title: Transferability of  microsatellite primers developed for stingless bees to four other species of  the genus Melipona.
abstract: Microsatellite  markers are a useful tool for ecological monitoring of natural and managed  populations. A technical limitation is the necessity for investment in the  development of primers. Heterologous primers can provide an alternative to  searching for new loci. In bees, these markers have been used in populational  and intracolonial genetic analyses. The genus Melipona has the largest  number of species among bee genera, about 70, occurring throughout the Neotropical  region. However, only five species of the genus Melipona have specific  microsatellite markers. Given the great diversity of this genus, this number is  not representative. We analyzed the transferability of 49 microsatellite loci  to four other species of the genus Melipona (M. scutellaris, M.  mondury, M. mandacaia, and M. quadrifasciata). Four  individuals of each species, from different localities, were used in  amplification tests. Primer pairs described for five Melipona species  and for Trigona carbonaria were tested. Among the 49 loci, 22 gave  amplification products for all four species, while three gave nonspecific bands  and five showed no amplification products. The remaining loci varied in the  pattern of amplification, according to the species examined. The number of  alleles ranged from 1 to 6. The results demonstrate the possibility of using  these heterologous markers in other Melipona species, increasing the  number of loci that can be analyzed and contributing to further genetic  analyses of intra- and intercolonial structure, which is required for  conservation measure planning, genetic improvement and resolution of taxonomic  problems.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual do Sudoeste da Bahia, Jequié, BA, Brasil.
authors.forename: M V C
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Viana
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Miranda
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: de Francisco
authors.forename: C A L
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Waldschmidt
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001516:Bees / Q000235:genetics*; D001733:Bites and Stings / Q000235:genetics*; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000378:metabolism*; D056426:Genetic Loci / Q000235:genetics; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats / Q000235:genetics*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers