alleles, with observed heterozygosity ranging from 0.04 to 1.00. Thirty-seven loci could be assigned a chromosome location in the zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata) genome based on sequence homology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK School of Biology, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK.
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Simeoni
authors.forename: Deborah A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Dawson
authors.forename: Louise K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Gentle
authors.forename: Lisette
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Coiffait
authors.forename: Kirsten
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wolff
authors.forename: Karl L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: Kevin J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Gaston
authors.forename: Ben J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Hatchwell