title: Cross-species testing and utility of microsatellite loci in Indirana frogs.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Microsatellite loci are widely used in population and conservation genetic studies of amphibians, but the availability of such markers for tropical and subtropical taxa is currently very limited. In order to develop resources for conservation genetic studies in the genus Indirana, we tested amplification success and polymorphism in 62 previously developed microsatellite loci, in eight Indirana species - including new candidate species. Developing genomic resources for this amphibian taxon is particularly important as it is endemic to the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot, and harbours several endangered species.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The cross-species amplification success rate varied from 11.3 % to 29.0 % depending on the species, with 29 - 80 % of the amplifying loci being polymorphic. A strong negative correlation between cross-species amplification success (and polymorphism) and genetic distance separating target from source species was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results provide additional genetic support for the existence of genetically divergent cryptic species within the genus Indirana. The tested markers should be useful for population and conservation genetic studies in this genus, and in particular, for species closely related to the source species, I. beddomii.
authors: Ecological Genetics Research Unit, Department of Biosciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, FI-00014, Finland. abhilash.nair@helsinki.fi
authors: Abhilash
authors: A
authors: Nair
authors: Sujith V
authors: SV
authors: Gopalan
authors: Sanil
authors: S
authors: George
authors: K Santhosh
authors: KS
authors: Kumar
authors: Juha
authors: J
authors: Merilä
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000032:analysis*; D030541:Databases, Genetic; D056727:Endangered Species; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D056426:Genetic Loci; D005819:Genetic Markers; D023281:Genomics / Q000379:methods; D007194:India; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000032:analysis*; D011898:Ranidae / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D005819:Genetic Markers; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S